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One of the Christian converts from Umuofia, Enoch is particularly overzealous when it comes to professing his new faith. Mr. Brown attempts to keep Enoch’s behavior in check, but when Mr. Smith arrives to take over the church, he feels emboldened to impose his view onto his village. Enoch commits a number of offenses against Umuofia in the name of Christianity, all of which work to escalate the broader conflict between the white missionaries and the clan. He first kills and supposedly eats the sacred python, an act which not only represents a rebuke of his native culture but a betrayal of his family as well. Given that his father is the priest of the village’s snake cult, Enoch’s choice to kill the python emphasizes the antagonistic attitude he has toward his upbringing and family values. His most egregious attack on Igbo culture, however, comes when he tears of the mask of an egwugwu. This moment serves as the catalyst for the clan’s attack on the church, the District Commissioner’s imprisonment of Umuofia men, and Okonkwo’s eventual suicide. The readiness with which Enoch aims to destroy his village’s faith calls attention to the sense of superiority he has inherited from the white missionaries. Ironically, believing that his way of life is supreme is something that Enoch seems to have in common with Okonkwo, despite their opposing views on religion and culture. Okonkwo’s aggressive behavior toward anyone who challenges his authority, including members of his own family, has an impact similar to that of Enoch’s religious tirades. By creating a parallel between these two characters, Achebe emphasizes the idea that any form of supremacy is inherently dangerous.
