Persuasive Essay Things Fall Apart
Franklin Del Cid
Ms. Tjarks
English 10
6 November 2014 Okonkwo vs. Christianity Things Fall Apart takes place in a Nigerian tribe such as the one Okonkwo, the main protagonist, lives in. Okonkwo is a very independent, impatient African leader. Throughout the story the tribe Umofia demonstrates many of their religious beliefs, traditions and ways they go about their normal life. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe Okonkwo is affected by Christianity, impacting the way he is accepted back into Umofia or the way he lives. Okonkwo’s eldest son, Nwoye, was supposed to follow in Okonkwo’s footsteps and become this big, strong image just like his father instead he turned to the new faith Christianity. Nwoye knew he couldn’t tell his father that he supported Christianity because he knew his father wouldn’t allow it, as the text states, “Although Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the first day he kept it secret…for fear of his father” (Achebe 149). When Nwoye leaves after having an altercation with his father, Okonkwo feels disappointed because he had high expectations for Nwoye. He later tells himself that “Living fire begets cold impotent ash” (Achebe 153), meaning that Okonkwo as the living fire begets or makes impotent or useless ash referring to Nwoye. Okonkwo was affected by Christianity because Christianity took Okonkwo’s eldest son, and after Nwoye stopped seeing Okonkwo as a father he told Obierika, “I am one of them”, “I don’t know he is not my father” (Achebe 144). After being exiled for seven years, Okonkwo returned to his homeland Umofia. After being gone for that amount of time, Okonkwo realized that he had lost his position and he was going to work to gain it back. Christianity affected Okonkwo’s rise to power whether it was people not wanting to follow him anymore or just him knowing that he couldn’t overcome the new faith. Okonkwo tried to convince his fellow villagers to destroy the missionaries, but they never
Ms. Tjarks
English 10
6 November 2014 Okonkwo vs. Christianity Things Fall Apart takes place in a Nigerian tribe such as the one Okonkwo, the main protagonist, lives in. Okonkwo is a very independent, impatient African leader. Throughout the story the tribe Umofia demonstrates many of their religious beliefs, traditions and ways they go about their normal life. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe Okonkwo is affected by Christianity, impacting the way he is accepted back into Umofia or the way he lives. Okonkwo’s eldest son, Nwoye, was supposed to follow in Okonkwo’s footsteps and become this big, strong image just like his father instead he turned to the new faith Christianity. Nwoye knew he couldn’t tell his father that he supported Christianity because he knew his father wouldn’t allow it, as the text states, “Although Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the first day he kept it secret…for fear of his father” (Achebe 149). When Nwoye leaves after having an altercation with his father, Okonkwo feels disappointed because he had high expectations for Nwoye. He later tells himself that “Living fire begets cold impotent ash” (Achebe 153), meaning that Okonkwo as the living fire begets or makes impotent or useless ash referring to Nwoye. Okonkwo was affected by Christianity because Christianity took Okonkwo’s eldest son, and after Nwoye stopped seeing Okonkwo as a father he told Obierika, “I am one of them”, “I don’t know he is not my father” (Achebe 144). After being exiled for seven years, Okonkwo returned to his homeland Umofia. After being gone for that amount of time, Okonkwo realized that he had lost his position and he was going to work to gain it back. Christianity affected Okonkwo’s rise to power whether it was people not wanting to follow him anymore or just him knowing that he couldn’t overcome the new faith. Okonkwo tried to convince his fellow villagers to destroy the missionaries, but they never
Cited: Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.