"Things Fall Apart"

Paper Summary:

This paper compares and contrasts the conversion tactics of Mr. Brown and Rev. Smith in Chinua Achebe's book, "Things Fall Apart." The paper discusses the plot and characters of the book, as well as the background of where the book is set. The paper then focuses on the main message that the book aims to impart to its readers, which is the gradual demise of the Igbo culture, of its traditions, customs and religion under the powerful wave of white European civilization.

From the Paper:

"Thus, the tactics of conversion used by the two missionaries are indeed contrastive, since Mr. Brown does token some understanding while Rev. Smith has none, but they are not entirely opposite. There are many instances of the author's sarcasm with respect to the 'good intentions' of both of the missionaries. First of all, the names he gives them put them on an equal footing: Brown and Smith are both typical, nondescript British names. Also, they both have the same obvious end in their missions: to submerge the African culture under the 'superior' white one. Achebe uses ironical, indirect devices to portray both of the methods used: Mr. Smith is seemingly a 'superior' character who is 'greatly distressed' by the 'ignorance' of the people that he is trying to convert to the new religion and who believes, in contrast with Mr. Brown, that only a few, superior and overzealous elect people can have access to real faith: "Mr. Smith was greatly distressed by the ignorance which many of his flock showed even in such things as the Trinity and the Sacraments. It only showed that they were seeds sown on a rocky soil. Mr. Brown had thought of nothing but numbers. He should have known that the kingdom of God did not depend on large crowds. Our Lord Himself stressed the importance of fewness...Our Lord used the whip only once in His life -- to drive the crowd away from the Church."(Achebe, 169)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Greenwich: Fawcett Publications, 1959

More papers on "Things Fall Apart":

• Essay # 137720 : "The End of Clan Unity – Things Fall Apart"
• Book Review # 73875 : "Characterization in Achebe's "Things Fall Apart"
• Book Review # 73851 : "Setting in Achebe's "Things Fall Apart"
• Book Review # 71173 : "Things Fall Apart"

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