Compare and Contrast Paper on the Book Things Fall Apart

In "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, we find that the characters in this book are sometimes similar due to their environment. However, as their environment changes, we find that really these characters are in fact different as well. This paper will explore how Okonkwo and Nwaye, while from the same tribe and family are different, in some ways, they are also the same.

"Things Fall Apart" is really a story about the tragedy of one man. While this is clearly about Achebe's own culture, "Things Fall Apart" is a book that everyone can relate to in some way. Like Okonkwo and Nwoye, father and son relationships can be complicated and hard. While "Things Fall Apart" teaches us about a new culture, we are also reminded that these themes of differences and similarities are present in our own families.

For this paper, I chose to compare and contrast Okonkwo, the main character, and his son, Nwoye. No two characters could be more different, but still have a common thread of similarity (family). Through this paper, I will show how very different, but similar, they both are.

Contrast

It is clear from the beginning that Okonkwo and Nwoye are very different, and in fact, contrast. Okonkwo is a hard working, hard headed leader, and Nwoye is a shy and sometimes lazy dreamer. This leads Okonkwo to pretty much hate his own son, and naturally, Nwoye resents him for it through the entire book.

The way that they contrast the most is probably through their personality. Like all father's Okonkwo wanted his son to be just like him. "Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man. He would stamp out the disquieting signs of laziness which he thought he already saw in him." (Achebe, 33). Likewise, Nwoye wanted to be nothing like his father.

Another way that Okonkwo and Nwoye contrasted was in their emotions. Okonkwo generally showed no emotion unless it was anger, hatred or greed. "Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly unless it be the emotion of anger." (Achebe, 28). Nwoye was the complete opposite, showing genuine care for his family and being so emotional that Okonkwo hated him for it. Okonkwo was also very violent, and Nwoye was not. "Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories his mother used to tell..." (Achebe, 53).

One of the best examples of Okonkwo and Nwoye being different emotionally is when Okonkwo was told to kill his adopted son, Ikemefuna. Nwoye was very close to Ikemefuna and Okonkwo really loved the boy, but would not let his emotions overrule the law of his tribe. "Later in the day he called Ikemefuna and told him he was to be taken home the next day. Nwoye overheard it and burst into tears, whereupon his father beat him heavily." (Achebe, 57). And later, Okonkwo further shows his lack of emotion when the boy is killed; "He heard Ikemefuna cry, "My father, they have killed me!" as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak." (Achebe, 61).

This leads us to see that Okonkwo and Nwoye have very different beliefs, which later turns into different religions. Nwoye loved his adopted brother and even though he was a gentle boy, would probably have never killed Ikemefuna just because the tribe said to.

Another main theme in this book is religion and the invasion of the Christian missionaries into their village. It is obvious in the book that Okonkwo is very rooted in the old ways, and would never embrace Christianity. However, once he returns to his village after 7 years in exile, he finds that the Christians have pretty much taken over his village. He also finds that Nwoye has embraced the new religion. "But there was a young lad that had been captivated. His name was Nwoye, Okonkwo's first son. " (Achebe, 147).

While Nwoye loved and embraced the new ideas, Okonkwo was ready to kill or hurt the Christians if it comes down to it. "Let us not reason like cowards, said Okonkwo. If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his hand. This is what a man does. These people are daily pouring filth over us, and Okeke says we should pretend not to see." (Achebe, 159).

Compare

Strangely, while Okonkwo and Nwoye are clearly opposites, they also have some very revealing similarities. One that really stands out is that they both hated their fathers. "Okonkwo was ruled by one passion-to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and the other was idleness." (Achebe, 13). It is this similarity that really drives father and son apart, because Nwoye is very much like his grandfather.

Another very obvious way that they are similar is that they are part of the same family and therefore, a part of the same culture. Although they were as different as night and day, they were tied by blood and culture-they ate the same food, spoke the same language, and had the same beliefs (for a while anyway).

Ikemefuna is the best example of how Nwoye and Okonkwo were similar. Even though he was not a member of their family, Nwoye thought of him as a brother and Okonkwo thought of him as a son. "Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy-inwardly of course." (Achebe, 28).

Ultimately, Okonkwo and Nwoye showed comparisons in their life because they both eventually became alienated from their culture. Nwoye joined the Christian faith and Okonkwo was driven out of the tribe because he fatally shot a boy. Okonkwo's alienation was the most complete when he killed himself, a sin in his culture, and his tribe didn't even want to bury or touch his body. "It is an abomination for a man to take his own life." (Achebe, 207).

In the end, we see that Okonkwo and Nwoye are clearly contrasting characters. Their similarities are only on the surface and are naturally occurring (family, culture). However, deep down, they both know that they are very different from each other, and this contrast drives them apart. Essentially, it is Okonkwo's own angry behavior that leads to his death, and Nwoye's own gentle nature that leads him to find a new religion and salvation.