TRADITION VS.

CHANGE:

Much of the novel centers on Umuofia traditions of marriage, burial, and harvest, Achebe’s decision to
use a third person narrator instead of writing the book from Okonkwo’s perspective demonstrates just
how central the idea of tradition is to the book, since the third person narrator can more objectively
describe facets of Umuofia society their love of proverbs or how they make judicial decisions, for
example-to the reader than Okonkwo could as an insider to these rituals. As the quote in the epigraph
suggests, though, these traditions that form the center of Umuofia society cannot survive in the face of
major changes occurring around them. As the white men enter the clans and impose their world order
upon them, Umuofia society spirals apart.

Okonkwo and his son Nwoye also symbolize tradition and change, respectively. Okonkwo’s character
represents tradition, since he holds conventional ideas of rank, reputation, and masculinity in high
esteem. As the book progresses, however, Okonkwao begins to fall out of favor with the clans, and his
descent signals the crumbling of traditional Umuofia society. His adherence to tradition also drives him
to kill his own surrogate son. Ikemefuna, driving away Nwoye in the process. Nwoye feels cold when he
contemplates certain aspects of Umuofia society such as leaving infant twins out to die and the idea of
sacrificing innocents like Ikemefuna and this pushes him to join the Christians when he’s given the
chance later in the novel.

FATE VS. FREE WILL:

From the start, Okonkwo’s will seems to drive his ascent in Umuofia society. He rises from being the son
of a debtor to being one of the leaders of the clan, thanks to his hard work and aggression. He becomes
known for his wrestling prowess, and we are told that this cannot be attributed to luck: “when a man
says yes his chi says yes also. Okonkwo said yes very strongly; so his chi agreed.” However, once things
start turning sour for Okonkwo, he begins to blame his fate. This begins with Ikemefuna’s death.
Ikemefuna, along with the infant twins of the novel, represent the most straightforward victims-they
aren’t given a chance to act, but are instead acted upon violently. (The ill fated lad was called
Ikemefuna.”) Okonkwo blames the Oracle for his part in murdering Ikemefuna. However, Ezeudu, and by
Okonkwo’s neighbor Obierika advised him had not to take part or not. Later, when Okonkwo’s gun
splinters and he accidentally kills one of Ezeudu’s sons, Okonkwo faces exile. Although his crops do well
in the neighboring clan and he is allowed to return in seven years (thanks to his will). Okonkwo is
completely discouraged by the experience (his fate).

LANGUAGE:
Language is a vital part of Umuofia society. Strong orators like Ogbuefi Ezeugo are celebrated and given
honorable burials. Because clan meetings are so important for organization and decision-making, these
speakers play an important role for society. Storytelling is also a form of education for the clan-whether
they’re masculine war stories or feminine fables, storytelling defines different roles for clan members
and moves them to action. Even western religion takes hold because of story and song: when Nwoye
first hears a hymn, it marks the beginning of his transition from clan member to Christian. The white
District Commissioner also notes the importance of language to the Umuofia. When speaking with
Obierika, he thinks: “One of the most infuriating habits of these people was their love of superfluous
words, suggesting that white people prefer straightforwardness and directness. Achebe’s decision to
translate several words from the Igbo language throughout the novel takes back Some of this power,
however, by suggesting that there are African ideas that cannot be adequately described in English.
Achebe also uses repetition and idioms to create a more African style while writing in English .

MASCULINITY:

Okonkwo dedicates himself to being as masculine as possible, and through his rise to become a
powerful man of his tribe and subsequent fall both within the tribe and in the eyes of his son Nwoye, the
novel explores the idea of masculinity. Okonkwo believes in traditional gender roles, and it pains him
that his son Nwoye is not more aggressive like he is. As a result, it’s revealing that he expresses the wish
that his daughter Ezinma were a boy-from this we know how fond he is of her. Additionally, in a meeting
towards the very beginning of the book, Okonkwo insults a man without title by calling him a woman,
demonstrating how much masculinity is valued when ranking those in Umuofia society, Ultimately,
though. Okonkwo’s adherence to masculinity and aggression leads to his fall in society-he becomes
unable to cope with the changes taking place in his clan. In keeping with this principle of masculinity.
Okonkwo forces himself to kill his own surrogate son, murder the white man against his better
judgment, and hang himself before a punishment can be imposed by others. Okonkwo’s aggression
makes him weak in the end it leaves him with no room to maneuver against the more subtle ways of the
white man. Nwoye struggles with this idea of masculinity, as he wants to please his father by being
aggressive and traditional, but ultimately, he’s repelled by the violence in Umuofia rituals and joins the
Christians. Nwoye’s departure can also be linked to this idea from Okonkwo’s uncle, Uchendu, after the
family is exiled from Umuofia: “It’s true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats his
child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut” Likewise, after being beaten by his father. Nwoye leaves to
seek solace in the more feminine and seemingly gentle Christian religion

RELIGION :

Religion is the main arena where both cultural differences and similarities play out at the end of the
novel. Religion represents order in both societies, but they manifest differently. While religion in
Umuofia society is based on agriculture, religion is seen as education in the white man’s world. As a
result, the gods in Umuofia society are more fearsome, since clan members are at the mercy of natural
cycles for their livelihood. Mr. Brown, the white missionary, dislikes this idea of fearing your god, but in
fact the white man’s religion takes root using fear tactics as well. When clan members break certain laws
or displease the white men, they’re locked up, starved, and beaten.

The dialogue between one of the clan leaders of a neighboring tribe, Akunna, and Mr. Brown reveals
how much both systems of religion have in common. Akunna agrees, for example, that their wooden
carvings of deities are just that-wooden carvings-but he likens it to the Christ figure of Mr. Brown.
Akunna expresses what the narrator has already suggested that the Umuofia people only pretend to
believe in certain aspects of their religion, such as the masked gods who are really tribe members
wearing masks. This dialogue about religion does a lot to carry out Achebe’s mission of depicting
Nigerian society as one that’s far from primitive-depicting it instead as a culture with mythologies and
ritual, Western religion breaks order in the Umuofia society by taking in outcasts and clan members
without title and giving them power. By taking power away from the clan’s authorities, western religion
destroys the clan’s old methods of justice and order, creating an apocalyptic scenario for the clan’s
former way of Life.