Character Analysis: Things Fall Apart By Kayana Woods

Kayana Woods
I feel that I am more like Conrad and Beth. Conrad has a very violent side of him, as well as myself. I have calmed down a lot from it, but I know that I still have it in me. It took little effort for me to snap in the way Conrad did in chapter 22. I had a history of being suspended every year throughout middle and high school. Having a lot of altercations with my mom, dad, family, and friends. Still to this day I have my days when I get into my moods. Saying the littlest thing can set me off. I had anger built up for years because of the absence of my father. In Conrad’s case, him and his mother don’t have that relationship, so I can understand why he is so distant and rude to her. A lot of my anger came from the absence of
I just go with the flow. While reading, Conrad did what he felt would help him with feeling guilty with what happened with his brother. Beth felt that not talking to Conrad and going on trips was her outlet on how to deal with her issues. I can understand why they did that. Cal did not agree with the way Beth did the things she did. He wanted her and Conrad to talk. “Let’s go upstairs.” (Pg.112) Cal wanted Beth and Conrad to talk but Beth didn’t want to. Beth being angry with Conrad caused a big division between her and Cal. Conrad and Beth would have arguments and run ins, “You never wanted to know anything I was doing, or anything I wasn’t doing” you just wanted me to leave you alone!” (Pg. 110). Con felt that Beth didn’t think of him, nor care about him or the things he did. Like when it came to Conrad leaving the swim team and him not telling Beth and Cal. “I’m sure I would have told you, Conrad says, “If I thought you gave a damn!” (Pg. 109) Beth and Conrad are both stubborn I noticed. Beth doesn’t want to talk to Conrad because she may feel she will have to face the fact of her son’s death. Conrad doesn’t want to talk because he is mad about Beth not coming to see him at the hospital after he tried to take his life. I can be like them both when it comes to circumstances like that. Someone doesn’t want to talk to me, I don’t want to talk to them either. Even though the end of the story did not go as planned, Conrad learned to understand the absence of Beth is not his fault or anyone else’s. As long as Beth runs from this situation it will continue to eat her up. I learned that even when you don’t want to face reality and accept it, that is the only way you will be happier with