The Umuofian Perspective

     As we saw in the literary criticism he wrote on Heart of Darkness, Achebe is insulted by the way African culture is portrayed by Joseph Conrad and other European authors. In many American and European novels, authors have practically dehumanized Africans and made them appear as savage animals. Achebe writes a book that tears apart this stereotype by building complex, multi-faceted characters with differing views on their own Ibo culture.
     Much of the book sets up the characters and their culture as a complex group. In Umuofia, there are varying opinions on how to deal with conflict and other problems. Characters in Achebe's novel have their own thoughts and feelings as well as their own views on religion, which greatly differs from Joseph Conrad's two dimensional rabid African characters. However, it is worth noting that there are literally no complex female characters and any women that do appear in the story are basically portrayed as weak and worthless. Anyway, the point is that characters like Okonkwo and Nwoye are very developed and have thoughts and feelings. Nwoye struggles with things that he views as cruelties within his own culture. For example, he feels absolutely disgusted by his father's murder of Ikmefuma and the killings of twins in Umuofia. Okonkwo, on the other hand, views these things as completely normal parts of his society.
     When Christian missionaries come to Umuofia, conflict is created. The cultures do not mix very well. People like Okonkwo are happy with the way things are and do not want to change, while the missionaries are trying to force their own culture upon the citizens of Umuofia. Ultimately, the interaction between the two cultures is portrayed very negatively, and it is primarily the missionaries who are shown in a very harsh light. The Umuofians are portrayed very realistically as real human beings. The missionaries are given very generic names such as Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith and don't really have any dimension to them except for their firm religious beliefs and their power over the natives. Achebe characterizes them this way to show how the oppressors treat the oppressed.
     Achebe writes this novel in a way that really characterizes the native Africans he is describing. His characters are real people with hopes and fears as opposed to the one dimensional savage creatures Conrad portrays them as. This is Achebe's way of taking a stand against post-colonialist writers like Conrad.