Things Fall Apart Question 11

"The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won out brothers, and out clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart" (176). 

Why, according to Okonkwo, do the Ibo hold responsibility for the white man invading their land? Do you agree with his perspective? Why or why not?

I think that Okonkwo thinks that the Ibo are at fault because they let him stay instead of kicking him out like they should have done. Okonkwo probably thinks that it was Ibo's fault because they let him stay and they let him convert people. Even if the missionary was nice and "foolish" then they should have kicked him out. I disagree with this perspective because the people could not have done anything unless it was by Abame, which in that case all were killed. In this case I think it would have been better if they let the man stay, because if they killed or kicked the man out they would have been slaughtered. Nothing would have stopped the white men from conquering the area and converting people.

Ignorance. Carelessness. Nonchalance. Blindness. Assumption. Giving. Curiosity. Weakness. Foolishness. Encouragement. Shocked. Temptation.