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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 pages essay that discusses how Achebe's treatment of minor characters in Things Fall Apart is enlightening not only towards Igbo culture, but also in complementing and contrasting the personality of his protagonist, Okonkwo. The writer specifically discusses Ezeudu, Nwoye and Ezinma. No other sources cited.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khmctfa.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
culture. Achebes protagonist is Okonkwo, who embodies the traditional ideals of his society yet also comes across as realistically human and therefore flawed. Through Okonkwo, Achebe expresses the major paradoxes
involved with the British colonization of Nigeria and how this affected Okonkwos Umuofia-clan village and the Igbo culture in general. While the focus is on Okonkwo, the characterization of numerous
minor actors in this drama serves to both complement and contrast aspects of Okonkwos personality, while also illustrating cultural elements of Igbo society. For example, one of the pivotal
incidents in the novel is when the tribal religious leaders decide that it is time to sacrifice Ikemefuna, a boy who was taken hostage from neighboring village of Mbaino due
to a dispute. Ikemefuna has resided with Okonkwos family for a number of years and calls him "father." Nwoye, Okonkwos biological son, considers Ikemefuna to be a brother. Okonkwo
accepts everything about his culture without question. However, through the minor character of Ezeudu, Achebe is able to voice an opposing stance to Okonkwos position. Ezeudu points out that in
the past, it was the custom to kill any man who broke the peace during a specific religious observance; however, this custom was abandoned "because it spoiled the peace which
it was meant to preserve" (Achebe 33). Ezeudus point is that customs do change and that the practice was consciously altered by the tribe. His point is lost on Okonkwo,
however, who is warned repeatedly by others not to participate in the sacrifice of his stepson. Okonkwo is basically afraid not to participate for fear of appearing weak to his
clansmen. As this suggests, Okonkwo is heavily influenced throughout the novel by the Igbo conception of masculinity, which honors "warriors." He also desires to differentiate himself from his father,
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