Significances of the White Man in Things Fall Apart

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Significances of the White Man in Things Fall Apart
At the end of Chapter Twenty of Things Fall Apart, Obierika tells Okonkwo, "He [the white man] has put a knife on the things that held us together, and we have fallen apart." Explore the significance of this statement and how it speaks to the novel as a whole.
Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” reflects and focuses on the Igbo tribe before and after the introduction of missionaries in Umuofia society. The author narrates the story of Okonkwo and his native tribe of Ibo during the period of imperialism. Chinua Achebe aims to give perspective associated with tribal life in the African continent to the people who do have any idea of it. Obierika tells Okonkwo that the white man has inserted a knife into the things which held the Ibo tribe together, causing the tribe to fall apart. He says, "He [the white man] has put a knife on the things that held us together, and we have fallen apart." This quote is significant in several ways as it portrays the novel's summary and echoes the effects and repercussions of introducing the Europeans in different regions in Africa and other nations.
Obierika's quote is significant as it reviews the entire purpose of Achebe's work in the way it utilizes a metaphor to demonstrate the way the story contributes to the point of separation and destruction of the Ibo tribe culture made by the white man. Fundamentally each action in the novel relates to everything that Obierika discusses. It either leads to having connotations with the white man. For instance, it is clear that the coming of the European missionaries in the Ibo community led to the destruction of culture and economy and ignited massive conflict. The effects are still evident when the British colonialist took raw materials they could obtain in Nigeria and dispatched them out of the country. As the British continued to steal essential resources, the country lost its capacity to manufacture its commodities. On the other hand, there originated internal conflict between the communities. The author develops the characters to display their reactions to the daunting occupation of the white man. This Obierika quote shows that it is significant in the overall literature.
This statement also echoes the things happening in the Ibo society and if they conflict with the white men's wishes. For instance, the Igbo culture permitted killing kids or individuals to stay in line with their religion. The culture had allowed the killing of twins as they viewed it as the devil's work and young males should be sacrificed to god to demonstrate peace of offerings. On the other hand, a man was seen as "real" whenever they married two or more wives. The women embraced this ritual and even motivated their husbands to search for a new, younger wife. These women would live peacefully and assist each other in raising children and accomplishing daily household chores. However, the white missionaries were against this culture and customs and enforced Western laws and civilizations on the Ibo people (Poorghorban 271). Hence, this Obierika dialogue is significant in portraying the culture and beliefs of African communities contra...