| Please Edit This Essay for me |
[08 Dec 2005|10:53pm] |
In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the primary father-son conflict is between Okonkwo and his son Nwoye. Okonkwo’s ideals represent those of the Umuofian society in which he lives; therefore, he has achieved status and respect within the tribe. However, Nwoye does not have the same ideals as his father, which results in a conflict that compels Nwoye to turn to Christianity rather than continue to flounder within the Umuofian set of moral standards. Nwoye, though not outwardly condescending of his father’s teachings, eagerly embraces the change resulting from the arrival of the missionaries, as many tribe members do. Okonkwo, however, refuses to accept the tribe’s conversion from an old set of beliefs to a new one, and, as he can no longer thrive within his society, commits suicide. The conflict between the old, conventional ideas and new, relatively radical ones is the major struggle within the novel. Okonkwo and Nwoye’s father-son conflict is a representation of the more general clash between the opposing cultural groups. In the case of the Igbo culture, the change is necessary for survival.
Nwoye’s conflict with Okonkwo represents the necessity of change that is present throughout the novel. Okonkwo wants his son to grow up to be manly and strong. Nwoye initially conforms to his father’s expectations, because otherwise, Okonkwo would beat him. For instance, when Nwoye learns that Ikemefuna was killed, he cries, and is then beaten by Okonkwo. Nwoye’s manliness is a façade, and he prefers his mother’s storytelling to his father’s tales of violence, war, and all things deemed “masculine.” When Nwoye learns that Okonkwo had killed Ikemefuna, he begins to question both Okonkwo’s values and those of the tribe, such as the murder of twin babies and their disposal in the Evil forest. Unlike Okonkwo, Nwoye questions the humanity of such aggression and violence instead of conforming to societal standards. Consequently, he seeks a way out of his father’s forceful rule, and joins the Christian church. For Nwoye, the change (from his father’s ideals to Christian beliefs) was necessary, as he could no longer endure Okonkwo’s firm hand and unwavering attitude.
As a result, a snow day came and Okonkwo and Nwoye died and everyone got off from school.
|
|