Assimilation In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

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How did assimilation change everyone in Things Fall Apart? There were many people and objects that had to assimilate throughout the book. This assimilation was both positive and negative, but there was no way to avoid it. The three main people and groups of people that assimilated throughout the duration of the novel were Okonkwo, Nwoye, and the village. This assimilation caused families to tear at their seams, their way of life turned upside down, and caused many deaths.

One of the first examples of assimilation reader sees in Things Fall Apart when Okonkwo has to go to his motherland. When Okonkwo arrived in his motherland, his brother-in-law took him in as one of his own. Okonkwo is quick to learn that mother is supreme. He is forced, to a point, to treat his families with respect. After Okonkwo serves his seven years as an outcast, he comes back to his village as a lesser man. Now Okonkwo has no title, and no role in the village. He has lost all the power over his village. Okonkwo then has to assimilate to the white man. He now has live with their government and …show more content…
This is one of the first cases where assimilation was forced upon the group of people. The reader can truly see how damaging it is when assimilation is forced upon a group of people. The religion the white forced on the natives caused a giant split down the middle of the village. Then when they introduced government, it was as if the country was controlled by outsiders. The natives only choice was to sit back and lose their way of life, or fight and live their life in prison. Not all assimilation is positive.

In conclusion, assimilation can come across as negative or positive. There are many cases in Things Fall Apart where assimilation is seen as negative. People’s lives were destroyed, while others were made better. Assimilation is unavoidable; the reader just have to adapt and overcome when the reader get the
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