Nwoye In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
Growing up in a culture where men should be strong warriors, Nwoye didn’t fit in. He preferred to help his mom rather than working in the field to harvest yams. Nwoye’s father, Okonkwo, didn’t appreciate his son’s lack of strength and manliness, and he disciplined Nwoye every time he was being lazy and unhelpful. Through the many beatings and disappointment from his father, Nwoye’s encounters with the Christian church made a positive impact on him by welcoming him into their accepting society.
Okonkwo despised his father for his lack of strength and “was ruled by one passion- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved.” (Achebe 23) Because of Okonkwo’s fear of weakness, Nwoye grew up in a household where laziness was not tolerated. …show more content…
As the villagers gathered to listen to the teachings, Okonkwo resorted to violence and wanted to “chase the men out of the village or whip them.” (140) Nwoye, however, was captivated and felt a “relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul.” (141) The missionaries’ preaching’s spoke to Nwoye. He had always grown up in a house that wasn’t nice or welcoming, but the missionaries were different. Nwoye despised his father “and was happy to leave him.” (146) Committing to the missionaries meant escaping his father’s disappointment and abuse. It led him to a new lifestyle where he would be accepted and learn the ways of the white men’s teachings. He learned of a new life where violence wasn’t permitted and he could escape judgment. Okonkwo wasn’t as accepting of Nwoye’s new lifestyle as others as he was “…suddenly overcome with great fury, sprang to his feet and gripped him [Nwoye] by the neck.” (145) Okonkwo’s violent reaction only ensured Nwoye that he was making the right choice by joining the missionaries. The missionaries “joy was very great” (145) and Mr. Kiaga, a Christian missionary, blessed him for leaving his family for the missionary’s sake. Only speaking to the Christian’s for a short amount of time, Nwoye was already receiving better treatment than his father had given him during his 14 years of life. The Christian teachings
Okonkwo despised his father for his lack of strength and “was ruled by one passion- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved.” (Achebe 23) Because of Okonkwo’s fear of weakness, Nwoye grew up in a household where laziness was not tolerated. …show more content…
As the villagers gathered to listen to the teachings, Okonkwo resorted to violence and wanted to “chase the men out of the village or whip them.” (140) Nwoye, however, was captivated and felt a “relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul.” (141) The missionaries’ preaching’s spoke to Nwoye. He had always grown up in a house that wasn’t nice or welcoming, but the missionaries were different. Nwoye despised his father “and was happy to leave him.” (146) Committing to the missionaries meant escaping his father’s disappointment and abuse. It led him to a new lifestyle where he would be accepted and learn the ways of the white men’s teachings. He learned of a new life where violence wasn’t permitted and he could escape judgment. Okonkwo wasn’t as accepting of Nwoye’s new lifestyle as others as he was “…suddenly overcome with great fury, sprang to his feet and gripped him [Nwoye] by the neck.” (145) Okonkwo’s violent reaction only ensured Nwoye that he was making the right choice by joining the missionaries. The missionaries “joy was very great” (145) and Mr. Kiaga, a Christian missionary, blessed him for leaving his family for the missionary’s sake. Only speaking to the Christian’s for a short amount of time, Nwoye was already receiving better treatment than his father had given him during his 14 years of life. The Christian teachings