Okonkwo's Legacy In Things Fall Apart
Some may feel scared at first to go on their own and start something new, but in the end, we are just starting a legacy. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo who is the protagonist, is determined to gain high titles and become powerful in spite of his father’s weaknesses. Okonkwo wants his sons to inherit his power, but one of his son’s, Nwoye, wants to take a different route. Achebe uses Nwoye and the personal and cultural events that happen throughout the story to convey how they can lead to an individual’s perfunctory decision to create one’s own legacy. A father and son’s relationship will affect how the son will grow up and make choices. From the beginning, Okonkwo has been, “...constant[ly] nagging and beating. And so Nwoye was developing into a sad-faced youth”(14). Okonkwo constantly abusing Nwoye makes him stray away from his father. He loses respect
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from his father which leads Nwoye to go on his own. Okonkwo shares stories that he feels is right for his sons,“...Okonkwo encouraged the boys… masculine stories of violence and bloodshed.”(53) Okonkwo pushes Nwoye to be more masculine and violent, even though Nwoye prefers stories that his mother tells the younger children. He builds up the courage to leave the masculinity surrounding him and joins the the new faith which doesn’t condone that. Nwoye is tired of being dragged around and being told to be a certain way, as a result, Nwoye joins the Christian faith.
Okonkwo’s actions affect Nwoye’s feelings and how he perceives his father. Once Nwoye finds out that Okonkwo had killed Ikemefuna, he doesn’t know how to feel, “Nwoye knew that Ikemefuna had been killed, and something seemed to give way inside him…”(61). Nwoye had problems with Okonkwo before the killing of his brother. This changes Nwoye’s whole impression of his father, and it’s the biggest result of why Nwoye turned to Christianity. Achebe describes how Nwoye faces his father, “But the boy was afraid of him and slipped out the hut as soon as he noticed him dozing”(63). Nwoye builds more fear towards his father after the incident, it’s making him separate and do his own thing. He is unable to forgive his father for killing his adopted brother. Nwoye converting to Christianity is an attempt to get back to his father for the crime. Not only personal problems, but events that happen in the community can affect a person’s decisions as well.
When the missionaries sang their song, Nwoye questioned the twins, “The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness… the question of the twins hiding in the bush”(147). In addition to Nwoye leaving his father, he separates from his culture and tribe. Nwoye believes that the tradition that the Igbo tribe has of killing twins is wrong. The new religion that Nwoye is attracted to also doesn’t agree with killing twins. The Christians having the same viewpoint as him makes Nwoye support and respect them. The Christian faith shows more diversity than the tribe, “That week they had a handful more converts. And for the first time they had a woman”(151). The missionaries accept a woman as a convert which shows the community that anyone is welcomed by the new faith. Nwoye likes the acceptance and he feels it’s the right fit for him. Nwoye has faced the traditions that the Igbo tribe have, and he dislikes them. Once Christianity is introduced to him, he joins right away and absorbs the
faith. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe describes the reasons that lead up to Nwoye’s final decision to become Christian. This teaches us that our culture and individuals in our life affect our choices that may be considered abnormal. Leaving a culture and going on your own is part of finding who you really are and where you fit in. Nwoye shows this when he follows what his heart desires even though it may have been hard to go on his own after being told what to do for years.
from his father which leads Nwoye to go on his own. Okonkwo shares stories that he feels is right for his sons,“...Okonkwo encouraged the boys… masculine stories of violence and bloodshed.”(53) Okonkwo pushes Nwoye to be more masculine and violent, even though Nwoye prefers stories that his mother tells the younger children. He builds up the courage to leave the masculinity surrounding him and joins the the new faith which doesn’t condone that. Nwoye is tired of being dragged around and being told to be a certain way, as a result, Nwoye joins the Christian faith.
Okonkwo’s actions affect Nwoye’s feelings and how he perceives his father. Once Nwoye finds out that Okonkwo had killed Ikemefuna, he doesn’t know how to feel, “Nwoye knew that Ikemefuna had been killed, and something seemed to give way inside him…”(61). Nwoye had problems with Okonkwo before the killing of his brother. This changes Nwoye’s whole impression of his father, and it’s the biggest result of why Nwoye turned to Christianity. Achebe describes how Nwoye faces his father, “But the boy was afraid of him and slipped out the hut as soon as he noticed him dozing”(63). Nwoye builds more fear towards his father after the incident, it’s making him separate and do his own thing. He is unable to forgive his father for killing his adopted brother. Nwoye converting to Christianity is an attempt to get back to his father for the crime. Not only personal problems, but events that happen in the community can affect a person’s decisions as well.
When the missionaries sang their song, Nwoye questioned the twins, “The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness… the question of the twins hiding in the bush”(147). In addition to Nwoye leaving his father, he separates from his culture and tribe. Nwoye believes that the tradition that the Igbo tribe has of killing twins is wrong. The new religion that Nwoye is attracted to also doesn’t agree with killing twins. The Christians having the same viewpoint as him makes Nwoye support and respect them. The Christian faith shows more diversity than the tribe, “That week they had a handful more converts. And for the first time they had a woman”(151). The missionaries accept a woman as a convert which shows the community that anyone is welcomed by the new faith. Nwoye likes the acceptance and he feels it’s the right fit for him. Nwoye has faced the traditions that the Igbo tribe have, and he dislikes them. Once Christianity is introduced to him, he joins right away and absorbs the
faith. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe describes the reasons that lead up to Nwoye’s final decision to become Christian. This teaches us that our culture and individuals in our life affect our choices that may be considered abnormal. Leaving a culture and going on your own is part of finding who you really are and where you fit in. Nwoye shows this when he follows what his heart desires even though it may have been hard to go on his own after being told what to do for years.