Differences In Things Fall Apart
It is not a mystery that humans have differences. Some humans have different mental and/or physical differences. History has shown that differences (physical or mental) have let to wars and disagreements. The novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, show that categories between race and ethnicities have been used to empower and oppress by murdering those who are “inferior” and treating differently those who are “inferior”.
The novel shows that European missionaries have murdered those who disagreed with them because they (the Europeans) were “superior” and the Africans were “inferior”. In the story, the main character, Okonkwo, killed one of his clansmen accidentally and was sentenced to live 7 years in exile. He was visited by his friend, …show more content…
In the story, Okonkwo is getting ready to move back into his fatherland after spending 7 years in exile, and he call all of his children to talk to the about their brother, whom left his old customs and beliefs to follow the white man’s beliefs. Okonkwo says, “’You have all seen the great abomination of your brother. Now he is no longer my son or your brother. I will only have a son who is a man, who will hold his head up among my people. If any one of you prefers to be a woman, let him follow Nwoye now while I am alive so that I can curse him. If you turn against me when I am dead I will visit you and break your neck’” (172). Okonkwo makes it clear to his children that he will not treat them as his child, if they chose to follow the same path Nwoye chose to follow, but he will treat them as his enemy. By Okonkwo stating that he wants his male children to be men and expressing himself so negatively of women, he is stating that women are “inferior” to men and he will oppress his children that would prefer to be a woman. After Okonkwo’s return to his fatherland, the Europeans have changed many things. A Christian follower destroyed one of Okonkwo’s spirits and as a result some of his clansmen destroyed the European church. The Europeans became angry and set up a trap for the most important people in Umuofia. The European District Commissioner said, “”We shall not do you any harm,’ said the District Commissioner to them later, ’if only you agree to cooperate with us. We have brought a peaceful administration to you and your people so that you may be happy’” (194). The District Commissioner explains that they will not do any harm to them if they cooperate. By saying the words “us”, “you”, and “your”, he is saying that he does not see the Africans as equals. He is using his power to oppress the Africans and force them to do what he wants. Categories in race and ethnicity have been used by humans empower and
The novel shows that European missionaries have murdered those who disagreed with them because they (the Europeans) were “superior” and the Africans were “inferior”. In the story, the main character, Okonkwo, killed one of his clansmen accidentally and was sentenced to live 7 years in exile. He was visited by his friend, …show more content…
In the story, Okonkwo is getting ready to move back into his fatherland after spending 7 years in exile, and he call all of his children to talk to the about their brother, whom left his old customs and beliefs to follow the white man’s beliefs. Okonkwo says, “’You have all seen the great abomination of your brother. Now he is no longer my son or your brother. I will only have a son who is a man, who will hold his head up among my people. If any one of you prefers to be a woman, let him follow Nwoye now while I am alive so that I can curse him. If you turn against me when I am dead I will visit you and break your neck’” (172). Okonkwo makes it clear to his children that he will not treat them as his child, if they chose to follow the same path Nwoye chose to follow, but he will treat them as his enemy. By Okonkwo stating that he wants his male children to be men and expressing himself so negatively of women, he is stating that women are “inferior” to men and he will oppress his children that would prefer to be a woman. After Okonkwo’s return to his fatherland, the Europeans have changed many things. A Christian follower destroyed one of Okonkwo’s spirits and as a result some of his clansmen destroyed the European church. The Europeans became angry and set up a trap for the most important people in Umuofia. The European District Commissioner said, “”We shall not do you any harm,’ said the District Commissioner to them later, ’if only you agree to cooperate with us. We have brought a peaceful administration to you and your people so that you may be happy’” (194). The District Commissioner explains that they will not do any harm to them if they cooperate. By saying the words “us”, “you”, and “your”, he is saying that he does not see the Africans as equals. He is using his power to oppress the Africans and force them to do what he wants. Categories in race and ethnicity have been used by humans empower and