Ch 3-4 Things Fall Apart: Superiority = Domination?

"The man who had contradicted him had no titles. That was why he had called him a woman. Okonkwo knew how to kill a man's spirit" (Achebe 26).

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​?

In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo has established himself as the alpha male of the Umuofia tribe. He then exerts his power over the other men of the tribe to silence those who would oppose his ideas or his place as their true leader. Okonkwo isn't supported by the rest of the tribe when he crushes Osugo's spirit, but his task was done the moment he spoke. Osugo will not speak out against Okonkwo so readily again. He will most likely stay silent and hope that someone speaks for him. Once all the men in Umuofia are in this state, everyone will just be silently complacent to Okonkwo's demands. In this way, he has used his social superiority in the village to subjugate his peers, and emerge the true ruler of the village. Eventually, he may force the men of the village to decide between his word and the word of the elders. The men would realize opposing Okonkwo may be more painful than opposing the elders, and thus he has conquered his village. Okonkwo's domination is fueled by a sense of supeeiority. Because his father was such a failure, it was easy for him to say he was better than his father. This set the stage for him to aspire to surpass those around him.

Ch. 1-2 Things Fall Apart: Domestic Domination?

"And so the neighboring clans who knew of these things feared Umuofia, and would not go to war against it without trying a peaceful settlement first." (Achebe 12)

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​?

This shows clearly that imperialism existed in Africa before the Europeans invaded. Imperialism is defined as a policy of extending power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Umuofia obviously has extended its power to the other villages, given that the other villages will always attempt to pay tribute rather than fight the Umuofia tribe. This exertion of power by the tribe is fueled by a sense of superiority developed in wars against weaker tribes. The Umuofia tribe enjoys the ability to dominate the surrounding area through the use of fear as a weapon. This pervasive fear, likely based as much on fables and tall tales as truth, creates the idea that the Umuofia tribe is undeniably in control, and their rule cannot be contested. In a similar way, the Europeans used their higher level of technology to create fear among those they conquered. They could not question their oppressors, because their rule was absolute.