- Society puts a lot of pressure on people. It pushes them to achieve things, fit in, or believe in things that everyone else does. It shapes a person, just as a person's environment shapes them. This is evident in Things Fall Apart, specifically in the lives of Okonkwo, Nwoye, Mr. Smith, and Obierika.
- Okonkwo's father and society push him into being very manly, even though he sometimes wants to express affection.
- Nwoye's father and society push him into being very "womanish", or peaceful, because he wants to get away from the violence his society values.
- Obierika's society pushes him to participate in destruction and customs that he doesn't agree with, but he goes along anyway because his culture is an important part of his environment.
- Mr. Smith's society and religion have had such a big impact on him that he is unable to comprehend anything different, which causes him to denounce the ways of the Igbo and create conflict between the tribe and his church.
- Obviously, the society and environment that each of these characters has grown up in has had a large impact on who they have become. It has affected their beliefs, their decisions, their growth, and their understanding of the world. Understanding the impacts of society and the environment is important in understanding who a person really is, because they always have an effect, no matter how small.