When the white men came to Umuofia, things started to fall apart for the people of this village, as the foreigners introduce a new religion, government and laws to replace the traditions, practices and form of government of the tribe. Many clansmen, particularly the lowborn and the outcasts, immediately became converts to Christianity. Thus the people became divided in their beliefs. The introduction of the white men's laws infuriated some of the clansmen because these laws directly contradicted traditional practices in the village. In addition to the destruction of Umuofian society as a whole, Okonkwo also had his personal disasters. He was exiled because of an accidental crime he committed. He lost his son Nwoye, who was attracted to the Christian missionaries. He lost hope in maintaining the cultural traditions of his fatherland when he found out that the people have allowed white men to stay with them. And in the end, he committed suicide and lost his own life. Despite these appalling events in Umuofia and in neighboring villages, signs of hope are still apparent. However, due to certain circumstances the hope is eventually lost. In the end, Okonkwo commits suicide, which is a sign of frustration and hopelessness.
             Several events or situations in Achebe's novel can be interpreted as signs of hope. Such signs of hope are Ikemefuna's having a new home; Nwoye's development into a strong man like his father; Okonkwo's hope of having a new farm, a new house, and a new life in his motherland; Okonkwo's change in attitude from being sullen & aggressive to being gentle & less violent; the hope of regaining the converts to Christianity back to the traditional religion; and the hope of reuniting the clan in a clan meeting.
             The first situation to consider is the time when Ikemefuna was put under Okonkwo's responsibility while the elders decided the boy's fate. Ikemefuna eventually adjusted to Okonkwo's family and even...