Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe | Part 3, Chapter 21

Summary

In 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe, the clan initially appreciates the positive changes brought by the white men, such as the trading store and increased wealth. Mr. Brown, a missionary, patiently introduces education and healthcare, convincing families to send their children to school. However, the clan's gradual acceptance of these changes, including the new religion, leads to a cultural shift that Okonkwo mourns. The once powerful farmer finds his clan emasculated and splintered, as the village becomes unrecognizable, reflecting the colonial paradox of progress and loss.

Takeaways

• 📚 The introduction of the white man's trading store and the influx of money have been appreciated by some in the clan.
• 🤝 Mr. Brown, the white missionary, is patient and builds relationships with clan leaders, including Hakuna, through peaceful discussions.
• 🏫 Mr. Brown believes in a gentle approach to conversion, focusing on building a hospital and a school to attract interest in Christianity.
• 👨‍🎓 Initially, only the clan's lazy children or slaves are sent to the school, as per Mr. Brown's request.
• 📈 Mr. Brown emphasizes the importance of education for future leadership, suggesting that without it, outsiders will lead the clan.
• 👨‍👦 Over time, families start sending their children to the school, recognizing the value of education.
• 📢 Mr. Brown's visit to a conch to share the news of his son's education is met with hostility from Okonkwo.
• 😔 Okonkwo mourns the changes in the clan, viewing them as a sign of weakness and a departure from traditional ways.
• 🌐 Mr. Brown represents the colonial paradox of bringing both positive development and cultural loss.
• 🏠 The village of Umuofia has largely accepted the new religion and its institutions, such as the trading store, the school, and the hospital.
• 🔄 Change has become the norm in the village, making it almost unrecognizable to Okonkwo, who feels increasingly disconnected.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Part Three, Chapter 21 in 'Things Fall Apart'?

The main theme revolves around the impact of colonialism on the Igbo clan, particularly the changes brought by the white men, and the struggle between embracing these changes and preserving traditional values.

How does Mr. Brown approach the Igbo clan?

Mr. Brown approaches the Igbo clan in a peaceful manner, becoming friendly with their leaders and engaging in intellectual discussions about religion without attacking their faith.

What is Mr. Brown's strategy for converting the Igbo people to Christianity?

Mr. Brown's strategy is to court interest by building a hospital and a school, rather than attacking their religion, thus making his approach more appealing to the clan.

What does Mr. Brown believe about the future leaders of the land?

Mr. Brown believes that the future leaders will be those who can read and write, implying the importance of education in leadership.

How do the families initially react to sending their children to the missionary school?

At first, families send only their lazy children or slaves to the school, but they are later convinced of the value of education and start sending their own children.

What news does Mr. Brown come to share with the clan about his son Moyer?

Mr. Brown comes to share the news of his son Moyer's education, who is now called Isaac, with the clan.

How does Okonkwo react to Mr. Brown's presence and the changes he represents?

Okonkwo drives Mr. Brown away with threats, mourning the changes that have occurred in the clan and seeing them as emasculating and splintering the community.

What does the return of Okonkwo signify for the clan?

The return of Okonkwo signifies a time of reflection on the past and the changes brought by the white men, but his influence is diminished as the clan has become more preoccupied with these changes.

How does Mr. Brown embody the colonial paradox?

Mr. Brown embodies the colonial paradox by combining positive developments like education and healthcare with the devastating loss of traditional culture and values.

What is the significance of the trading store, school, and hospital in the clan's acceptance of the new religion?

The trading store, school, and hospital symbolize the clan's acceptance of the new religion as they provide tangible benefits and services that the Igbo people find valuable.

How does the character of Noo Yay contrast with Okonkwo's?

Noo Yay, Okonkwo's cursed son, has adapted to the new society and is thriving, in sharp contrast to Okonkwo who is increasingly out of touch with the new reality and mourns the loss of traditional culture.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Impact of Colonialism on Umuofia

In Part three chapter 21 of 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe, the clan of Umuofia is experiencing changes brought by the white men. The trading store and the influx of money via Mr. Brown, a white missionary, are appreciated by many. Mr. Brown, a patient man, befriends the clan's leaders, including Hakuna. They engage in peaceful discussions about religion, leading Brown to believe that the most effective way to convert people is not by attacking their faith but by building interest through the construction of a hospital and a school. Initially, only the lazy children or slaves are sent to the school, but Brown's message that educated individuals will lead the land in the future convinces families to send their children. However, Okonkwo, a once-powerful farmer, drives Brown away with threats, showing resistance to change. The villagers are more interested in the white men's changes than in Okonkwo's return, symbolizing the clan's softening and loss of traditional strength. Mr. Brown represents the colonial paradox of positive development alongside devastating cultural loss. The people of Umuofia now appreciate the trading store, send their children to the missionary school, and use the new hospital, indicating their acceptance of the new religion. Okonkwo mourns the changes, seeing the clan as emasculated and splintered, while his son, Nwoye, who he had cursed, has adapted and is thriving in the new society.

Keywords

💡Clan

A clan refers to a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. In the context of the video, the clan represents the traditional social structure of the Igbo people in Nigeria, as depicted in 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe. The clan is central to the theme of cultural change and resistance, as it grapples with the impact of Western influences.

💡White Men

This term is used to describe the European colonialists or missionaries who are introduced into the Igbo society. They symbolize change and the imposition of foreign values, which disrupts the traditional way of life. The trading store and the hospital they bring are examples of how they infiltrate and alter the local economy and social norms.

💡Mr. Brown

Mr. Brown is a character in the novel who represents the missionaries that came to Africa. He is depicted as patient and diplomatic, trying to understand and respect the local culture while also working to convert the people to Christianity. His approach of building a hospital and a school illustrates the dual nature of colonialism: bringing development while also undermining traditional beliefs.

💡Religion

Religion in the video refers to the traditional beliefs and practices of the Igbo people, as well as the Christian faith brought by the missionaries. The conflict between these two belief systems is a central theme in the novel, symbolizing the cultural clash and the erosion of indigenous values.

💡Conversion

Conversion in this context refers to the process of changing one's religion or beliefs. It is a key theme in the video as it highlights the struggle of the Igbo people to maintain their traditional beliefs in the face of missionary efforts to convert them to Christianity.

💡Education

Education, as presented in the video, is a tool used by the missionaries to attract and influence the local population. The establishment of a school by Mr. Brown is a strategic move to introduce Western education and values, which in turn leads to the gradual acceptance of the new religion and cultural practices.

💡Hakuna

Hakuna is a character mentioned in the script who represents a leader within the clan. His interactions with Mr. Brown symbolize the dialogue and intellectual exchange between the traditional leaders and the newcomers, reflecting the complex dynamics of cultural interaction and change.

💡Okonkwo

Okonkwo is the protagonist of 'Things Fall Apart' and represents the traditional Igbo warrior ethos. His resistance to change and his eventual tragic fate encapsulate the theme of the novel, which is the disintegration of traditional society under colonial influence.

💡Moyer/Isaac

Moyer, renamed Isaac by Mr. Brown, is Okonkwo's son. His education and the change in his name symbolize the assimilation of the new culture and the loss of traditional identity. Isaac's character illustrates the generational divide and the impact of colonialism on the younger generation.

💡Ebo

Ebo refers to the traditional Igbo religious and cultural practices. The script mentions that the importance of Ebo is fading as the clan embraces the new religion and practices introduced by the missionaries. This reflects the cultural erosion and the struggle to preserve indigenous ways.

💡Colonial Paradox

The colonial paradox refers to the seemingly contradictory nature of colonialism where it brings both positive developments (like hospitals and schools) and devastating losses (like the erosion of traditional culture and values). This concept is central to understanding the complex impact of colonialism on the Igbo society.

Highlights

The clan appreciates changes brought by the white men, such as the trading store and money.

Mr. Brown, the white missionary, is patient and builds relationships with clan leaders.

Mr. Brown believes in a peaceful approach to converting people to Christianity.

He discusses religion with Hakuna and respects their beliefs.

Mr. Brown sees education as a way to convert people, building a hospital and a school.

Initially, only lazy children or slaves are sent to the school.

Mr. Brown emphasizes the importance of education for future leadership.

Families start sending their children to the school as they realize its benefits.

Mr. Brown shares the success story of his son's education to encourage the clan.

Okonkwo, a once powerful farmer, drives Mr. Brown away, showing resistance to change.

The villagers are more interested in the white men's changes than in Okonkwo's return.

Mr. Brown represents the colonial paradox of positive development and devastating loss.

The clan now appreciates the trading store, sends children to school, and uses the new hospital.

The village has changed significantly, becoming unrecognizable to Okonkwo.

Okonkwo mourns the loss of the clan's traditional strength and sees it as emasculated.

No yay, Okonkwo's cursed son, has adapted to the new society and is thriving.

Change has overtaken the village, and the future seems to involve more conversion to the new ways.

Transcripts

[Music]

in Part three chapter 21 of Chinua

Achebe's things fall apart many in the

clan appreciates some of the changes

brought by the white men particularly

the trading store and the money that's

now flowing into an wolf via mr. Brown

the white missionary is a patient man

who treads softly on his faith he

becomes friendly with the clans leaders

including a man named Hakuna the two are

able to peacefully intellectually

discuss religion and Brown becomes

convinced that the most effective way to

convert people is not to attack their

religion he courts interest instead by

building a hospital and a school in a

mafia Brown asks that children become

students at the school at first families

send only they're lazy children or

slaves Brown says future leaders of the

land will be those who can read and

write

if the clans don't have educated people

outsiders will lead them instead over

time

families are convinced of this and send

their children to the school Brown comes

to a conch woe to tell them about the

education of his son Moyer who is now

called Isaac Brown thinks the news will

please O'Connor but Okonkwo drives him

away with threats a conch was returned

to a mafia has proven to be unremarkable

villagers are so preoccupied with the

changes brought by the white men they

have little interest in the return of a

once powerful farmer he mourns the

changes that have occurred in the clan

which has so unaccountably become soft

like women mr. Brown embodies the

colonial paradox that combines positive

development with devastating loss he

appears decent and peaceful and he

appeals to the clans sense of

independence when mentioning their need

to read and write but his commitment in

the name of Christianity is the

eradication of ebo ways from the very

beginning religion and education went

hand in hand for him

the people of a mafia now appreciate the

trading store they send their children

to the missionary school

and make use of the new hospital they

have accepted the presence of the new

religion even the great men of the clan

talk with mr. Brown change has overtaken

the village it seems just a matter of

time before larger numbers of people

convert the changes in the village have

rendered it practically unrecognizable

to Okonkwo and he mourns for the clan

which he now sees as emasculated and

splintered apart he's increasingly out

of touch with a new reality evident then

he chases away mr. Brown Okonkwo

believes he came home at the wrong time

because his sons can't yet enter the

ranks of ebo culture however the

importance of such elite ranking is no

longer clear in sharp contrast

no yay the son okonkwo has cursed has

adapted to the new society and is

thriving