Prayer is the last resort that gives someone a false sense of hope in a situation that is out of their control; or, prayer is the first resort for those who are too lazy to fix a problem. Prayer is neither helpful nor harmless. Though people may pray for those in tragedy, prayer is useless without action, and action renders prayer useless. Call it heathen, but if there were a God influenced by prayers, why would they let tragedy into this world. Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart captures the story of a man named Okonkwo and his tribe in Nigeria named the Igbo. It is Okonkwo’s detailed journey as he navigates the struggles of Igbo life and tries to combat a new foreign religion: Christianity. Achebe symbolizes Okonkwo’s lifestyle to compel his readers to live by free will over fate, allowing for complete control over one’s life which leads to success in other pursuits, whereas fate, symbolized by the people of Umuofia and the Christians, leads to undesired and negatively impacting outcomes.
First and foremost, Achebe’s philosophy that individuals should dictate their lives and choices to shape their own future is symbolized by Okonkwo’s free will lifestyle. The narrator is describing Okonkwo’s, the son of the failure Unoka, predicament regarding the development of his compound. “He neither inherited a barn nor a title, nor even a young wife. But in spite of these disadvantages, he had begun even in his father’s lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future. It was slow and painful” (Achebe 18). In spite of status, Okonkwo’s self-determination allows him to shape his own future that is not restrained by the status of his family.
Also, Okonkwo’s nature to create opportunities for himself instead of believing opportunities will just happen, allow for Okonkwo to become highly successful. This was because he does not wait for fate because fate has never favored him in the past giving him a unique mindset which lets Okonkwo stand out among other men. “It was slow and painful” simply but powerfully details how difficult Okonkwo’s journey was; however with sheer grit, one can shape themselves to the ideal person. By dictating his actions which drive him towards his goals, Okonkwo can shape his future and free himself from his poverty. Later in the story, due to his father having nothing, Okonkwo asks the Nwakibie, the wealthiest man in the village, for yam seeds to start his farm. “‘I am not afraid of work…. I began to fend for myself at the age when most people still suck at their mother’s breasts. If you give me some yam seeds I shall not fail you’” (Achebe 21).
By acting on matters instead of leaving them to fate, Okonkwo decides the fate of himself and his surroundings. “I began to fend for myself at the age when most people still suck at their mother’s breasts” advocates that Okonkwo is different from other people his age and due to his upbringing, gives him utter determination to succeed. Also, Okonkwo’s determined mindset to make things happen for himself rather than to trust fate allows him to shape his future and change his appearance in Igbo society. By being a “go-getter” and working towards his goals instead of believing the Gods will “provide” for him much like his father did, Okonkwo shapes his future on a different path, almost an opposite of his fathers, that will set Okonkwo up for success. As seen in Okonkwo’s actions during early adulthood, anyone can dictate one’s life, shaping any future he or she wants if he or she works hard enough.
Achebe’s next philosophy that belief in fate is an excuse for idleness and catalyzes negative outcomes as shown by the Christians, whereas acting upon issues prolong or prevent these negative outcomes as evident by Okonkwo’s quick thinking and instincts. As 5 egwugwu come to destroy the church as revenge for the “death” of an egwugwu, caused by Enoch, a Christian convert, Mr. Smith, the leader of the church, and other Christians assemble to decide on how to deal with the egwugwu. “‘We cannot offer physical resistance to them. Our Strength lies in the Lord.’ They knelt down together and prayed to God for delivery” (Achebe 188).
Belief in fate does not result in positive effects but catalyzes negative outcomes. “They knelt down together and prayed to God for delivery” is the course of actions the Christians took; however God did not “deliver” because the egwugwu still desecrated the church. “We cannot offer physical resistance to them” is ironically the reason why the church was desecrated. Mathematically, there were only 5 egwugwu versus the Christian community, yet by forbidding physical resistance, the egwugwu did as they please resulting in the destruction of the church and fueling future conflict between the Christians and Igbo.
Also, the Christian’s futile solution to trust that God will protect them and the church results in more rage and cause for the egwugwu to destroy the Christian church because of the Christian’s outward projection of Christian faith which challenges the power of the egwugwu. Earlier in the story, Okonkwo saves the life of Ezinma, one of Okonkwo’s daughters, who falls ill and Okonkwo inspects Ezinma. “‘It is iba,’ said Okonkwo as he took his machete and went into the bush to collect the leaves and grasses and barks of trees that went into making the medicine for iba” (Achebe 76). The confidence to act upon one’s issues and make a difference in regard to these issues prolong or prevent the negative outcomes that could have occurred had this issue been ignored. The call to action and resourceful response prevented death which would have surely occurred if belief in the fate of the Gods had been relied on. “‘It is iba,’ said Okonkwo as he took his machete and went into the bush” demonstrates how Okonkwo’s confidence in his actions makes the difference between life and death for his daughter, preventing the possibility of Ezinma’s death.
Had Okonkwo relied on the fate of the Gods to decide whether his daughter lived or died, Ezinma would have been dead. This situation can be applied to today’s medical practices as well. The difference between administering aid and medicine versus letting the body run its natural course is often times the difference between life and death. Differences between the mindset of the Christians and Okonkwo directly correlate to the outcomes of 2 events because belief in fate is an excuse for idleness and catalyzes negative outcomes whereas acting upon issues prolong or prevent these negative outcomes.
Achebe’s last philosophy that expressing one’s true beliefs and opinions on subjects to determine their outcome provides greater success than believing fate will favor your desired outcome as evident in the comparison of Okonkwo’s mindset versus the people of Mbanta’s mindset. After Enoch, a convert to Christianity, kills the royal python, a sacred animal in Igbo culture, the leaders of Mbanta assemble to decide on a course of action. “‘If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head’… ‘Okonkwo has spoken the truth,’ said another man. ‘We should do something’” (Achebe 158-159). If one can express one’s opinions and beliefs on a subject, they play an important role that dictates the outcome which has a higher chance of being tailored to one’s ideal outcome.
By Okonkwo expressing his opinions towards the course of action that needs to be taken, he imparts part of his mindset which contributes towards the decided outcome. Despite the decision to ostracize the Christians from all of Mbanta’s resources, which not being entirely approved by Okonkwo, the outcome still is tailored towards his opinions because the rival opinion was to essentially do nothing. Okonkwo’s expression of his opinions on the Christians and his belief of what the next course of action should be, results in Okonkwo gaining a supporter to his cause. This is also only noted by a man who decided to speak suggesting the many other people agreed with Okonkwo, however, these supporters were just not noted. Previously, the Christian missionaries established themselves in Mbanta and asked the villagers of Mbanta for a plot of land to build the Christian church.
The elders give the missionaries part of the Evil Forest, a place of evil spirits where Igbo people discard all that is an abomination to their Gods, believing the spirits will kill the Christians. “The villagers were so certain about the doom that awaited these men… At last the day came by which all the missionaries should have died. But they were still alive” (Achebe 150-151). If one stands around waiting for fate to favor them, one will not make a desired change or impact on issues revolving around the situation one wishes to alter. “All the missionaries should have died. But they were still alive” directly disproves how fate will favor someone despite the Umuofians being devoted to their religion. This, in turn, helps advocate how the people of Mbanta should have lived by free will and act upon issues with the Christians because it would have provided an effect most likely tailored towards the people of Mbanta due to simply community size.
Believing fate will favor the Umoufian cause, the villagers remain idle in regards to dealing with the Christians, resulting in the undesired outcome that is the growth of the Christian community which resultantly rivals the village’s community. As evident by the two outcomes displayed when reasoning with free will over fate, expressing one’s true beliefs and opinions on subjects to determine there outcome provides greater success than believing fate will favor your desired outcome.
Achebe’s has multiple philosophies in regard to living by free will over fate, allowing for complete control over one’s life which leads to success in other pursuits, whereas fate leads to undesired and negatively impacting outcomes. Achebe’s philosophies that individuals should dictate their lives and choices to shape the individual’s own future, belief in fate is an excuse for idleness and catalyzes negative outcomes, whereas acting upon issues prolong or prevent these negative outcomes, and expressing one’s true beliefs and opinions on subjects to determine there outcome provides greater success than believing fate will favor your desired outcome all advocate to live by free will over fate. Individuals must learn to act by the free will and spread their opinions in important issues because the world is full of controversial issues, some of which you will be involuntarily involved in and need to impact because if one does not make an impact in the lives of others, then what was the point of being put on this planet.
