Things Fall Apart Nwoye Identity
From Columbus to Magellan, exploring and conquering nations is a colossal part of Earth’s history. The primary goal is to circulate faith and acquire resources, causing Christianity and European influence to spread worldwide. In Things Fall Apart, the second and third sections of the book are all about how Western culture impacted Igbo society. Specifically, the character of Nwoye and his reactions to the introduction of European visitors, and the questioning of his identity thereafter shapes the overall theme that cultures have an inevitable death. Nwoye responds positively to the new Christian culture, consequently creating a conflict to the views of his native people. Okonkwo, the central character of the book, has harsh expectations of
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The Igbo have a solid, seemingly unmovable set of moral and intellectual laws, including the belief of honoring ancestors and keeping order in a man’s house. But with the simple act of Nwoye drifting from these once inarguable truths, it goes to show that his cultural identity holds no water when put to the test. Achebe utilizes this plot for the intended effect of displaying that culture has an inevitable death. To further substantiate the claim, one must look at a short period of America’s existence from 1900 to 2000, where you see a multitude of changing ethics, standards and ways of life that prove the cultural cycle of life and death. For example, the conservative ideologies of women’s roles as homemakers only and the taboo of any talk about sex in the 50’s have since been ousted; this created a period of uncertainty and opposition conclusively leading to a transition away from usual customs, which is exactly what Nwoye’s storyline demonstrates. The response of Nwoye points to the fact that the everyday conventions of the Igbo were bound to disintegrate either way, just as some of America’s traditions have. Humans have a natural need of understanding, identity and freedom, all of which form a cycle that promotes the creation of new culture, and inducing the end of another. Nwoye exhibits the desire for these things: investigating what he does not know, belonging to a place where he gets to know himself and the
The Igbo have a solid, seemingly unmovable set of moral and intellectual laws, including the belief of honoring ancestors and keeping order in a man’s house. But with the simple act of Nwoye drifting from these once inarguable truths, it goes to show that his cultural identity holds no water when put to the test. Achebe utilizes this plot for the intended effect of displaying that culture has an inevitable death. To further substantiate the claim, one must look at a short period of America’s existence from 1900 to 2000, where you see a multitude of changing ethics, standards and ways of life that prove the cultural cycle of life and death. For example, the conservative ideologies of women’s roles as homemakers only and the taboo of any talk about sex in the 50’s have since been ousted; this created a period of uncertainty and opposition conclusively leading to a transition away from usual customs, which is exactly what Nwoye’s storyline demonstrates. The response of Nwoye points to the fact that the everyday conventions of the Igbo were bound to disintegrate either way, just as some of America’s traditions have. Humans have a natural need of understanding, identity and freedom, all of which form a cycle that promotes the creation of new culture, and inducing the end of another. Nwoye exhibits the desire for these things: investigating what he does not know, belonging to a place where he gets to know himself and the