Okonkwo is terrified that his sons converting to Christianity will abandon the traditions and values of their ancestors, leading to a loss of cultural identity. He fears that they will become weak and submissive, and ultimately betray their heritage. Additionally, Okonkwo sees conversion as a threat to his authority and a reflection of his failure to raise strong, traditional sons.
Okonkwo disowns Nwoye when he converts to Christianity. Okonwko originally assaults Nwoye when told of Nwoye's association with the Christians, resulting in Nwoye leaving the compound and joining the Christians.
Nwoye had converted to Christianity, forsaking the gods of his father and his father before him.
Okonkwo disowns Nwoye after he joins the Christians, claiming Nwoye is no longer his son, no longer his children's brother. Okonkwo tells his children, "You have all seen the abomination of your brother."
he converts to Christianity
Nwoye's actions prove to show him to be a man of Unoka's caliber, not Okonkwo's. It reflects badly on Okonkwo, and makes it hard for him to distance himself from his father. Further, Okonkwo has always had high hopes for his son up to this point, despite what has happened so far. This reality disillusions Okonkwo.
Nwoye had split a seed yam which should not have been split because it was too small. Also, Okonkwo is trying to encourage both Nwoye and Ikemefuna to be great yam farmers, and thus great men. Okonkwo wishes Nwoye not to be lazy. Seed yams need to be a particular size to grow properly. The bigger ones can be split to produce two seed yams. However, if a yam that is too small is split, it will not grow properly and is only useful for eating.
The book does not say this explicitly until Nwoye joins the Christians, when Okonkwo calls him an abomination. However, Okonkwo often wishes that Nwoye was stronger, saying that at his age, he should already have impregnated a wife and taken a farm. Okonkwo also wishes that Nwoye were as strong a wrestler as Obierika's child, Okafo.
Okonkwo's disapproval and harsh treatment towards Nwoye, due to Nwoye's perceived weakness and differences in character, cause Nwoye to feel alienated, resentful, and eventually lead him to distance himself from his father and embrace Christianity when introduced to it by the missionaries. Okonkwo's rejection and lack of understanding of Nwoye's emotions and needs ultimately drive a wedge between them.
Nwoye initially felt fear and intimidation in response to Okonkwo's confrontations. However, as time passed, Nwoye began to distance himself from his father's harshness and eventually disassociated himself from Okonkwo and his beliefs.
This is not the case. Nwoye converts to Christianity, but does not wish to abandon his family. However, Okonkwo's temperament makes this impossible.
Okonkwo's first wife's child was Nwoye, so she had a major influence on raising Nwoye, whether it be suckling from her breast, or originally birthing him.
Ezinma was Nwoye's half sister. Both of them share the father of Okonkwo, but Ezinma's mother is Ekwefi; Nwoye's mother is Okonkwo's first wife.