The traditions and values in a society or civilization are essential for its fate and future well-being. The author, Chinua Achebe explains this idea through the novel Things Fall Apart .
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The traditions and values in a society or civilization are essential for its fate and future well-being. Many times, a society’s health is being reflected upon individuals and group attitudes toward the traditions and values. The author, Chinua Achebe explains this idea through the novel Things Fall Apart in which the Umuofian values of religion, personal achievements, and male superiority are questioned by many individuals. These questions spark conflict among the tribe and its people. As a result, the inflexible Umuofian traditions and values cause the culture’s to fall apart.
The religion in the Umuofian tribe has a dominant control over the social and political life of its people which caused the tribe to break apart. The head of the religious hierarchy in the tribe consists of the oracle which is perceived as the most “supreme” (Clayton 1). Being the most supreme ruler, the Oracle has the absolute power in making arbitrary decisions in both social and political issues. The Oracle is fixed in its decisions and not tolerant of any changes. Therefore, even the most far-fetched decisions are expected to be carried out in full obedience. In the scene where Ikemefuma is told to be killed, the messenger, Ogbuefi Ezedu confronts Okonkwo and says “The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves has pronounced it. They will take him outside Umuofia as is the custom, and kill him there” (Achebe 57). This issue is resolved by only one representative, the Oracle. There is no consensus from which bodies of members could discuss over these issues. As a result, the decisions which are made are irrational and illogical as shown by the killing of Ikemefuma. Most importantly, without a body of legislatives, there is a separation between low class of tribal members and the high class of religious members, which weakens the tribe as a whole. A similar situation is shown by where “old people and twins are left in the Evil Forest to die” (Sarr 2). Both the killing of Ikemefuma and twins left to die in Evil Forest are highly related. All of these decisions are based on superstition in which individuals question their moral standards. Nwoye, son of Okonkwo describes seeing twins left in the forest as the same “feeling” when Ikemefuma is killed (Achebe 62). This feeling that Nwoye had eventually made him realized the cruelty and immorality of the tribe’s beliefs. Consequently, when the missionaries arrive, Nwoye accepts the Christians’ alternate view of love and acceptance. He responds to their message by turning away from his tribe, which influence many others to do so with the same values. Moreover, Obierka’s reasons for opposition to religious authority are even more subtle. While Okonkwo ask for his presence in Ikemefuma death, Obierika simply replies “Because I [do] not want to” (Achebe 66). This defiant assertion demonstrates Obierika direct disagreement on the full authority of the religion. It may be assumed that Obierika wants a change in this society where the full control of religion is minimized and transferred to the hands of the people. Not only would religion be a factor in the culture’s destruction but also other traditions and values which would open up the Pandora’s Box in the society.