Social Darwinism in Things Fall Apart By Brad Dougherty

What is Social Darwinism? Natural selection “Survival of the fittest”

Natural selection

“Survival of the fittest”

Metanarratives Chinua Achebe’s village, Ogidi One of the first Anglican centers Social Darwinism Justification

Chinua Achebe’s village, Ogidi

One of the first Anglican centers

Social Darwinism

Justification

Okonkwo Fails to adapt to changes in clan Trying not to be his father Distracted When he returned

Fails to adapt to changes in clan

Trying not to be his father

Distracted

When he returned

The Clan Was the failure to adapt an Inherent flaw or Circumstance? A little of both

Was the failure to adapt an

Inherent flaw or

Circumstance?

Inherent flaws Outcasts Church provided a place for them Initially not taking colonizers seriously Land Gained credibility Chi

Outcasts

Church provided a place for them

Initially not taking colonizers seriously

Land

Gained credibility

Chi

Circumstance Okonkwo not there May have been able to “save” clan Manifest Destiny

Okonkwo not there

May have been able to “save” clan

Manifest Destiny

Subtext Clan too weak to survive Nwoye

Clan too weak to survive

Nwoye