Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
Significance of nwoye's change of name in things fall apart
Describe nwoye in things fall apart
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Significance of nwoye's change of name in things fall apart
Describe nwoye in things fall apart
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Okonkwo’s aggressive ways caused Nwoye to rely on Ikemefuna, A boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village, as an older brother who teaches him a more gentle form of masculinity. The bond between Nwoye and Ikemefuna was stronger than the bond between Nwoye and Okonkwo ever was because of Okonkwo’s refusal to demonstrate affection towards his son as it could make him appear weak. However, because of the death of Ikemefuna, Nwoye fears having to return to the harsh values of his father. Okonkwo’s stubborn ideas of masculinity ruined his relationship with his son beyond repair. Okonkwo’s refusal to show emotion towards his family pushed them apart which shows that Okonkwo is not willing to give up his stern values and reputation to be emotionally committed to his family.
Manhood is being treated as a human of mankind. Okonkwo, however, equates manhood to brute force and anger. Anything else was considered to be characteristic of a woman. It is this idea of manliness that pushes Nwoye into the hands of the missionaries. Okonkwo “wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man” and although Nwoye at times acted as if he was annoyed with the tasks the women would ask of him, “nothing pleased Nwoye now more than to be sent for by his mother or another of his father's wives” (Achebe, 36).
The reasons for Nwoye’s change in their sense of identity included his relationship with his father and his acceptance of the Missionaries. Ultimately, their response to the introduction of Western ideas shaped the meaning of the work as a whole by showing the positive effects the new culture can have on someone. The first reason Nwoye’s sense of identity was challenged with the introduction of the Western ideas was because of his relationship with his father. In the beginning of Things Fall Apart, it tells us
One of the first things we really notice about Nwoye’s character is his lack in confidence. Okonkwo thought that in order to teach Nwoye to do things the right way he would threaten him with a beating instead of helping him. For example in one part in the book Okonkwo is having Nwoye and Ikemefuna cut yams, when Nwoye does not cut them right Okonkwo threatens him saying that “if you split another yam of this size, i shall break your jaw.” (23) How Okonkwo treats Nwoye leaves him lacking in his confidence which leads to more threatening and more beatings. When Nwoye finally converts to Christianity he finds a culture that does not beat their children or wives when they do wrong but yet they encourage them to try again and politely tell them what they have done
Okonkwo takes charge of the boy, Ikemefuna, and finds an ideal son in him. Nwoye likewise forms a strong attachment to the newcomer. Despite his fondness for Ikemefuna and despite
This was a notable trait found in Nwoye throughout the book during pre colonization. Another contrasting view found at the beginning of the book for Nwoye is when Nwoye reverts to his former gentle nature after his role model and brother Ikemefuna gets murdered, instead of sticking to the falsified masculine one he pretended to have in Ikemefuna’s appearance. Increasingly, Okonkwo comes to view Nwoye as a disappointment and extremely effeminate. After the arrival of the missionaries and the process of colonization is the turning point of Nwoye's character development. Proof of this is found in (pg. 133) when the reader can see Nwoye's true intentions of why he decided to convert, “It was not the mad logic of the Trinity
Okonkwo wouldn't have seen him as his child anymore. In chapter seventeen Okonkwo says Nwoye is not worth fighting for, he says “"... Nwoye was not worth fighting for. Why, he cried in his heart, should he, Okonkwo, of all people, be cursed with such a son?" (Achebe 152)
The reader learns that Okonkwo is happy when he sees the changes in his son when Achebe writes “he knew it was due to Ikemefuna. He wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of ruling his father's household when he was dead… He wanted him to be a prosperous man,” It was important for men to be able to be strong and support their
As seen in Okonkwo’s participation in Ikemefuna’s death, we see a demonstration of his rash thinking. Okonkwo’s irrational decision - making, as well as his fear of being perceived as weak like his father drove him to kill Ikemefuna. If Ikemefuna has not been killed, then this would have prevented Nwoye from converting to Christianity. As seen “after the missionaries finished singing, Nwoye pondered about what he just heard, the hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul the question of Ikemefuna who died” (Achebe 128). Okonkwo’s participation in Ikemefuna’s murder ultimately pushed Nwoye to Christianity and this caused Okonkwo to lose respect in himself for not raising a better son.
In the beginning of the book Nwoye didn’t have a very good life, his father Okonkwo was abusive towards him and he thought that Nwoye was lazy, and they weren’t close. Chinua Achebe writes “...Was already causing his father great anxiety for his incipient laziness. At
When Nwoye decides to leave his family to pursue his faith, Okonkwo realizes “But he left hold of Nwoye, who walked away and never returned.” Leaving his family and clans, Nwoye is confronting a huge change in his life. This change may be pretty hard to make because he has to discover a new world himself. Recalling at the very beginning, it is impossible for Nwoye to leave because he is not masculine enough to take his own adventure. However, now, he is no longer a boy relied on his family; rather, he becomes a mature man to decide his future path himself and accept his coming of age.
"That was the kind of story that Nwoye loved. But he knew that they were for foolish women and children… [that he] no longer cared for women's stories" (Achebe 46,47). Nwoyes' identity was subjected to gender stereotype that he feels like he has to play a role in order to satisfy his
Nwoye, after having to deal with his controlling father for so many years, eventually stands up to Okonkwo. Nwoye gives his father the silent treatment, and as Okonkwo continually yells at Nwoye to answer him, he just “stood looking at him and did not say a word” (132). At the end of the confrontation, Nwoye finally becomes fed up with his father’s treatment of him and “walked away and never returned” (132). Becoming independent, Nwoye takes a huge step towards becoming not only a man but a man of his own. The courage he finally gains from all the times his father tries to have Nwoye live the “better” life becomes worth it.
Therefore, Okonkwo asks Nwoye to quit listening to his mother's womanly stories and hear the tales of war. It is only when Ikemefuna arrives that Nwoye begins to behave masculine. After much training, Okonkwo is pleased with Nwoye’s changed behaviour and for this, he credits Ikemefuna. Okonkwo’s good friend, Obierika is a contradicting character – with a title equivalent to Okonkwo’s – with a completely different belief system. Obierika does not shy away from his feminine characteristics, just like Unoka, he is compassionate and gentle.
Similarly, Nwoye also resists the reputation of his own father by rejecting this masculine regime of Okonkwo and Igbo culture, showing feminine virtues instead. His intention to carry his beliefs on to his children is established when Okonkwo thinks to himself after he learns of Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity. Nwoye made the decision to leave Umofia after the realization that his views do not coincide with those of his society any longer due to the life time of exposure to the toxicity of Okonkwo’s masculine behavior. It is because he refuses to conform that Nwoye wishes to alter the reputation of himself and his family by joining a culture that he finds to reflect the values that he believes in, instead of those he was dejectedly forced into following by his