Topic > Chinua Achebe and Joseph Boyden on the process of colonialism

The process of colonialism is the continuous eradication of old practices and the exploitation of new practices, and often involves settlement in a foreign land, the introduction of new cultural practices and the application of religious practices. In the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe uses the British colonization of western Nigeria to demonstrate how the power struggle between tradition and modernization cannot be won. Similarly, Joseph Boyden's The Orenda uses the French colonization of New France to demonstrate how those who reject and those who accept the reality of change are both doomed to death. Although the internal and external conflicts caused by colonialism differ between the characters in Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Boyden's The Orenda, both works use the process of colonialism to orchestrate each person's death. Whether one chooses to support, resist, or submit to the imposition of a new culture, death is inevitable during the processes of colonialism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThings Fall Apart demonstrates the process of colonization through the British settlement in the foreign land that is Umofia, the establishment of the English language, and the application of the Christian religion. This agreement creates unrest between the Umofian people and the English. As the Chief Commissioner confronts the clan leaders about their actions, he explains that: “I brought you here because you banded together to harass others, to burn people's houses and their places of worship. This must not happen in the queen's domain... I have decided that you will pay a fine of two hundred cowries. (Achebe 194). Between the Umofian attack on the church and the British's demand for money, it is obvious that there is a conflict between those who resist British colonization and those who support it. Indigenous people believe that all aspects of colonialism are an evil that must be eradicated from their land. Challengers to Igbo ancestral spirituality, such as the chief commissioner of the newly founded church, are those who believe that “[the British] brought this peaceful administration [to Umofia] because… it is the most powerful in the world” (Achebe 194 ). Not particularly different from Crow's character in The Orenda, the chief commissioner defends his religious beliefs in the face of death. As an authority figure representative of his faith, "the [chief commissioner is] fearless and [stands] his ground..." (Achebe 204) when challenged by the Umofian clan. During the struggle between religion and spiritual power, the chief commissioner chooses to defend his religion. However, “this is useless” (Achebe 204). In the Chief Commissioner's attempt to defend the imposition of religion during the process of colonialism, his decision not to surrender to the indigenous people is the ultimate cause of his death. Similar to Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Boyden's The Orenda uses French Jesuit missionaries to demonstrate the commitment and faith one must have to die for their religion. In this novel, the focus of the French colonization of New France is the imposition of religion on the natives. During the process of colonialism and the imposition of religion, Crow's death is organized by his refusal to commit blasphemy. When Crow settles in the Huron village, learns the native language, and lives with those who are skeptical of his beliefs, he experiences no conflict with himself or the tenets of Christianity. His resistance against all other spiritual customs goes so far as to declare: "I will die for [God] if this is what I want."is required" (Boyden 28). Although Crow may not sense any spiritual conflict, it is clear that the conflict brought by colonialism is between the Jesuit missionaries and the Haudenosaunee tribe. Crow's resistance against the native way of life is most evident when Crow is kidnapped and tortured by the Haudenosaunee and denied the opportunity to live Given the choice to abandon the religious aspect of colonialism and “deny the story that when [he] is born, [he] will have water poured on his. head to [protect him]… [and] deny the story that to speak to the great voice, [he] must wear a bright cord around [his] neck” (Boyden 477), Crow refuses submitting to that lifestyle and living, Crow denies and is tortured to death, the process of colonialism not only orchestrates the death of those who support the imposition of religion, but also causes the death of those who struggle with it. and ultimately succumb to the processes of colonialism. In the novel Things Fall Apart, Enoch submits to the process of colonialism by choosing to move to the British village, learning English, and converting to Christianity. Throughout the novel, Enoch is referred to as “the outsider who [cries] louder than the mourner” (Achebe 185). His devotion to his newfound faith has become greater than the faith of those who forced religion on him. The processes of colonialism in this novel create conflict “between the church and the clan in Umofia…” (Achebe 186). There is the option of conforming to the British standard of living, joining the Christian church and living in the white man's village, or resisting and continuing the spiritually oriented lifestyle of the Igbo. In Umofian culture, “one of the greatest crimes a man could commit was to expose an egwugwu in public, or to say or do anything that might diminish his immortal prestige in the eyes of the uninitiated. And that is exactly what Enoch did” (Boyden 186). Enoch's conversion in an act of defiance against the clan's ancestral gods demonstrates that he has grown spiritually by overcoming his old beliefs and has chosen to conform to Christianity. When the power struggle between the Christian leaders and the Eqwugwu intensifies, the Egwugwu defend their land by burning the church while Enoch is inside praying. In the process of British colonialism, the conflict between the new Christian church and the traditional Igbo clan forces the characters to submit or resist the imposition of religion. The cause of Enoch's death is his courageous act of defiance against the old spirituality and his submission to the new way of life. Submission to a religion recently introduced during colonialism is the cause of Delilah's death, but unlike Achebe's Things Fall Apart, this process causes internal causes rather than external conflict. In the Orenda, Jesuit missionaries remove native customs to “bring Jesus into the lives of [the natives]” (Boyden 28). To eliminate the spiritual customs of the natives, Crow promises that those who convert to Christianity will be rewarded with eternal life. This creates a spiritual ultimatum in the plot, either to continue with the native lifestyle or to achieve eternal life in Christianity. Unlike Things Fall Apart, its role in colonization processes causes internal conflicts. Although Delilah believes she has the opportunity to "go straight to [God] and live in heaven forever" (Boyden 212), she also fears that she will be alone in death and "separated from everyone forever" (Boyden 212) in the world . afterlife. Delilah succumbs to the imposition of religion by the Jesuit missionaries and agrees to "try to do what [the Jesuit missionaries do], try to live the way [they]they say they live, in him who is called Christ" (Boyden 212). To realize this new principle and be rewarded with eternal life, one must be free from sin and die in Christ. To ensure one ascends to heaven, it would be optimal to die after having committed to their religious beliefs, Isaac agrees that "it is better for [Delilah] to die now" (Boyden 462), directly after partaking of the Lord's Supper before she "acts on her oki" (Boyden 462). ) and commits another sin, which is why he takes the initiative to poison her. In the processes of colonialism, missionaries remove the concept of okies and instill the concept of Christianity in the native culture a new religion creates an internal conflict for Delilah's character Enoch in Things Fall Apart, Delilah's final decision to submit and live in Christianity is the ultimate cause of her death. Through the character of Okonkwo in the novel Thing Fall Apart, Achebe shows how no matter how strongly one resists the process of colonialism, it will be the cause of one's death. Okonkwo's opinion on British colonization is clear when he addresses the people of Umofia during the meeting of elders. Explain that they [the English] say our customs are bad; and our brothers who have embraced this religion say that our customs are bad. How do you think we can fight back when our brothers have turned against us? The white man is very intelligent. He came in silence and at peace with his religion. We were amused by his stupidity and allowed him to stay. Now our brothers have won and our clan can no longer behave as if it were one. He put a knife on the things that held us together and we fell apart (Achebe 176). As Boyden demonstrates in his novel The Orenda, the process of colonialism creates conflict and raises the ultimatum to submit or resist British settlement and imposition of religion. Okonkwo chooses not to accept the reality of change, and it is clear that Umofia's surrender to the life that colonialism will bring disgusts him. In this novel, Achebe demonstrates that those who protest against the imposition of religion cannot be part of a community that succumbs to this imposition. The British colonization of Umofia is the ultimate cause of Okonkwo's death. His suicide is an act of resistance to belonging to a community that succumbs to the change brought by colonialism. Reminiscent of Okonkwo's character development, the process of colonialism is something that some characters in The Orenda dislike. Like most of the main characters in both novels, the decision to resist change is the cause of their deaths. During the process of colonialism, Jesuit missionaries encouraged lifestyle changes such as sobriety and celibacy. As a new convert, the internal conflict between wanting to follow both the tenets of Christianity and the Iroquois customs causes great chaos for Aaron. Aaron's first act against the Christian religion is his sexual infidelity. After the fact that Aaron participated in the rape of the Iroquois girls, Crow assures that Aaron and “those men were punished severely for this terrible sin. The great voice will punish them for eternity” (Boyden 333). At this point it is clear that Aaron has chosen to distance himself from the Christian religion. When told to stop drinking, Aaron supports the fact that "[he] needs it" (Boyden 364). His need for alcohol shows that Aaron is unable to commit to the new lifestyle and is choosing to continue with the native lifestyle. Like Delilah, the idea of ​​converting to Christianity troubles Aaron. When Aaron expresses.