Saturday, December 20, 2014

How does the Reverend Smith's personality differ from that of Mr. Brown in Things Fall Apart?

Mr. Brown is a gentle, caring man. He is the first white
missionary to share his faith with Umuofians. Through his patient nature, he gains
respect from the clan. Mr. Brown witnesses through a calm nature. He does not force his
opinion or his faith on the clan:


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He neither attacks the tribe's customs nor
badgers them to join him.



Mr.
Brown keeps his overzealous members in check. He will not allow them to attack the
Umuofians. He is simply about educating the Umuofians and their children. He desires to
make their lives better by enlightening the clan about the confusing customs such as
throwing twins into the Evil Forest.


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He simply offers education to the Umuofians and
their children. The mission is flourishing when Mr. Brown has to leave for health
reasons.



Reverend Smith steps
into Mr. Brown's role because of Mr. Brown's failing health. Reverend Smith is the
opposite of Mr. Brown. He is forceful in his nature. He leads with aggression. He is
passionate and angry by nature. Where Mr. Brown was kind and gentle, Mr. Smith is "angry
and flamboyant."


Reverend Smith denounces the tribe's
traditions, customs, and practices. He dismisses church clan members whom he feels are
filled with the devil:


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He denounces the tribe's customs and bans from
his church clan members who must be, according to him, filled with the devil's spirit to
want to continue tribal
tradition.



Mr. Smith's
attitude is dangerous and causes much tension and strife among the clan members. He does
more dividing that unifying. He does not edify and build up the Umuofians. He harshly
criticizes the Umuofians. He does not make a positive
difference.

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