Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe | Part 3, Chapter 22

Summary

In Part Three, Chapter 22 of 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe, Mr. Brown departs, making way for the zealous Mr. Smith. His rigid approach to faith and intolerance for the old religion leads to a severe clash, epitomized by Enoch's crime of unmasking an egwugwu. The ensuing chaos results in a standoff between Smith and the villagers, highlighting the language barrier and cultural misunderstanding that escalates the conflict, ultimately leading to the destruction of the church and the village's shrine.

Takeaways

• 📚 The narrative is from 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe, focusing on the transition from Mr. Brown to Mr. Smith.
• 🔄 Mr. Smith is a strict zealot with a black-and-white view of the world, in contrast to Mr. Brown.
• 🙏 Mr. Smith demands strict adherence to the Christian faith from converts, unlike the more tolerant Mr. Brown.
• 🔥 Enoch, an overzealous convert, triggers a major conflict by unmasking an igboo, a sacred act in the Igbo culture.
• 💣 The conflict escalates when the villagers retaliate against Enoch, leading to the destruction of his compound.
• ⛪ Mr. Smith and his followers hide in the church, which the villagers intend to demolish as a sign of their resistance.
• 🗣️ Communication barriers arise as the interpreter fails to accurately convey messages between Mr. Smith and the villagers.
• 🔍 The inability to understand the local dialect leads to a misunderstanding of Mr. Smith's intentions and the villagers' demands.
• 🛡️ Mr. Smith's confrontational approach mirrors Okonkwo's, suggesting a readiness for conflict rather than peaceful resolution.
• 🌐 The script highlights the theme of cultural clash and the inevitable violence that arises from the inability to communicate and coexist.
• 🌌 The story reflects the broader historical context of colonialism and its impact on indigenous cultures and traditions.

Q & A

Who is Mr. Brown's successor in the village?

Mr. Brown is succeeded by Mr. Smith, who is described as a strict zealot with a very different approach to religion and life.

What is Mr. Smith's view on the world and the role of converts?

Mr. Smith sees the world as a battlefield and believes that converts should strictly adhere to the faith, disavowing any attachment to the Old Religion.

What significant event marks the beginning of conflict between the church and the clan?

The conflict begins when Enoch, an overzealous convert, commits the terrible crime of unmasking an igloo boo in public.

How does the village retaliate against Enoch's actions?

In retaliation, the villagers plan to destroy Enoch's compound, prompting Smith and his followers to hide.

Why do the villagers not harm Mr. Smith when they meet him outside the church?

The villagers do not harm Mr. Smith out of respect for Mr. Brown, even though they intend to demolish his shrine.

What is the role of the interpreter in the conflict between Mr. Smith and the villagers?

The interpreter is supposed to relay messages between Mr. Smith and the villagers, but he does not understand the dialect of the mob spokesman and changes the meaning of Smith's reply.

How does the language barrier between Mr. Smith and the villagers contribute to the conflict?

The language barrier prevents effective communication between Mr. Smith and the villagers, making violent conflict inevitable as neither side can understand the other's messages.

What is the significance of the church being demolished by the villagers?

The demolition of the church symbolizes the villagers' rejection of Mr. Smith's strict religious beliefs and their resistance to the changes he represents.

How does Enoch's character mirror Okonkwo's?

Enoch, like Okonkwo, is ready for a fight and believes that confrontation is the only way to solve a problem, indicating a similar approach to conflict.

What does Mr. Smith's 'fire and brimstone' religion imply about his approach to faith and conflict?

Mr. Smith's 'fire and brimstone' religion suggests a harsh and uncompromising approach to faith, where obedience is paramount and conflict is seen as a necessary part of enforcing religious beliefs.

What is the underlying theme of the conflict between the new religion and the traditional beliefs of the villagers?

The underlying theme is the struggle between change and tradition, where the new religion represents a force of change that challenges the established customs and beliefs of the villagers.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Transition of Missionaries and Conflict

In the script, Mr. Brown departs from the village, making way for Mr. Smith, a starkly different character described as a strict zealot with a black-and-white view of the world, where black symbolizes evil. Mr. Smith's focus is on strict adherence to the Christian faith among the converts. Enoch, an overly zealous convert, ignites a significant conflict between the church and the clan by unmasking an igloo boo in public, a grave offense. This act leads to a series of events, including the destruction of Enoch's compound and the villagers' retaliation against the church. Despite the tension, the villagers' respect for Mr. Brown prevents them from harming Mr. Smith. The summary of this paragraph highlights the introduction of a new character, the strict and uncompromising Mr. Smith, and the ensuing conflict his uncompromising approach to faith incites within the community.

Keywords

💡Zealot

A zealot is a person who is fanatical and uncompromising about their religious or political beliefs. In the script, Mr. Smith is described as a 'strict zealot,' which indicates his intense commitment to his faith and his rigid approach to religious matters. His zealotry is a driving force behind the conflicts that arise in the narrative, as he demands strict adherence to his interpretation of the faith from converts.

💡Black and White

This phrase is often used to describe a situation or perspective that is seen as having no shades of gray, only clear distinctions between right and wrong. Mr. Smith 'sees things as black and white,' suggesting that he views the world in terms of absolutes, with no room for compromise or nuance, particularly in terms of religious beliefs and practices.

💡Conversion

Conversion refers to the process of changing from one belief system to another, often used in the context of adopting a new religion. In the script, 'those who convert' are expected to adhere strictly to the new faith, indicating a significant shift in their spiritual and cultural identity, which is central to the conflict between the traditional beliefs and the new religion introduced by Mr. Smith.

💡Enoch

Enoch is a character in the script who is described as 'a more overzealous convert.' His fervor for the new faith leads him to commit a grave offense against the traditional customs of his people by unmasking an igloo boo in public. His actions exemplify the tension between the new converts and the traditional community, and his overzealousness sparks the great conflict between the church and the clan.

💡Igloo Boo

The term 'igloo boo' likely refers to a traditional spiritual or religious figure or practice within the community. Enoch's act of unmasking an igloo boo in public is a transgression against the community's values and beliefs, highlighting the cultural clash and the severity of the actions taken by converts like Enoch.

💡Retaliation

Retaliation is an act of revenge or response to an injury or offense. In the script, 'in retaliation, the egg would destroy enix,' indicating a cycle of conflict and retribution that escalates the tension between the traditional community and the new religious converts.

💡Shrine

A shrine is a place of worship or a sacred site dedicated to a deity or a revered figure. The script mentions that 'Smith and his followers hide,' and the villagers are going to 'destroy his shrine,' which underscores the deep cultural and religious divide and the lengths to which both sides are willing to go to assert their beliefs.

💡Fire and Brimstone

The term 'fire and brimstone' is often used to describe a particularly harsh and punitive form of religion, invoking images of hellfire and divine retribution. Mr. Smith's 'fire and brimstone religion' suggests a stern and uncompromising approach to faith, which is a key element in the conflicts that unfold throughout the narrative.

💡Confrontation

Confrontation refers to a face-to-face meeting or clash, often in the context of a disagreement or conflict. The script indicates that 'Smith's disciple is ready for a fight,' and 'he feels confrontation is the only way to solve a problem,' illustrating the belief that direct conflict is necessary to resolve issues, which is a central theme in the video's narrative.

💡Interpreter

An interpreter is a person who translates spoken or signed language from one language to another. In the script, the interpreter's inability to understand the dialect of the mob spokesman and the subsequent miscommunication of Smith's reply highlight the importance of language in facilitating or hindering understanding and coexistence, ultimately contributing to the inevitable violent conflict.

💡Coexistence

Coexistence refers to the state of living or existing together, especially in a harmonious or peaceful way. The script suggests that language barriers and cultural misunderstandings 'block coexistence,' making it clear that the inability to communicate effectively and respect differences is a significant factor in the escalation of conflict.

Highlights

Mr. Brown leaves the village, introducing a new character, Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith is characterized as a strict zealot with a black-and-white view of morality.

Mr. Smith demands strict adherence to the Christian faith from converts.

Enoch emerges as an overzealous convert, sparking conflict between the church and the clan.

Enoch commits a grave offense by unmasking an igloo boo in public.

Wolfie retaliates, leading to the egg's destruction and Enoch's compound being targeted.

Smith and his followers hide, highlighting the tension between the new faith and the community.

A standoff occurs between Smith, his followers, and the villagers outside the church.

The villagers' respect for Mr. Brown prevents them from harming Smith.

Smith's command to disperse the crowd is ignored, leading to the church's demolition.

Smith's fire-and-brimstone preaching style is introduced, setting the tone for conflict.

Enoch, as Smith's disciple, is ready for confrontation, mirroring Okonkwo's approach to problem-solving.

Language barriers between Smith and the villagers create communication issues.

The interpreter's inability to understand the local dialect exacerbates the communication breakdown.

Misinterpretation of Smith's message by the interpreter leads to further escalation.

The lack of effective communication makes violent conflict between the two groups inevitable.

Transcripts

[Music]

in Part three chapter 22 of Chinua

Achebe's things fall apart mr. Brown

leaves the village and is succeeded by

the very different mr. Smith he's a

strict zealot and he sees things as

black and white and black is evil

Smith only cares that those who convert

are strict adherence to the faith Enoch

a more over zealous convert sparks the

great conflict between church and clan

he commits a terrible crime when he

unmasks an igloo boo in public when

Wolfie is thrown into confusion in

retaliation the egg would destroy enix

compound Smith and his followers hide

Enoch then Smith and his interpreter

meet the crowd outside the church the

villagers will not harm Smith out of

respect for mr. Brown but they're gonna

destroy his shrine Smith commands the

crowd members to leave but they remain

and demolish the church mr. Smith's fire

and brimstone religion make his goals

clear from the beginning the converts

will obey and disavow any attachment to

the Old Religion Smith saw the world as

a battlefield indicating the conflicts

to come Enoch Smith's disciple is ready

for a fight he mirrors okonkwo and that

he feels confrontation is the only way

to solve a problem the interpreter

doesn't understand the dialect of the

mob spokesman and cannot relay his

message to Smith the interpreter also

changes the meaning of Smith's reply

thus neither Smith nor the group from

emolia can effectively communicate their

messages language here blocks

coexistence making violent conflict

inevitable

you