Role of Nature

Nature is the controlling force behind Okonkwo's tribe and culture. Evil spirits inhabit the nature presented in the novel. For example, there is a place called, "The Evil Forest" where the outcasts of society are banished to to die. The fear of evil dominated the lives of the people in the tribe. It was particularly interesting to read a line from Tennyson exemplifying nature, "red in tooth and claw," (pg. 13). This line remains the central opinion of all who believe in nature as a god. Understandably, before the missionaries arrived, the tribe did not have any other idea of a Deity that would be more reasonable than nature. All they knew was nature controlled the answer to their crop growth, who dies, and they questioned the Oracle frequently to seek answers for injustices brought upon their tribe. To please nature, the tribesmen would sacrifice a cock to Ani (the land god) and Ifejioku (yam god) to show their appreciation and dedication to these "nature gods." Although I do not believe in their gods, I find it interesting the amount of respect and reverence the tribesmen and women had for their gods. Modern Christianity sometimes places God at the level of humanity. By doing so, God is personalized to meet the needs of one individuals and comes to resemble Okonkwo's idea of a "chi" or personal god. Okonkwo's tribe feared the gods and their punishments, "What you have done will not please the Earth... if the Oracle said that my son should be killed, I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it," (pg. 67). Modern Christians believe that they may do whatever they please because of God's forgiveness (which is lacking in Okonkwo's tribe), but must realize that there should be as much dedication to God as Okonkwo's tribesmen and women represented for their gods.