A Fractured Society

In “Things Fall Apart” I was intrigued by how it distributed the blame of the Ibo colonization by the Europeans. Instead of presenting the colonists as the oppressor and the villagers as the victims, Achebe’s world is much more nuanced. “Things Fall Apart” breaks the mold by introducing white men who epitomize ignorance, greed and injustice as well as sympathetic and peaceful missionaries who spread Christian principles while still respecting the Ibo culture. Nor are the Ibo innocent victims; indeed, Ibo social values lead directly to the alienation of tribe members who were the first to convert to Christianity. The tribe is wrought with physical and verbal violence, especially towards the weak and defenseless – women, children and those deemed “not man enough.” The poster-child for this brutality is Okonkwo, a character who routinely beats his family members because he is too terrified of being seen as weak. It is therefore significant that the biggest opponent of the colonists, Okonkwo, is also the novel’s least admirable character due in part to his role as a bully.
It would be disingenuous to go so far as to say that the Ibo “had it coming.” But it would also be wrong to overlook the consequences of creating a society that alienated so many. In this case the welcoming, accepting, not to mention largely peaceful attitude of the missionaries was an irresistible attraction to the outcasts of the Ibo tribes. These converts provided the colonists with a foothold to create an entire government seemingly overnight. The summary on the back of my book promises the “destruction of Okonkwo’s world with the arrival of aggressive European missionaries,” but ultimately both sides had significant roles to play in its destruction.