Resistance To Change Analysis

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Throughout many forms of literature there are distinct patterns, whether they are in the form of characters or experiences. Some characters will show growth or change in some way or another, while others demonstrate their resistance to change. Both Okonkwo, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and Emily Grierson, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, share the same characteristic of resisting change despite outside forces suggesting they do so, which inevitably lead to making their already terrible situations even worse. Emily Grierson is an old introvert who has lived a secluded life throughout her entire life. This leaves her to be stuck in her old ways and not adapt properly to the changing times. Emily as a child was held in such high …show more content…
Okonkwo was one of the most revered warriors in his village before his exilement and was known throughout the land. He was feared. If his village wanted to put fear in the hearts of those that wronged them, they sent Okonkwo, as evident by when another village killed one of Okonkwo’s village’s people. Okonkwo was sent and the village happily gave up a peace offering. This all changed when his rifle blew up and killed a child. Okonkwo was sent away for seven years. That is when the Christians came and everything changed. Okonkwo had this plan that when he returned he would do all this great stuff, like initiating his two sons to be in the ozo society and win his titles back. None of this happened. It seemed no one cared about Okonkwo anymore. When he returned “the new government and religion was very much in people’s eyes and minds” and not Okonkwo. Okonkwo thought that the solution to his problem should be through doing what he does best. Going to war with the new times. Okonkwo doesn’t want to accept the fact that the village changed. He wants to be put in the spotlight again. He wants everything to go back to what it was. Where he was revered among his fellow man, not practically ignored. His resistance to change lead to his immediate downfall. It not only killed him physically, but it killed his reputation. It made him