The Conflicting Methods of Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith: Who is primarily responsible for the fall of Umuofia? (Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe)

Christianity, in its entirety, is the largest holiness in the world and continues to seek convinces everyday. In Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart, Mr. brownness and Mr. metalworker play the liaison of white missionaries who share that exact aim: to transmute the indispens equals of Umoufia into Christianity. However, the rocky and uncompromising methods of Mr. smith conflicts with those of Mr. browned, who can be described as serene and self-possessed. These opposing approaches take a part in the chaos that emerges and understanding their roles in Igbo society can t curiositying readers determine who is primarily responsible for the come across of Umoufia. The supernatural views of the Umuofians play a large role in the fling of Umuofia because righteousness is the foundation of their society; everything the Umuofians did was based on their apparitional views. later quickly recognizing that, Mr. brown and Mr. smith used more strategies to castigate to gain influence in the Umuofian order and to put back the innates? religious views with their own. As one of the first missionaries in Umuofia, Mr. brownness realised that ?a frontal attack on the folk would not succeed? (166) and he fan out his Christian views in a peaceful and affable manner. This brought him great treasure from the people of the clan. In fact, he was even ?presented with a leap elephant tusk, which was a mansion house of great dignity and clan? (164). This gift symbolizes the villagers? approval of him and possibly of the Christian holiness. From this position, he was able to open a infirmary and a school which brought some new converts; the awakeness that those who be Mr. Brown?s school would rent how to read and put out and the distribution of generous ?gifts of singlets and towels? (166) attracted more people to enroll into the school. all told in all, Mr. Brown uses his dormant mind-set to convert the inwroughts to Christianity. This is fo reign the strict and uncompromising Mr. smi! th, who raspingly imposes his religion upon the natives and allows for no erroneousness in the comprehension of Christian beliefs. As the replacework forcet for the blistery Mr. Brown, Mr. smith ?condemned openly Mr. Brown?s policy of compromise and accommodation? (169). He moody that Mr. Brown was interested in ?nothing but poesy? (169). Believing ?Narrow is the direction and few the number,? he quickly becomes ?distressed by the ignorance which many of his nap showed? toward Christianity (169) and rather than converting Umuofians, Mr. Smith actually suspends one of the converts. non to mention, he wasn?t able to form beneficial relationships with the clan in the way Mr. Brown has done. Therefore, Mr. Smith is unlike Mr. Brown in the way he is successful converting the Umuofians and gaining influence in the clan. When Mr. Brown first arrived in Umoufia, he not solitary(prenominal) had to promote Christianity and its views but he also was approach with the native beliefs of the Umuofians. The manner used by Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith toward native beliefs was decisive in how Christianity was perceived by the Umuofians. Mr. Brown was aware of this because he ?was very firm in restraining his flock from fire the ira of the clan? (163). Right from the beginning ?he make friends with some of the great men of the clan? (163) which positively sense of touched the opinions of the natives toward Christianity. One of these friends was Akunna, who talked with Mr. Brown frequently around each opposite?s faiths through an interpreter. These discussions provided Mr. Brown with informationrmation about the religion of the clan and allowed him to conclude what actions he should take. It was indeed this info that encourage him to create a school and a hospital because he knew that if he appealed to the natives and worked with their belief system, rather than against, he could good derive them over to Christianity. That is exactly what he did and if it wasn?t f or his vile wellness to cause him to leave, Mr. Brow! n would?ve most probably accomplish the goal he set out. On the other hand, Mr. Smith couldn?t pick up where Mr. Brown left glum; he disagreed with the way Mr. Brown converted the natives because they knew little of his religion and unplowed some of their old customs duty.

An shell of this fanaticism toward clan customs is expressed when he hears that a baby of a convert is ?declared an ogbanje, plaguing its mother by dying and entering her womb to be born again? (170). This native myth, in his opinion, was ?spread by the Devil to lead men astray? (170). His rejection of native beliefs is a result of close-mindedness t oward religion and causes him to be ?filled with wrath? (170), thus suspending the woman from the church. Another example of Mr. Smith world bigoted toward religious customs is shown in the case of Enoch, an ?over-zealous convert? (170). ?During the annual ceremony which was held in watch of the earth idol? (171), the egwugwu, a group of masqueraders who impersonate the transmissible spirits of the village, occupy allowed the Christian women who?ve gone to church to go home. Although they were already depict-go to withdraw, Enoch swanks aloud that they wouldn?t dare touch a Christian ?whereupon they all came back and one of them gave Enoch a good bias the cane? (171). Enoch rips of his mask, which in Umuofia is equal to cleansing the ancestral spirit. The bordering day, the egwugwu burned the church to the ground. If they haven?t ? like his fellow? (175), they would have harmed Mr. Smith as well. These examples prove that Mr. Smith?s rejection and prejudiced approach towa rd the Umuofian customs caused the Umuofians to aband! on their peaceful ways, which is shown by the burning of the church, thus disapproving Christianity. Primarily, Mr. Brown is to charge up for the downfall of Umuofia. He was able to socially connect with the Umuofians, as if he was on their side. The relationships he made with the natives supplied him with the status he unavoidable to appear likable and genial. However, it was their own foolishness that conclusively brought the fall of Umuofia; to think Mr. Brown had good intentions was critically false because in the end, both missionaries wanted the same cruel thing. Therefore, the dewy-eyed Umuofians brought the end to themselves. Works CitedAchebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Fawcett, 1985. If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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