When the missionaries first arrive, there seems to be
little potential for massive conflict. They have rescued the twins from the forbidden
forest but they don't bring them into the village, and converts sometimes get into
trouble because they go back into the village and pick fights over whose gods are right,
but things are generally calm.
The conflict grows as the
converts start to try and work on the church grounds and do things that will require
them to interact with other members of the village and to use the same resources,
etc.
It is an indirect way of causing the eventual downfall
of Okonkwo and leaving the villagers totally in the hands of the white men, but once the
villagers revolt against the missionaries and burn down their compound, justice from the
white man is swift and spells doom for much of the Igbo culture and opportunity for any
self-government.
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