Things Fall Apart: Chapter 16

Chapter 16 Overview

Location Shift: Chapter 16 begins with Okonkwo’s life in exile in Mbanta, his mother’s homeland.
Religion Conflict: This chapter introduces the arrival of white missionaries with their religion, Christianity, in Mbanta causing a culture clash with the indigenous Igbo beliefs and traditions.
First Converts: The lowest members of the Igbo society are the first to convert to Christianity, making the contrast between the European and African societal structures more apparent.

“He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
“But there was a young lad who had been captivated. His name was Nwoye, Okonkwo’s first son.”
“Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.”

The conversation between the leaders of Mbanta and the white messenger unveils the theme of tradition vs change. The conversation further exposes the widening chasm between the old and the new, which poses a threat to the tribal solidarity.
The conversion of Nwoye to Christianity marks a symbolic end to Okonkwo’s hope of grooming his son to continue his traditional paths.

Okonkwo’s misery and frustration in exile, compounded by Nwoye’s conversion, underscores his deep-rooted fear of failure and change, which is a central part of his tragic nature.

This chapter displays Achebe’s skills of foreshadowing, irony, and distinctive characterization, which are utilized to explore the complexities of the society of Umuofia and its impending divisions.
Proverbs and symbols remain consistent in Achebe’s storytelling to depict Igbo societal structures and ideas compellingly.