In the book Things Fall Apart, Achebe talks about the way traditional Igbo communities dealt with the changes brought about by foreigners and modernity. An example of how he achieves this can be seen in the character of Nwoye.
Nwoye is a very sensitive character, who is deeply impacted by the cruelty he sees around him, such as the practice of killing twin babies. Nwoye represents a modern sensibility, which clashes with the traditional masculinity of his father Okonkwo. Okonkwo believes Nwoye to be weak and effeminate. By using characterization, Achebe allows these two characters to represent the changes that are taking place in the community. Eventually, Nwoye is pulled towards modernity definitely when he decides to convert to Christianity, as he values the teachings of kindness and sensibility.
