The Theme of Fate and Personal Choice in No Longer at Ease and Things Fall Apart: Comparing the Characters' Responses to Fate and the Consequences of Their Choices
Fate and personal choice are recurring themes in both No Longer at Ease and Things Fall Apart, where the characters' decisions lead to their eventual downfall. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s fate is largely shaped by his personal choices. His strict adherence to tradition and his determination to resist change lead to his tragic end. Despite warnings from others, Okonkwo makes choices that isolate him from his community and prevent him from adapting to the changes brought by colonization.
In No Longer at Ease, Obi Okonkwo's fate is less predestined but shaped by the choices he makes, particularly regarding his education and career. Obi’s decision to work for the British colonial government and his failure to reconcile his modern ideals with his family's traditional expectations ultimately lead to his downfall. However, Obi’s fate is also influenced by the pressures of colonial society, which makes personal choice a complex and conflicting force.
Both novels highlight the tension between personal choice and fate. While Okonkwo’s tragic fate is a result of his rigid adherence to tradition, Obi’s downfall arises from the internal conflict between his personal desires and societal expectations, reflecting the complexities of individual agency in a changing world.
8. The Impact of Colonization on the Individual in No Longer at Ease and Things Fall Apart: A Comparison of How Colonization Affects Personal Lives and Choices
In both No Longer at Ease and Things Fall Apart, Achebe explores how colonization impacts the personal lives and choices of individuals. In Things Fall Apart, colonization disrupts traditional African life, leaving characters like Okonkwo with no clear way to navigate their new, colonized world. Okonkwo’s identity is deeply intertwined with the customs and traditions of his people, and the arrival of colon