Brave New World, Chapter 17-18, A Reason

"If you allowed yourselves to think of God , you wouldn't allow yourselves to be degraded by pleasant vices. You'd have a reason for bearing things patiently, for doing things with courage. I've seen it with the Indians" (Huxley 236).

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society.

In this quote, John claims people shouldn't be afraid and should learn to accept themselves for who they truly are. The people in Brave New World were required to have the same love life, the same feelings, and the same opinions. They weren't allowed to have individual thoughts. If the people did have individuals thoughts, they were to be feared and looked upon as a threat to society. However, individuality is not a threat to maintaining a harmonious society. In Brave New World, life was unrealistic and people were not truly happy. Although the State wanted everyone to be happy all the time, people were not given to chose to be what they wanted to be and did not have a true identity. Everyone was placed in a caste and was told what to do. 

Brave New World, Chapter 15-16, Free Men

"Don't you want to be free and men? Don't you even understand what manhood and freedom are?" Rage was making him fluent; the words came easily in a rush. "Don't you?" he repeated, but got no answer to his question. "Very well then," he went on grimly. " I'll teach you; I'll make you be free whether you want to or not. (Huxley 213)"

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

In this quote, John encounters two Delta twins. John cries out while the twins are picking up their soma rations. He tells them to stop taking soma and reveals that it is poison. John also asks them to choose freedom instead of being enslaved by the State. He is completely against how the government treats society and how soma is used. Everyone is so conditioned that they don't notice the truth behind what John is saying. Soma is keeping people as prisoners. 

Brave New World, Chapter 13-14, Emotions

"Sweet!" said Lenina and, laying her hands on his shoulders, pressed against him. "Put your arms round me," she commanded. "Hug me till you drug me, honey." She too had poetry at her command, knew words that sang and were spells and beat drums. "kiss me till I'm in a coma. Hug me honey, snuggly" (Huxley 193-194).  

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

In this quote, Lenina confesses her love for John. However, she becomes frightened when John talks about marriage and growing old together; This is forbidden according to the State. In Brave New World, the people are encouraged to have everyone in order to maintain society without conflicts. The State persuades everyone to take Soma so their emotions are controlled and stabilized. A person's intimidate feelings and emotions are considered a threat to the government. They try to eliminate passion and love by manipulating them with Soma so that everyone is happy. In the end, people are living in a unrealistic society. 

Brave New World, Chapter 12, What is Real?

"Because I'm unhappy again: that's why. "Well, I'd rather be unhappy than have the sort of false, lying happiness you were having" (Huxley 179).

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

In this quote, John accuses Bernard's idea of happiness as false and a lie. Both perspectives of John and Bernard are completely different. They both have contrasting ideas of what happiness is. The environment in which they both grew up in has a huge factor in why they believe certain things.  Bernard does not have much of a broad understanding of what true happiness is unlike John. John was raised in a harsh environment and very differently. He finds Bernard to be immature and lacking depth. This is due to the manipulation and conditioning of the State. He has not been exposed to certain things.

Brave New World, Chapter 11, John the Savage & Bernard the Lost Soul

"It was John, then, they were all after. And as it was only through Bernard, his accredited guardian, that John could be seen, Bernard now found himself, for the first time in his life, treated not merely normally but as a person of outstanding importance. There was no more talk of the alcohol in his blood surrogate, no gives at his personal appearance" (Huxley 156). 

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

In this excerpt, it shows the contrast between John and Bernard. Bernard hasn't changed at all. He is still an intelligent Alpha and physically looks the same. However, he shows his true colors. John soon becomes very popular. Since John is "the savage", everyone wants to have him. As the guardian of John, Bernard is very intrigued by John's instant fame. He is disappointed with society and he desires to fit in. Since Bernard achieved his status through John, he is pleased to remain in society. Bernard's actions displays how he is forgetting what he believes in.

Brave New World, Chapter 9-10, Society

"The greater a man's talents, the greater his power to lead astray. It is better that one should suffer than that many should be corrupted. Consider the matter dispassionately, Mr. Foster, and you will see that no offense is so heinous as unorthodoxy of behavior. Murder kills only the individual-and, after all, what is an individual?" (Huxley 148).


Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

The people in Brave New World have no idea what life is like as an individual. Society is not allowed to be separate. They're only allowed to be "equal" in their own castes. Their opinions and feelings don't matter. Everyone is forced to be someone that they most likely would not have been if they were given the choice to be an individual. The people are taught  that being different is disgusting and wrong. They don't realize how the State manipulates them by telling society what to do and what to believe.  

Brave New World, Chapter 8, The Other Place

"Yes, that's just it." The young man nodded. "If one's different, one's bound to be lonely. They're beastly to one. Do you know, they shut me out of absolutely everything? When the other boys were sent out to spend the night on the mountains–you know, when you have to dream which your sacred animal is–they wouldn't let me go with the others; they wouldn't tell me any of the secrets. I did it by myself, though," he added. "Didn't eat anything for five days and then went out one night alone into those mountains there." He pointed" (Huxley 137).

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

In this excerpt, John lives a completely different lifestyle compared to everyone else. In Brave New World, being different is looked upon as weird or un normal. The people are happy because they are on soma. They have no signs of individuality unlike John who believes that everyone should have knowledge and feelings. People are masked by a fake perspective of a perfect society. They are completely blinded. However, John believes that people would be truly happy in this other place. He dreams that there is a better place where everyone will be able to control their own thoughts and feelings without restrictions. 

Brave New World, Chapter 7, Perfection

"Civilization is Sterilization," Bernard went on, concluding on a tone of irony the second hypnopaedic lesson in elementary hygiene."But these people have never heard of Our Ford, and they aren't civilized" (Huxley 110).

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

"Civilization is sterilization" was used to keep a idealistic and harmonious society. In Brave New World, society was sterilized. The people are manipulated and controlled. They are made in test tubes and are not able to reproduce. Every human being was placed in a different caste without choice. Society is sterilized in order to create a perfect civilization. However, the more one tries to create a flawless community, the more danger is created. 

Brave New World, Chapter 6, Strong Feelings

"Two hundred repetitions, twice a week from fourteen to sixteen and a half," was all his comment. The mad bad talk rambled on. " I want to know what passion is," she heard him saying." I want to feel something strongly." When the individual feels, the community reels," Lenina pronounced" (Huxley 94). 

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

This quote means that society is ranked over the individual. In Brave New World, everyone is forced to be happy by taking the drug, soma. For example, Bernard wants to feel something strongly and wants to know what passion is. However, this is looked as a threat to society especially if an individual is wanting or wishes the opposite of what society needs. 

Brave New World, Chapter 5, People

"Everyone works for everyone else. We can't do with out any one. Even Epsilons are useful. We couldn't do without Epsilons. Every one works for every one else. We can't do without any one..." (Huxley 74).

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

In Brave New World, society is raised in a lifestyle so that they know what they will do. The people do not have any experiences because they were put into specific castes since they were born. Everyone is trained to work for each other. However, in Brave New World the people are controlled into doing something that they are forced to do. No one knows or has the ability to do anything else. Since they were born in the bottle, they all conformed in knowing how to do one thing. The people do not have recollection of any experiences.

Brave New World, Chapter 4, An Outsider

"The mockery made him feel an outsider; and feeling an outsider he behaved like one, which increased the prejudice against him and intensified the contempt and hostility aroused by his physical defects. Which in turn increased his sense of being alien and alone. A chronic fear of being slighted made him avoid his equals, made him stand, where his inferiors were concerned, self-consciously on his dignity" (Huxley 65).

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

Bernard was always an outsider. In this society, it is wrong to be one. The people in Brave New World are made to look the same and be the same. No one is allowed to be different. Bernard avoided everyone because he felt that he wouldn't be accepted since he looked dissimilar. His physique was hardly any better than the average Gamma and he was eight centimeters shorter than the standard Alpha height. People assumed that when he was in the bottle something went wrong through the Bokanovsky's process.

Brave New World, Chapter 3, History is Bunk

""You all remember," said the Controller, in his strong deep voice, you all remember, I suppose, that beautiful and inspired saying of Our Ford's: History is bunk. History," he repeated slowly," is bunk."" (Huxley 34). 

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

The Resident Controller for Western Europe, Mustafa Mond, repeats that history is wack. The Director nervously explains that the students have not learned any of the history. History is bunk was inspired by Henry Ford. He believes that thinking about history is not necessary and that you should live in the present instead of the past. This explains why the students do not learn anything from past history. Individuals should have the ability to know events from the past in order to prevent bad things from happening again. The people in Brave New World are not given the opportunity to have individual thoughts and ideas. 

Brave New World, Chapter 2, Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Epsilons

"Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm really awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no, I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able" (Huxley 28). 

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

In this excerpt, a recorded voice is repeatedly saying the same thing. The sleeping children are whispered this message over and over again. It states that Alpha children work the hardest compared to the lower caste like Epsilons. This lesson is repeated hundreds of times throughout the weeks.The society in Brave New World does not allow people to have individual thoughts. They are not allowed to think for themselves since birth. Their original thoughts are taken away and instead their emotions are altered. Each individual grow up to hating or loving certain things by conformity and by adaptation. 

Brave New World, Chapter 1, Bokanovsky's Process

"We also predestine and condition. We decant our babies as socialized human beings, as Alphas or Epsilons, as future sewage workers or future" (Huxley 13). 

Disagree, Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society. 

Every human is mass produced by a process called Bokanovksy. This process uses surgically removed ovaries and technology to form embryos. Each embryo that undergoes Bokanovsky's process is first placed into bottles and then placed into different groups called the Alphas, the Betas, the Gammas, the Deltas and the Epsilons. Since birth, these embryos are predestined to fit in a category. When they are born, the fetus undergoes treatments that will conform them into their groups. The Director and Mr. Foster operate these individuals into their destiny. Every individual are treated based on their classification. The people in Brave New World are not treated as individuals. They do not have freedom or the choice to decide what they want to believe and what they want to be. Although it may be safe to have a somewhat perfect society through placement and conformity, individuality is definitely not a threat to a society. Individuality creates new views and new ideas. 

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 24-25, The End

"Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: "That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a do." He could not say any more. His voice trembled and choked his words" (Achebe 208).

Part I​ - According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it?

Imperialism has a huge effect on the people in Umuofia. In this passage, Obierika is so overcome by the unfairness and tragedy of Okonkwo's death. Obierika can't express his emotions into words. He is choked up with his words. Okonkwo was mistreated and was sent to exile for seven years. When he came back from being exiled, his return was not what he expected. The White men changed Umuofia's beliefs and traditions. The village becomes unrecognizable to Okonkwo. He is completely distraught. Okonkwo's desperation led him to suicide which was the result of his fear of failure. 

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 22-23, Egwugwu

"Mr. Smith stood his ground. But he could not save his church. When the egwugwu went away the red-earth church which Mr. Brown had built was a pile of earth and ashes. And for the moment the spirit of the clan was pacified" (Achebe 191).

Part II- How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/racial superiority in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart/the past?

The white men have complete control over the Ibo villages. One Christian convert, Enoch, unmasks an egwugwu. His action causes an uproar between the tribes and the Christians. The egwugwu burn Enoch's compound to the ground. The tribe confront Reverent Smith. They ask the Christians to destroy the church so that they can cleanse the village of Enoch's horrible sin. However, Reverend Smith forbids them to touch the church. Reverend Smith orders the tribe to leave the matter in his hands. As his request was ignored, the church is burned.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 20-21, New Customs

"'But he says that our customs are bad, and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? 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 our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has a put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart'” (Achebe 176). 

Part II- How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/racial superiority in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart/the past?

Okonkwo arrives in Umuofia after his exile. His return to his native land was not as memorable as he had wished. Okonkwo did not recognize Umuofia with the new religion and government. He complains to Obierka about the white men. Okonkwo is quite upset and truly believes that the new institutions that are talked and thought about were evil. He is firmly convinced that the white men are harmful to Umuofia and Ibo people. The white men are easily able to use their religion to persuade the villagers in Umuofia. 

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 17-19, Culture Change

"Now that he had time to think of it, his son’s crime stood out in its stark enormity. To abandon the gods of one’s father and go about with a lot of effeminate men clucking like old hens was the very depth of abomination. Suppose when he died all his male children decided to follow Nwoye’s steps and abandon their ancestors? Okonkwo felt a cold shudder run through him at the terrible prospect, like the prospect of annihilation. He saw himself and his fathers crowding round their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days, and his children the while praying to the white man's god" (Achebe 153).

Part I​ - According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it?

In this excerpt, Okonkwo fears that his family’s Ibo beliefs will be vanished by the influence and imperialism of the white men. There are many effects of imperialism in in the Ibo families. For example, Okonkwo believes that his views and his culture will make him an ancestor. However, this is tested as the white men convert his son, Nwoye, into Christianity. Another effect of imperialism is how the white men instantly expunge past traditions that were ancient to the Ibo culture. Okonkwo feels immediately betrayed and disrespected by his own children.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 15-16, Missionaries

"The interpreter spoke to the white man and he immediately gave his answer. 'All the gods you have named are not gods at all. They are gods of deceit who tell you to kill your fellows and destroy innocent children. There is only one true God and He has the earth, the sky, you and me and all of us'” (Achebe 146).

Part 1- According to the text, what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it? 

In the village of Umuofia, the White men, present the idea of a single god. The gods of the Igbo represent important aspects of their lives such as the earth in which they grow their food and the sky which is the source of sun and water needed for their crops. As the missionaries migrate into the villages, they strongly express their beliefs and ideas on to the other groups. They accuse the villagers that their beliefs are wrong and that there is only one god. The White men present to the people that all the Igbo gods are flawed and untrue.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 13-14, Crime

"The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years" (Achebe 124).

Part 1- According to the text, what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it? 


Okonkwo is punished when his gun accidentally goes off and kills Ezeudu’s sixteen year old son. He must atone by taking his family into exile for seven years because killing a clansman is a crime against the earth goddess. Okonkwo gathers his valuable belongings and take his family to his mother’s village. After his exile, men burn Okonkwo’s buildings and kill his animals to cleanse the village of his sin. It is questionable that if imperialism took place, this sort of punishment would of had a different outcome and discipline.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 11-12, Stories

"Low voices, broken now and again by singing, reached Okonkwo from his wives' huts as each woman and her children told folk stories. Ekwefi and her daughter, Ezinma, sat on a mat on the floor. It was Ekwefi's turn to tell a story" (Achebe 96).

Part 1- According to the text, what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it? 

The people in the Umuofia tribe use storytelling as a mechanism. In this chapter,

Ekwefi tells Ezinma a story about a greedy, cunning tortoise. She teaches Ezinma stories to give her daughter knowledge and principles to follow throughout her life. Storytelling is a huge part of Igbo culture. These stories were told to educate young children about past events and life lessons. Many of these stories were only acquainted with people in the tribes. Igbo people have many traditions and practices that lay out how they live and better their lives. They strive to form their culture and society into sophistication.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 9-10, Sick Ezinma

"Okonkwo returned from the bush carrying on his left shoulder a large bundle of grasses and leaves, roots and barks of medicinal trees and shrubs. He went into Ekwefi's hut, put down his load and sat down" (Achebe 85).


Part II- How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/racial superiority in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart/the past?

After Okonkwo is informed that Ezinma is sick and believably dying with iba, a form of fever, Okonkwo goes to the forest to collect a large bulk of herbs, leaves, grass, and roots to cook up her medicine. He uses such plants and herbs as medicine because he believes that the plants are sacred and very powerful. It is very common to find medicine by using plants and herbs in Eastern civilization. In Western tradition, this technique and remedy would be ridiculed and replaced. However in Eastern’s tradition and style of medicine was very practiced and was quite used.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 7-8, The Oracle

"Yes, Umuofia has decided to kill him. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves has pronounced it. They will take him outside Umuofia as is the custom, and kill him there. But I want you to have nothing to do with it. He calls you his father" (Achebe 57).

Part II- How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/racial superiority in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart/the past?


Okonkwo was taken to surprise when Ogbuefi Ezeudu came to tell him that Umuofia had decided to kill Ikemefuna. According to the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves, they pronounced Umuofia to be killed and sacrificed. Ogbuefi Ezeudu wanted Okonkwo to have nothing to do with the killing of Ikemefuna. Okonkwo did not want to look weak when Ikemefuna begged for help, after he overheard the other men talking about killing him. Instead, Okonkwo finished the task of killing Ikemefuna. Okonkwo grew his love for Ikemefuna, as his son. Ikemefuna deserved Okonkwo’s admiration and honor because he was acting more manly each and every day. Ikemefuna’s masculinity also encouraged and set a positive example to his younger brother, Nwoye. After the death of Ikemefuna, Nwoye avoids Okonkwo at all costs.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 5-6, Okonkwo and The New Yam Festival

"The New Yam Festival was thus an occasion for joy throughout Umuuofia. And every man whose arm was strong, as the Ibo people say, was expected to invite large numbers of guests from far and wide. Okonkwo always asked his wives' relations, and since he now had three wives his guests would make a fairly big crowd" (Achebe 37).

Part II- How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/racial superiority in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart/the past?

The New Yam Festival takes place every year in Umuofia. This festival is a time to honor Ani, the earth goddess and the source of all fertility. Yams were harvested and new yams could not be eaten until some had first been offered to the people with power. Throughout Umuofia, the New Yam Festival was an occasion for joy. The New Yam Festival represents  major characteristics of imperialism. The people of the villages are religious, patriot and strong. They celebrate the yams and their gods. Also, Umuofia  people have wrestling matches to showcase their strength. During the festival, Okonkwo particularly feels tense. His unjustifiable action of beating his wife demonstrate the opposing aspects of imperialism.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 3-4, Self Made

"With a father like Unoka, Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had. He neither inherited a barn nor a title, nor even a young wife. But in spite of these disadvantages, he had begun even in his father's lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future. It was slow and painful. But he threw himself into it like one possessed. And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death" (Achebe 18).


Prompt, Part II - How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural / racial superiority in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart / the past?


Okonkwo is completely a self made man. Young Okonkwo grew up with his father, Unoka. Unoka lived a dishonorable and a truly sluggish life. He was not able to give a barn, a young wife, nor a title. Despite Unoka’s misfortunes, Okonkwo had a relentless drive to improve his reputation. His determination strongly gave him a future to look ahead to and a better life. Okonkwo’s ill fated father was pure motivation for Okonkwo to pursue a different lifestyle. He built and constructed a basis that definitely made him powerful and looked upon.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 1-2, Superiority and Fear

"An ultimatum was immediately dispatched to Mbaino asking them to choose between war on the one hand, and on the other the offer of a young man and a virgin as compensation” (Achebe 11).

Part 1- According to the text, what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it? 

The author, Achebe, portrays two different tribes in this novel. There were rising tensions after the Mbiano tribe killed a woman from the Umuofia tribe. Due to this event, the Umuofia is greatly disheartened by the loss of their daughter. Although revenge is likely to occur, the Umuofia tribe allow the Mbaino tribe choose whether to go to war or bring a girl and a boy from their tribe. The neighboring clans want to avoid war because the Umuofia tribe is very powerful and feared. Instead, the Mbaino offer a peaceful solution by giving a boy and a virgin girl to the Umuofia tribe. They decide the virgin girl should be given to the man whose wife was just murdered. The Umuofia tribe exhibits the power of fear and superiority. The tribe is able to display and spread  imperialism. Also they are able to emphasize their threatening power throughout the country.