Things Fall Apart: Chapter 22

Things Fall Apart: Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Synopsis

  • Mr. Brown’s successor, Reverend Smith, is introduced, whose stricter and less understanding approach to religion contrasts significantly with Mr. Brown’s.
  • Reverend Smith’s misinterpretations of the people’s faith and customs increase friction, culminating in Enoch unmasking an egwugwu, thought to be killing an ancestral spirit.
  • The egwugwu retaliate, destroying Enoch’s compound and the church, which hint at tragic consequences.

Key Themes

Conflict

  • Reverend Smith’s inability to understand and respect the customs and beliefs of the locals represents a cross-cultural conflict. His superiority complex and intolerance deepen the ideological rift between thecolonialists and the Igbo society.

Religion vs. Tradition

  • Enoch’s act of unmasking an egwugwu is a critical transgression of the local customs. His conversion to Christianity and his reverence for it propels him to challenge and discard his own traditions.

Power Struggles

  • The destruction of the church by the egwugwu is a declaration of power and retaliation against the perceived undermining of their traditional beliefs. This exemplifies tension between local authority (egwugwu) and foreign power (church).

Important Quotes and Analysis

“He saw things as black and white. And black was evil.”

  • Reverend Smith’s worldview is presented as extremely narrow and dogmatic. It demonstrates his inability to look beyond his preconceived notions about what is good or evil, and his lack of analytical or empathetic understanding of Igbo culture.

“We have heard stories about white men who make the powerful gods of different peoples eat together.”

  • This quote captures the Igbo’s awareness and concerns about the destabilising influence of colonial power. The mention of making ‘powerful gods… eat together’ expresses their unease at the disregard for tradition, autonomy, and respect for local religious systems.

Stylistic Choices

  • Chinua Achebe makes use of juxtaposition to highlight the drastic differences between the attitudes of Mr. Brown and Reverend Smith towards Igbo culture.
  • Achebe’s use of symbolism through Enoch unmasking the egwugwu unveils the underlying disrespect and violation of Igbo culture by the new wave of Christianity.
  • Achebe’s diction and attention to detail play a crucial role in illustrating the escalating tension and hostility between the locals and colonisers.