Things fall apart!!?

Question

I read the book but the main conflict is what i don't understand. Is the conflict between himself striving to make something of himself or against the missionaries?

And symbolism, the evil forest was repeated in the story so could that symbolize something perhaps?

Answer 1

I believe it is a combination of the two: His worst fear is to be like his lazy father and he wants to preserve the way of life before the missionaries came.  

I believe that the evil forest represents the fear with some of the tribe members, that with the forest might take over the village just as the missionaries might take over their way of life