rather than to
             maintain their own ethnic identity. Obi's deeply rooted desire in the
             story seems to be to end colonial domination by Europeans. Throughout the
             story the reader realizes that the main character has also benefited from
             the many changes Europeans have brought to his country (Hamilton, 2002).
             When Obi traveled to Europe and received a European based education, this
             very education ends up destroying or masking his own true culture
             (Hamilton, 2002). His education benefits him in some ways, yet causes him
             to lose sight of his roots and his culture, his identity and his path in
             The primary theme in the book revolves around this sense of lost identity,
             and Okonkwo's struggle to understand the changes brought about by European
             influences, and his struggle conforming to some of those changes (Hamilton,
             2002). It is a tale of conflict, internal and external, as evidenced by
             the main character and the society in which he lives and prospers. There
             are also underlying themes of guilt and indecision.
             In this work Okonkwo finds himself in an awkward situation. He is stuck, a
             man with a European education and a good career, but feels he is expected
             by his people to uphold the traditions and culture of his native people
             (Hamilton, 2002). The entire work centers on in part this internal
             struggle Obi faces in managing the traditions of his people with the ways
             of the European world (Hamilton, 2002).
             The author, Chinua Achebe, is a novelist and short story wr
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