Culture plays a huge role in both Richard Wagamese's Indian Horse and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. Both novels present specific cultural sets that contribute to the characterization of the protagonist. Things Fall Apart and Indian Horse both feature acts of assimilation committed by the colonialist referred to as “the white man.” The protagonists of each novel are pushed to conform to a new ideology in which they risk the loss of their old way of life. This ultimatum of new versus old beliefs creates a dilemma for both characters and alters their personalities. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The importance of culture and its connection to the protagonists is present at the beginning of both novels. The source of Saul's Ojibway culture is his grandmother with whom he shares a close bond. As his parents were grieved by the loss of their children, Saul was able to establish an intimate relationship with his grandmother as he passed on the knowledge of her tradition through such things as “Stories of the Old Days” (Wagamese 12). Likewise, Okonkwo is deeply connected with his culture and for him it is a way of life. One such tradition is wrestling, where Okonkwo first gained fame in his fight with “the cat Amalinze,” which was “one of the fiercest since the founder of their city engaged a wild spirit” (Achebe 1). Okonkwo is presented as honorable – a key characteristic evident within the village – through the cultural practice of wrestling. The characters in Indian Horse and Things Fall Apart are introduced to the "Zhaunagush" (Wagamese 1) or the white man. These white men bring with them threats of assimilation both to the different cultures of the book and in particular to the protagonists. Although the two settings in the book are markedly different, the threat to the culture follows the narrative of the white man who speaks of peace but turns hostile. When Saul remembers the origin of his name, he calls the white men the “treaty people” (Wagamese 7). This implies that these men came to preach peace, yet they still show aggression towards the Ojibway people. Similarly in Things Fall Apart, the colonialist plan for domination preached peace and religion, but turned violent. When they arrived in Mbante and Umuofia, the white man “came in silence and at peace with his religion,” the clan members were “amused at his stupidity and allowed him to stay” (Achebe 176). The novels feature both main characters suffering betrayal caused by the white man. Saul's parents, who had converted to Christianity, despised his Ojibway ways and abandoned him as a child. Okonkwo, in turn, was betrayed by his firstborn son who defected to Christianity. “Nyowe was drawn to the new faith from day one” (Achebe 149) and his defection brought great shame to Okonkwo. Imprisonment is a motif repeated in both books as well, where it endangers the main character's culture. Residential schools were like prisons and would become the center of cultural genocide of children, including Saul in Indian Horse. “Just saying a word in Ojibway could get you beaten and banished to the box in the basement” (Wagamese 148). Children were given the choice between Conformity or suffering which led to “bodies hanging from rafters on thin ropes” and “slit wrists” (Wagamese 55). Okonkwo experiences similar imprisonment when he is captured by the district commissioner, which made him seem weak and undignified. His honor, which played an important role in how he was perceived within his culture,1081820)