Samantha Chang

Things Fall Apart

In the novel, Things Fall Apart, the author, Chinua Achebe explores how
nature or nurture impacts the characters personal lives throughout the
story. I believe that nurture plays a bigger role in the story, rather than
nature as it shows within the characters actions and mindset.
One reason I maintain this position is because of Ezinma, one of
Okonkwos daughters. Ezinma was and had everything that her father
wanted in a son. Even if all his sons were hard-working and strong, he still
wished that Ezinma was born a boy because he sees in her, as one. In the
novel, Okonkwo says, She should have been a boy, he thought as he
looked at his ten-year-old daughter. (pg. 64) This means that Okonkwo
knew how a young boy should be and act. Only to figure out that he should
have showed his sons a more difficult and harder way of doing things only
men should do in the village. He thought of why only his daughter had the
correct mind for young men. When she had exited out of his obi, he kept
that thought in his mind, saying it over again. Additionally, she would obey
every task and request her father asked of her. For example, the text says,
She understood things so perfectly, whoever among his children could
read his thoughts as well (pg. ) This shows that, since they have been
around each other for so long, she has gotten used to seeing how
Okonkwo felt. He would not dare to show any emotions in front of his sons,
or they would know that showing feelings are signs of weakness, and that
their father - a very strong and important man in the village - is a coward.
Another reason I maintain this position is because of Nwoye, Okonkwos
oldest son. Okonkwo considered him effeminate, very much like his father,
Unoka. Slowly, when the white men had arrived to the village, Nwoye
became utterly curious about the new faith, CHad arrived. For example, the
narrator says, He would return later to his mother and his brothers, and
sisters and convert them to the new faith. (ch.17) This means that Nwoye
was considering changing to the new faith rather than following his regular

cultural traditions and rituals. He knew that this was wrong, but he thought
that he could convert his family. Furthermore, he went on and joined the
missionaries and converted into Christianity. Now he is no longer my son
or your brother. (pg.172) This shows that, even though other villagers also
converted to Christianity, they, too, were disowned by their family or their
family converted with them. As Okonkwo did with Nwoye. Okonkwo was not
happy with his eldest son's life choice.
In conclusion, in the novel Things Fall Apart, I believe that nurture has a
more of an impact with the characters than nature because, from what Ive
learned throughout the story, more of the characters seemed to follow the
regulations, traditions and rituals of the village.