Things Fall Apart

The society, which Okonkwo lives, Umofia, experiences a number of large changes to their traditions and Okonkwo cannot accept these changes. The Europeans are people from a totally different background challenge this society by offering Christian missionaries and government officials, which then leads to nothing but tragedy. Okonkwo becomes frustrated by the changes that he can’t control, and also by some converts in his community, and especially his son, Nwoye.

Okonkwo values the traditions and leadership in his society as they provide him with a high status and a strong identity in the community, but these changes that are introduced by the missionaries are threatening this. The European colonialists expose the gods of Umofia as nothing but wood, which really informs the community that their beliefs are misleading and should convert to Christianity. Okonkwo is really affected by this as losing the tradition would eliminate his identity.

The religious traditions that give...