Things Fall Apart & one Flew over the Cuckoos Nest

Darren Acain

Mr. Gruno

English 7-8

August 29th, 2014

1.                           Things Fall Apart & One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest

A nurse, who rules her ward with an iron fist and masks her humanity by destroying her patients emotionally & mentally through a manipulative program, a society where women are property of their fathers or husbands, & people who believe in a certain set of religious teachings are considered to be inferior to others who accept state religion. These are some of many examples of oppression in disguise that occur in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey, & the novel by Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart.

    Okonkwo, one of the main characters in the novel, Things Fall Apart, is the clan leader of Umuofia. He lives everyday in fear of becoming a failure, because of his embarrassment of his lazy, coward, and squandering father, Unoka. Due to this fear, it has driven him to succeed. Okonkwo's hard work have earned him a high status, three wives and their children. Unfortunately, because of his father shame, he is terrified of looking weak, as a result, he behaves frantically, causing oppression and trouble upon his family, and tragically, himself. He beats and punishes when he does not get his way, and when his children does not live up to his expectations. His oldest son, Nwoye, struggles in the shadow of demanding father. Most of the time they do not see eye to eye and remind Okonkwo of his father, Nwoye goes through many beatings, not knowing how to please his father.

            After the arrival of Ikemefuna, who becomes like an older brother for Nwoye, teaches him how to be more masculine, slightly gaining his fathers approval. Unlike Nwoye, Ikemefuna has an easier time gaining Okonkwo's acceptance. He grows fond of the boy, and though he has grown a slight attachment, he does not show it. Later on in the story, an elder informs Okonkwo that the Oracle has said that Ikemefuna must be killed. Okonkwo lies and takes Ikemefuna into the forest, after hours of walking, Okonkwo's men attacks Ikemefuna with machetes. Despite Okonkwo's attachment towards Ikemefuna, he does not help him, against the oracles demands.

Not only does oppression occur internally in the characters, it also occurs

externally in their society. The main conflict is the traditional society of Umuofia and the religious customs. For example Okonkwo does not agree with the new political and religious orders because they do not coincide with his “manly” terms. But under all that ignorance, it is his fear of losing social status, the reason for his resistance. The system suggest the outsiders of the clan to embrace Christianity, but because of it, causes them below everyone else. There is also many conflicting attitudes towards the new changes within the villagers.