Respuesta :
The "respectful, undermining" contradictory pair of words best describes how Mr. Brown is characterized. Mr. Brown is the first white missionary in the Umuofia and Mbanta from the "Things Fall Apart" novel written by Chinua Achebe. He respects every people in Umuofia and Mbanta including their leader. However, he always gives a new development to the people besides religion.
Answer:
Mr.Brown is referred to be respectful and undermining to the clan and its ways, he wants to learn more about the Igbo. He even sits and talks for longs times to the elders to find more to learn. But when it came to religion Mr. Brown declared that a frontward attack on the Igbo religion would not work. The respect is when he listens and learns of the Igbo. But the undermining is when he seeks to fall the Igbo religion. One way the author represents this complex relationship is through the characterization of Mr. Brown. He is characterized as respectful and curious about the ways of the clan. At one point, he is described as being '“respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.”' (p. 178) He has long conversations with the elders to learn more about the ways of the Igbo.
