Ezeudu, Obierika, and Uchendu are respected elders in their villages in the story, Things Fall Apart. Achebe uses old men in his story as a source and guide of wisdom and strength, as well as character development to Okonkwo. It reflects as the story progresses until it affects all of Umufia. Achebe first uses the wisdom of the elder, Ezendu, as he directs Okonkwo not to kill his adopted son, Ikemefuna. "That boy calls you …showed first 75 words of 535 total…

…showed last 75 words of 535 total…friend and confidant to many, held the same warrior respect and proud traditions of the god's, even when it came down to Okonkwo's bitter end. Uchendu, who was the most insightful, was the spiritual leader of Umufia (actually Mbanta, to be specific ). He was the wise old owl of all. All three kept the traditions of Umufia alive, even though the white man and the church attempted to destroy all that their culture stood for.