Things Fall Apart, Chapters Seventeen, Eighteen, and Nineteen

Is progress made in the Ibo tribe through the British colonization process? By British standards, some progress is made; tribal members are converting and turning away from the rituals and traditions of the polytheistic society. They are rescuing twins from the Evil Forest; they have established churches within the villages. However, not all Ibo agree with this idea of progress and change. They see conflict within themselves, their families, their gods, and what was once a tight knit community. This kind of conflict can breed fear that breeds further conflict. So where do they go from here? How does Okonkwo bounce back from seven years of exile in his motherland? How does he move forward when his firstborn son has rejected his father’s gods? More importantly, as a tragic hero, can he move forward and bounce back?