“Seven years was a long time to be away from one’s clan. A man’s place was not always there, waiting for him.” (171). These facts are something Okonkwo knows, but wished so desperately not to be true. Okonkwo spent his seven years of exile in his motherland preparing himself for an impactful return into his fatherland: “He would build a bigger barn than he had before and he would build huts for two new wives.” (171). Sadly, all that Okonkwo prepares for his return is pointless. Nobody in the clan of Okonkwo’s fatherland, Umuofia, is interested in the once amazing Okonkwo when he returns. Everyone in Umuofia is preoccupied with the arrival of the colonialists because they are changing everything. Families are torn apart, religion is stripped
…show more content…
The easiest way the colonialists found to do this is by taking advantage of weaker families and taking the family’s superstitiously thrown away babies. The first example of this would be Nneka, who is a pregnant woman. Nneka is married to a prosperous farmer named Amadi, however, the marriage is toxic due to her four previous births. Each time Nneka gave birth, she delivered twins, which are abominations in Umuofia. When the colonialists came, they embraced Nneka and accepted her pregnancy unlike her husband. The overwhelming acceptation of Nneka made it easy for her to run from her toxic marriage and join the colonialists. Another example of the colonists ripping apart families includes Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye. Okonkwo always expressed his disgust for Nwoye because he acts too womanly and he reminds Okonkwo of his Father. Okonkwo’s disgust deeply affects Nwoye and creates a gap between Okonkwo and Nwoye’s relationship: ““…He is not my Father,” said Nwoye, unhappily.” (144). Once the colonialists came to Umuofia, Nwoye, just like Nneka, escaped his toxic home and embraced the welcoming arms of the colonialists. Nwoye would be renamed Isaac and be taught by the colonialist how to read and write. The path in life Nwoye took disgusts Okonkwo even more. Okonkwo labels Nwoye a tragic abomination and tells his five other sons that they will either live like men or be
The easiest way the colonialists found to do this is by taking advantage of weaker families and taking the family’s superstitiously thrown away babies. The first example of this would be Nneka, who is a pregnant woman. Nneka is married to a prosperous farmer named Amadi, however, the marriage is toxic due to her four previous births. Each time Nneka gave birth, she delivered twins, which are abominations in Umuofia. When the colonialists came, they embraced Nneka and accepted her pregnancy unlike her husband. The overwhelming acceptation of Nneka made it easy for her to run from her toxic marriage and join the colonialists. Another example of the colonists ripping apart families includes Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye. Okonkwo always expressed his disgust for Nwoye because he acts too womanly and he reminds Okonkwo of his Father. Okonkwo’s disgust deeply affects Nwoye and creates a gap between Okonkwo and Nwoye’s relationship: ““…He is not my Father,” said Nwoye, unhappily.” (144). Once the colonialists came to Umuofia, Nwoye, just like Nneka, escaped his toxic home and embraced the welcoming arms of the colonialists. Nwoye would be renamed Isaac and be taught by the colonialist how to read and write. The path in life Nwoye took disgusts Okonkwo even more. Okonkwo labels Nwoye a tragic abomination and tells his five other sons that they will either live like men or be