06 August 2012
Change.
I believe the entire novel is a metaphor for the battle of morality versus obedience. When Okonkwo is forced to kill the child towards the rising climax of the novel, he experiences this struggle but obedience wins overall. Finally, at the end, by committing suicide, Okonkwo's morality overcomes obedience in the battle for a stake in Okonkwo's life. Is this because Okonkwo simply realized what he had to do via epiphany? Or did the novel recognize a change throughout the story of his character and values?
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The novel is about change, the change of a society going from one set of beliefs to another. In this case that change is brought on by force by the invading white man. Okonkwo realized by the end of the book that he was not willing to change his values and adapt to the new way of life the white man was forcing open so he decided to end his life compared to reforming to these new ideals. He was not willing to live in a world where his beliefs were not recognized or respected.
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