Chapter 5 and 6- Things Fall Apart

"Okonkwo cleared his throat and moved his feet to the beat of the drums. It filled him with fire as it had always done from his youth. He trembled with the desire to conquer and subdue. It was like the desire for woman" (Achebe 42).

​Part II: How is imperialism ​encouraged by patriotism​, religion​, &/or a sense of cultural​/

racial superiority ​in Chinua Achebe’s ​Things Fall Apart​ ​/ the past​?

Okonkwo is a perfect representation of a man who is constantly seeking power and superiority over others. Because of Okonkwo's past, being the son of an unsuccessful and weak man, he constantly seeks to sustain his rank by making sure nothing threatens his social status. Although Okonkwo has many wives and a good number of yams, he still fears that he could lose it all and become like his father. Okonkwo's father (Unoka) was a horrible role model who in turn has created fear in Okonkwo, the fear of becoming like his father. This fear has created anger in Okonkwo as well which is evident when he beats his wives for minor wrongdoings. Because of the time period, beating one's wives was not considered immoral because a man's wife was like a man's property. Therefore, Okonkwo constantly takes out his anger on his wives, and in turn feels a sense of superiority and power after doing so.

Chapter 3 and 4- Things Fall Apart

"Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men usually had. He did no inherit a barn from his father. There was no barn to inherit" (Achebe 16).

"Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society."

Unlike typical young men of his tribe, Okonkwo did not receive the luxuries that most young men inherited from their father as they grew up. Okonkwo had to gain these luxuries on his own through hard work and dedication. Because of his setbacks given to him by his father, Okonkwo faced many difficulties and struggles in life. These setbacks are possibly the reason behind his lack of emotion and his constant need to lay down an iron fist. Many people in our day and age have things handed over to them whether it be money, a new car, clothes, etc. But within our society you will sometimes come across a person who has earned their luxuries not from their parents, but through their own hard work, because they too, like Okonkwo lack a strong backbone (parents with money). People like these are essential to our society because they teach us that not everything can be handed over to you. Hard work is key to success and without this knowledge the rate of success among people within our society or society in general would be very low.

Chapter 1 and 2- Things Fall Apart

"When Unoka died he had taken no title at all and he was heavily in debt. Any wonder then that his son Okonkwo was ashamed of him? Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father. Okonkwo was clearly cut out for great things. He was still young but he had won fame as the greatest wrestler in the nine villages" (Achebe 8).

"Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society"

I qualify this statement. Okonkwo, the main character of "Things Fall Apart" is a very self-made character. After watching his father, what most people look up to as a role model, fail miserably at life he decided he didn't want to be anything like his father. His father being an unsuccessful man who died in debt, was no role model for Okonkwo. Because of Okonkwo's individuality he was able to create a better name and life for himself than the one his father led. Although Okonkwo lays down rules with an iron fist, he does so because of his fear of becoming anything like his father. But this fear could possibly heighten and lead to great harm for his surroundings (wives, children, etc.). Therefore, I conclude that although individuality is important to society because of the great values it presents (hard work, dedication, etc.), it can lead to great danger for society as the individual's fear of loosing their successes presents tension and anger.