Did people like the District Commissioner truly civilize the Ibo, or was the clan better off before the colonizers came? Give examples as support.

This question is an opinion question, but Achebe gives us several indications of his feelings on the subject through the experiences of the characters. When the missionaries first come into the area, their interactions with the tribe does improve the lives of some of the tribesmen. The outcasts are accepted by someone, and the missionaries rescue the twins that are cast out by the superstitious tribesmen. Others in the tribe, such as Nwoye, don't feel they fit into the tribe and are converted by the missionary message and the church that welcomes them instead of rejecting them as the tribe does.

Unfortunately, early missionaries and colonizing governments did not accept everything about the tribesmen. The new government brought new laws, completely disregarding the laws already established by the tribe. The District Commissioner would send men in to arrest tribal members who broke the white man's laws. These men would be tried before a white man's court, even though they did not understand or agree with what was taking place.

In this novel, Achebe accurately portrays the clash of cultures that existed when established countries began colonizing. With the act of civilizing the Ibo, the British did bring some humane practices (rescuing twins, etc), but they destroyed the culture of the Ibo. "Was the clan better off before the colonizers came in?" - yes and no - Achebe shows the complex struggle that has existed for African tribes such as the Ibo.