Essays --

Taquan Evans Sister Robinson British Literature Final How Being Nice Can Get You Further Than Others Do you know two people who have the exact same job, but one person gets much more successful results solely because they are more nice and caring than the other person? I know if I was dealing with a person I would like them to be respectful and caring of my feelings depending on the situation. If they weren’t then we would more than likely be in a hostile situation. Having a respectful and courteous attitude will make you more approachable and comfortable to talk to. In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe there is a perfect example of this, with Mr. Brown and Reverend Smith. Mr. Brown won more converts than Reverend Smith because he listens to and cares for the people of the Umuofia clan. Some people in the Umuofia clan think of Mr. Brown as a psychologist. He is a person that they can go to and talk to without being criticized and ridiculed by their clan members. Through Mr. Brown’s Christian therapy, people learn about themselves. They discover ways to overcome difficulties, develop inner strengths or skills, or make changes in themselves or their situations. â€Å"Often, it feels good just to have a person to vent to, and other times it's useful to learn different techniques to help deal with stress.† -Earl Hunt, Ph.D. Already having dealt with the missionaries in Mbanta, Okonkwo is now forced to deal with them in his own village. However, Mr. Brown, their leader, is far more enlightened than the average white colonist. Although he doesn’t really understand Igbo beliefs, he is capable of respecting them, and he does not want his converts to antagonize the clan. He seems to share the clan’s value of peaceful, harmonious ... ...es to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for â€Å"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.† Mr. Brown builds a hospital and a school. He begs the villagers to send their children to school and warns them that if they do not, strangers who can read and write will come to rule them. His arguments are fairly effective, at first, people only send their lazy children. But more and more people begin to go as they realize that the ability to read and write opens up great social mobility. The DC is surrounded by Africans from Umaru; these literate Africans earn high wages and how power in Umuofia. Mr. Brown's school begins to produce results. His hospital wins praise for its treatments.