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How Is Okonkwo Adapting To Change

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ENG 1DA Independent Study Unit: Formal Essay Adapting to Change in Things Fall Apart Change is a fated aspect of life. For many of us change is inevitable but, the way we react to change is not as certain. Things Fall Apart a novel written by Chinua Achebe reveals a topic that focuses on adapting to change. This topic greatly influences many of the novel’s characters. With a large conflict between a new emerging Christian society and the current traditional West African society, many characters are forced to pick sides. As the new community brings forth drastic change, one of the main characters, Okonkwo, his kinsmen and the community of his tribe are forced to make a critical decision: will they be loyal to their traditions, or will they accept …show more content…

Okonkwo had a fiery personality and used violence to solve his problems. Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it was the emotion of anger. Okonkwo believed that showing affection was a sign of weakness; “the only thing worth demonstrating was strength” (28). Okonkwo plays a tragic role. He has a main flaw that ultimately leads to his downfall; his flaw is his inability to accept change. He openly shows his discontent with the Christian community, wishing to “wipe out the entire vile and miscreant gang” (152). Okonkwo, a major character had a tragic flaw that lead to his demise. Therefore, the existence of change in this novel had an immense impact on every one of its …show more content…

Unfortunately, most of the conflict revolved around acts of violence. Christian missionaries had overstepped their bounds, disrespecting the gods and ancestors of the African tribes (154). The Christian church that was built was destroyed and burnt down by the African leaders in an attempt to pacify their chi or god (191). Both communities showed little respect for the other’s culture, heritage and religion. The West African community initially disregarded the intrusion of the Christian community, assuming that the Christian community “would not survive” (165). This proved to be wrong, and many Africans began to say that “the white man had not only brought a religion but also a government” (166). This change had the power to reduce two communities to states of crumbling rubble. The outburst of this intense conflict may have been fictional but, accurately displays the emotional and physical damage that our world’s conflicts cause

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