Achebe weaves a narrative around life in Igbo society, making the society a microcosm representing the increasing dominance of British rule over the indigenous people. Both the British and the Igbo cultures are portrayed by Achebe as a combination of diverse and distinctive types of human beings. On the one hand, there are people like Mr. Smith and Okoknwo, who will neither compromise nor surrender when their respective cultures are threatened. While on the other hand, there are people like Mr. Brown and Akunna, who are accommodating and willing to learn about other cultures.
Mr. Brown is different from the other ‘white men’, as he constantly tries to learn about the traditions and beliefs of the villagers of Umuofia and Mbanta. He represents the benevolent side of the British imperialism, as he restrains the overzealous members of his church from provoking the clan members. Mr. Brown resorts to peaceful ways to convert people of Umuofia to Christianity. He engages in respectful discussions with many men of the villages. He builds a school and a hospital for the welfare of the community, and his actions have a lasting impact on the villagers.
Mr. Brown despite bringing Christianity which many of the men and women of Umuofia were at first against, begins gaining respect as the benefits that seem to be associated with his presence are welcome and outweigh the differences in religious beliefs.
There was a feeling in Umuofia that Mr. Brown had indeed brought a lunatic religion. And even in the matter of religion there was a growing feeling that there might be something in it after all, something vaguely akin to method in the overwhelming madness.
This growing feeling was due to Mr. Brown, the white missionary, who was very firm in restraining his flock from provoking the wrath of the clan. One member in particular was very difficult to restrain. His name was Enoch and his father was the priest of the snake cult. The story went around that Enoch had killed and eaten the sacred python, and that his father had cursed him.
Mr. Brown uses a reconciliatory approach in dealing with the attacks his church members were facing from the other members of the community. He does not preach hate or try to retaliate, infact, he visited the villages where he engages with villager who had different beliefs to those he held in a bid to understand them better. This leads to him being highly ranked and presented with a carved elephant tusk which was a sign of dignity.
Mr. Brown preached against such excess of zeal. Everything was possible, he told his energetic flock, but everything was not expedient. And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith. He made friends with some of the great men of the clan and on one of his frequent visits to the neighbouring villages he had been presented with a carved elephant tusk, which was a sign of dignity and rank. One of the great men in that village was called Akunna and he had given one of his sons to be taught the white man’s knowledge in Mr. Brown’s school.
Whenever Mr. Brown went to that village he spent long hours with Akunna in his obi talking through an interpreter about religion. Neither of them succeeded in converting the other but they learned more about their different beliefs.
In Things Fall Apart, Mr. Brown deals with the passionate members of the clan with reason and with compassion. The more zealous members of the clan approach him and tend more towards violence and extremism, but he is able to reason with them, discussing religion, helping them out, and showing them kindness. This gentleness endears him to the clan members, and essentially earns him a position as an honorary clan member. His kindness is the primary reason the Christian church begins to take a foothold in the region, which, during his lifetime, is an excellent and admirable achievement, however it eventually turns out to have a negative impact on the clan and peoples when an equally zealous and violence-prone clergyman takes over the regional church. There are several themes that are explored by these relationships - primarily that violent and evil people can be found in any culture or religion, and that the best way to counteract extremism is through compassion and understanding.
Mr. Brown is portrayed as a tolerant, compassionate man, who treats the villagers of Umuofia with respect. Mr. Brown is firm in restraining the passionate, zealous members of his flock from provoking the wrath of the clan and preaches against excess zeal. Mr. Brown teaches his followers that all things are possible but should be done morally and with patience. Mr. Brown also leads by example and meets with revered members of Umuofia. Mr. Brown becomes friends with many of the clan members and frequently discusses religious differences with Akunna. Mr. Brown's tolerant disposition is appreciated by the villagers, and he is respected throughout Umuofia. Unfortunately, Mr. Brown dies and is replaced by the over-zealous Mr. Smith, who is a fiery preacher that provokes the wrath of the villagers, which leads to the demise of Umuofia.
No comments:
Post a Comment