Things Fall Apart

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Blue Rice 2/16/11 Things Fall Apart In the early days of the Ibo culture, they were happy and satisfied with their way of living. Sadly this all changed when Western ideas started showing up in their villages and changing the lives of many, one of which was already confused about who he was. In Things Fall Apart a young man named Nwoye is the son of one of the greatest men in his village of Umofia. His father, Okonkwo, was such a great leader and warrior. He was an all-around successful man in his culture. Okonkwo was strong, masculine and also very violent. However, Nwoye did not take on any of the characteristics of his father. When the Western missionaries came to the villages, some people accepted them and welcomed them while others disagreed with them. To some the missionaries had no impact on. However the Western ideas did have a huge impact on Nwoye which changed his true self and altered his identity. Even before the westerners had stepped foot onto Ibo land, Nwoye was and outcast in his society. With his father being so great and successful, Nwoye had a high standard to live up to. One of which he could not match. Okonkwo sees Nwoye as his father, a weak and lazy failure to society. But Okonkwo's hope for Nwoye is lifted once Ikemefuma is introduced into the story. Ikemefuna is like an older brother to Nwoye and the son Okonkwo always wanted. Nwoye starts to learn from Ikemefuna. Nwoye starts to learn how to become more masculine without the intensiveness behind it. Okonkwo finally sees that there is hope for Nwoye and credits it towards Ikemefuna's company; “Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son’s development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna. He wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of ruling his father’s household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors. He wanted him to be a prosperous man, having enough in his barn

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