Things Fall Apart Online I. Introduction A.

Freedom is defined as the state in which somebody is able to act and live as she or he chooses, without being subject to any undue restraints and restrictions. B. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is a villager of Umuofia, but is sent along with his family as an outcast due to an accidental killing. During this whole time, missionaries come with British government officials to establish a stable government and bring a new religion. C. By a simile, the author establishes his purpose of fading traditions while comparing Okonkwo and his son, Nwoye by their personalities. Body (PEA Paragraph) A. Okonkwo and Nwoye are both similar in the way of enjoying hard work such as cutting wood or working the yam fields. 1. Nothing pleased Nwoye now more than to be sent for by his mother or another of his fathers wives to do one of those difficult and masculine tasks in the home, like splitting wood, or pounding food (52). 2. Nwoye cutting the wood or pounding food is the same tasks that any man would do in the tribe and because of his hard working demeanor, Okonkwo can see himself in Nwoye. Thus, Nwoye can be compared to Okonkwo in the work that he does. B. Nwoyes attitude is entirely different from Okonkwos with his lazy and carefree manner, but Okonkwo is always trying to find work and tries to be masculine. 1. Okonkwos first son, Nwoye, was then twelve years old but was already causing his father great anxiety for his incipient laziness (13). 2. Nwoye can be seen differently from his father for his laziness, which Okonkwo hates more than anything. It can be seen that Okonkwo can see the difference from comparing his son to himself by his anxiety. C. The authors purpose to include these two important characters is to show the fight between the traditional customs from Umuofia and the new government introduced along with Christianity. It is also to show how traditions are being lost. 1. A sudden fury rose within him and he felt a strong desire to take up his machete go to the church and wipe out the entire vile and miscreant gang (153). 2. Okonkwos anger is directed at the church that converts his son, Nwoye, who becomes a firm believer. This is an example of how the new customs that come, the new religion, start to take over the villages traditions, their old religion. Nwoye is seen as an example of a person who is overtaken by the new religion and decides to abandon the villages beliefs.

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D. To imply the purpose of traditions being taken over by new ideas, the author uses a significant literary technique, a simile. The simile is specifically directed towards Nwoye whose life changes after being introduced to Christianity though it conflicts with his traditional religion. 1. The words of the hymn were like the crops of frozen rain melting on the dry palate of the panting earth (147). 2. This simile represents Christianity as Nwoyes new belief after being unsatisfied with his old religion, comparing it to rain meeting the dry ground. Nwoye is one of the many examples of traditions being lost after the missionaries came and the meaning is implied through the simile. Conclusion A. Nwoye and Okonkwos similar trait of hard work can be seen as them being compared. However, their attitudes are what sets them apart as Nwoye is seen as lazy while Okonkwo as a hard worker. The author uses these two to show the differences that come when the missionaries come in and convert the villagers. The old is replaced by the new. B. Old traditions leaving and new customs being introduced can be seen all over the world such as in third world countries; change being radical it can be quoted as out with the old and in with the new.