Things Fall Apart :: essays research papers

After the shopworn market crash of 1929, hundreds of people ended their lives because they just couldnt cope with the feature that they had missed such a great deal of money. Some had lost their life savings - but most hadnt. In fact, most of them lifelessness had enough to livebetter than a lot of lower-class families. but why had they committed felo-de-se? Many prisoners who have been institutionalized for thirty or forty years have been known to commit suicide not long after they ar released. Why? Isnt freedom a better alternativethan imprison manpowert? The answer to both these questions is the same CHANGE. unconstipated if the change is for the better, a good number of people crumbt handle it. In the novel Things fall Apart, the main character Okonkwo is driven to suicide by change he cant handle. The book is written by Cinua Achebe, a 20th century author. Born in Nigeria, Achebe grew up in a transitional culture much like the one described in the book. He is currentl y a professor of literature at the University of Nigeria. Many factors can beattributed to the cause of Okonkwos demise, But the three most drastic ones be hissons conversion to Christianity, the change in daily life the new righteousness brings, and his frustration caused by his apathetic clansmen. Nwoyes conversion to Christianity was a sharp liquidate to Okonkwo because the Christians are looked down upon as being insane. The missionary tells them that all of the Ibos gods are false images of wood and stone, and can do them no harm. Upon hearingthis, the men of Mbanta decide that these men must be mad for how else could they saythat Ani and Amadiora were harmless? And Idemili and Ogwugwo in like manner?(146) The missionary goes on to tell them about the Holy Trinity. At the end of it Okonkwo is fully convinced that the man is mad.(147) Also, the first members of the new churchwere the clans rejects, like Nnka who has had quadruple previous pregnancies and childbirths. but e ach time she bears twins, and they had been immediately thrown away. Her economise and his family were already becoming highly critical of such a charr and are not unduly perturbed when they find that she has fled to join the Christians. It is a good riddance.(151) The other conclave of people that join are the osu, or outcasts. The changes the new religion brings just about pushes Okonkwo to the edge.