Once the Egwugwu made their decision, the missionary, Mr. Smith failed to stand his ground and “the red earth church which Mr. Brown had built was a pile of earth and ashes” (164). As this clash between the strong cultural dimension of religion between the Igbo and the missionaries occurred they weren’t even able to work out their differences peacefully through discussion. The failure to compromise caused the destruction of something important to both cultures, the unmasking of the Egwugwu and the burning on the Christian church. Furthermore, another example of the lack of respect between the Christians and the Igbo is when the most important clansmen are imprisoned and abused by the Christians. The District Commissioner has a condescending conversation with the clansmen and handcuffs them. They were imprisoned and “they were not given water to drink, and they could not go out to urinate” (167). While imprisoned, these men were insulted and humiliated through verbal and physical abuse. When these men returned, there was evidence of extreme physical abuse as the high status clansman, Okonkwo’s daughter, Ezinma, and friend, Obierka “had noticed the long stripes on
Once the Egwugwu made their decision, the missionary, Mr. Smith failed to stand his ground and “the red earth church which Mr. Brown had built was a pile of earth and ashes” (164). As this clash between the strong cultural dimension of religion between the Igbo and the missionaries occurred they weren’t even able to work out their differences peacefully through discussion. The failure to compromise caused the destruction of something important to both cultures, the unmasking of the Egwugwu and the burning on the Christian church. Furthermore, another example of the lack of respect between the Christians and the Igbo is when the most important clansmen are imprisoned and abused by the Christians. The District Commissioner has a condescending conversation with the clansmen and handcuffs them. They were imprisoned and “they were not given water to drink, and they could not go out to urinate” (167). While imprisoned, these men were insulted and humiliated through verbal and physical abuse. When these men returned, there was evidence of extreme physical abuse as the high status clansman, Okonkwo’s daughter, Ezinma, and friend, Obierka “had noticed the long stripes on