Thursday, February 7, 2008
Things Fall Apart: Chapter 16
Chapter 16 brings yet another twist to the novel. Now, they're dealing with missonaries. Okonkwo, along with most of the Africans won't come to believe what the newcomers are saying. There is just way too much in the Christian religion for them to believe. Things such as: the holy trinity being three in one, and god having a son but no wife. Many of them find it funny and walk away laughing. However, some, like Nwoye, find the new religion captivating. For Nwoye, it held all the answers he has been searching for his entire life. What happened to Ikemefuna... what happened to the little baby twins... he found all his answers in this new religion. I'm not sure what kind of trouble this may cause further into the novel, but it definitely can't have a good outcome. These men are more poetic and there is no way Okonkwo will let something like this detour his son from becoming a good hard worker.
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I think Achebe uses the whole "exile" for 7 years thing to get Okonkwo away from the tribe just so he can have him return back to the village after-the-fact, and the whites are already infiltrating his old village.
I agree with your take on there being "way too much Christianity" for them to understand. The 1st preacher is kind of nice though. the 2nd one isn't as nice as we later come to learn.
To folks like Nwoye and the other village cast-offs, this is a place of acceptance where there normally isn't any to be found. I think Nwoye's childhood shows this.
I'm also glad Nwoye stands up to his father for a change. It's sad they have a falling out, but can you blame him for leaving?
Mr. Farrell
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