When a hammer meets a selection of fine china, the fine china breaks and shatters. However, if the fine china is replaced with Play-Doh (that wonderful substance that reeks of "non-toxic" chemicals), the Play-Doh molds and conforms to the hammer; it changes. This may sound utterly fruitless; however, the Play-Doh is still recognizable as Play-Do, while the china exists as a collection of glass. The china's refusal to change causes it to break. The Play-Doh accepts change and lets the force mold it into something new, yet something that still resembles Play-Doh. Okonkwo of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, like the selection of china, refuses to change. This refusal causes a "loss of self" comparable to the china's loss of form, and, due to this refusal, he breaks, or, as shown in the novel, kills himself. Evidence of this negation to change can be found in points in the novel when change is forced upon Okonkwo.

             It may be pertinent to define what Okonkwo's self is. He had an extreme disgust for his father. "He had no patience with unsuccessful men, he had no patience for his father" (2). Therefore, he tried not to become his father. He did this by surrounding himself with the work of supporting his family, something his father did not do. This routine became his self. He was in fear of losing this routine because he would then become his father. This can be inferred by Okonkwo's experience in exile. He did not enjoy rebuilding his farm, "and when there was no work to do he sat in a silent half-sleep" (113). His father was described as "a loafer" (3) and a loafer is a person who does no work. Hence, his self is his routine, and to change this routine would endanger his self. This proves that he feared change.

             The subtle edge of his resistance to the wave of change lies in the everyday aspects of Okonkwo's life. His tribal people celebrated "The New Yam Festival". However, he "could never become enthusiastic about feasts as most people" (32).