Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, tells the story of Okonkwo. As a fearful and stubborn protagonist, the novel retains a clear focus upon his thoughts and actions. Through the skewed perspective of a character-focused narrative, Achebe presents the complexities and subtleties of life in the Ibo community. Although the rigid frame of Okonkwo’s fears and beliefs restrict most of the narrative to his myopic account of Ibo life, the views of those in contrast to his can be seen on the outskirts of the text. These alternatives to the central narrative, at first, appear distant and periphery possibilities of reality, but through the associations between repeated terms and the recurrence of themes the novel foreshadows importance and influence of this alternative perspective. Perspectives, which will, eventually, overwhelm Okonkwo. The most prominent examples of these splits in understanding often concern the treatment and actions of characters who, at the beginning of the narrative, hold no voice or power in the eyes of Okonkwo or the clan. Yet, as the influence of these characters becomes increasingly more visible within the life and future of the clan, the revelation of such importance destroys Okonkwo’s reality. The understanding of gender roles, by Okonkwo as well as the clan as a whole, presents the first, and most recurring, conflict between perspectives. Okonkwo, keeping with the tradition of a patriarchal society, views women as inferior. Often wishing that his daughter, Ezinma, “should have been a boy” (64). This wish reflects a practice, consistent by both Okonkwo and his clan, of devaluing women’s experiences and importance to the society. However, the level of this devaluation becomes unclear through the dialogue an... ... middle of paper ... ... hold of Nwoye, who walked away and never returned” (152) provides the evidence for Okonkwo’s inability to alter his perception. Specifically, the phrase “he left hold” implies that the decision was made by Okonkwo. Okonkwo could not allow his son to remain his son while demonstrating traits which he believed to be opposed to what he thought a son should retain. This quote clearly demonstrates another occurrence of difference between Okonkwo’s and the clan’s view. While the clan has made compromises with the church Okonkwo rejects the idea entirely, to the point where he exiles his own son. By once again appealing to the gendered definition of weakness, “If any one of you prefers to be a woman, let him follow Nwoye” (172). This ultimate rejection of his own family provides that last piece of evidence of his damnation, a fate that at one point was laid out for him.
"He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger."
A similar value for both cultures is instituting guidelines for young boys to look up to in becoming a man; however, the means by which it is done greatly differ from each other. In the Igbo society, specific traits set boys apart from men and establish manliness. Nwoye’s actions in chapter seven of the novel illustrated this best. He began displaying the qualities of a man in his expressions, actions, and remarks. Nwoye “would feign annoyance and grumble aloud about women and their troubles” (Achebe, 1959, p. 32). Okonkwo was pleased to see this development in his son. He yearned for him to grow into a tough and prosperous man. Nwoye’s grumbling about women offered a glimmer of hope to Okonkwo. It showed that he would be able to control his own women someday, something Okonkwo believed to be very important. He stated, “No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (especially his women) he was not really a man” (Achebe, 1959, p.32). Okonkwo wanted all of his sons to become men. He “encouraged [them] to sit with him in his
Though womanhood as embodied by Ekwefi and Ezinma is the most complex and enlightening vision of the feminine in the book, it is not the first. The reader’s first exposure to the role of the female is through the view of Okonkwo. As a result of his experiences as a child, Okonkwo has developed a simplistic and emotionally charged view of women. This view was inspired, oddly, not by a woman but by a man – his father, Unoka. Unoka was not a successful member of the clan. He did not value hard work, did not participate in violence, and was content to live off of the backs of his fellow tribesmen. This led ...
From an early age, Okonkwo was ashamed of his father, Unoka, who was unable even to feed his family. The unpredictability of receiving enough food at a young age was enough to inspire fear and embarrassment in Okonkwo who associated this embarrassment with his father and was given further justification for these feelings when he went out into Umuofia, discovering that the other villagers held similar opinions of Unoka. When he was old enough, Okonkwo began farming his own yams because “he had to support his mother and two sisters […] And supporting his mother also meant supporting his father” (25). Okonkwo’s self-reliance was admired, valued in the community where “age was respected […] but achievement was revered” (12); this admiration gave him feelings of security, and the respect of his peers pushed him towards greater self-respect, distancing him from his father. The security and respect became related in his mind as he viewed his acceptance in the community as his life’s goal and Okonk...
The classic African literary tale Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a brilliant account of historical African culture and the destruction colonialism can cause upon such cultures. As the reader follows the narrative and complexity of the characters through the novel, a sense of pride, trust, and faith in history emerges. Yet, with the introduction of colonialism the characters must learn to embrace and adapt to a new culture and set of beliefs or face termination from society. The novel explores the troubles of African cultures and their adaptation to colonialism. As the novel progresses, one can also observe the influence of religion throughout history and how it has changed the face of many societies. Although many readers would describe the collision of culture and colonialism in Africa as inevitable; a closer examination of this novel would suggest that the need(s) of human nature to expand their values and beliefs upon others causes ancient cultures to evolve or fade out of existence.
In the novel Things Fall Apart the Igbo society is dominated by gender roles. For example, a Husband can beat his wives for bringing food to them late. Women are discriminated against by society. The main character in Things Fall Apart, is Okonkwo who, has trouble balancing the feminine and masculine side in his life. Okonkwo is a rich, well known, and respected warrior of the Umuofia clan, a lower Nigerian tribe that is a big part of nine connected villages. He believes that only masculinity can hold the tribe together. Okonkwo then rejects everything that reminds him of being coward-like or feminine. Okonkwo's dislike to everything feminine came from his father which is why he has a very bad relationship with Unoka(his father). Throughout the whole novel, Okonkwo refers to his father, Unoka, as "agbala.” Agbala means woman in the language of the Igbo society. Okonkwo disliked Unoka because he was extremely artistic musically gifted, coward-like, and he was in debt to a lot of people in the town. Okonkwo believed that these were all characteristics that show the feminine side in a person. The hate for his father's weaknesses which is what led him to be cruel and abusive to the females he loves.
'"But the times have changed, and we [the clan] must be fully prepared." ' (Achebe 259). The novel takes place in a civilized, African community known as Umuofia, a village in South Africa. It emphasizes the conflict between the village people and the arrival of the missionaries. Before they arrive, the culture of Umuofia is based on the strength and power of the title-holding clansmen, such as the main character Okonkwo. When the missionaries arrive, the values of Umuofia are changed and power is stripped from the elders of the clan and obtained by the Christians. In Chinua Achebe 's novel Things Fall Apart, the author discusses the arrival of the missionaries ultimately producing a negative effect on the villagers, in order to teach the reader that a great and immediate change can cause chaos to society, destroy traditions, and put strain on relationships, ultimately resulting in failure.
"The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."
]k Adegbite O. came to a similar conclusion about Okonkwo’s views on masculinity and femininity when he makes the remark in his essay that, “Okonkwo is of the opinion that traditional men have lost their place in society and cannot be termed ‘worthy’ anymore as Western culture has softened their resolve; men have been turned to weaklings by colonisation and the white man’s religion” (Tobalase, “Masculinity and Cultural Conflict in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart”).
They must be seen strong and completely opposite of his father, Unoka. Ezinma is the only daughter of Ekwefi and “Okonkwo was [e]specially fond of [her]” (Achebe 44). Okonkwo admires Ezinma because she completely understands him and he likes whatever she does. The choice made by Achebe to make Okonkwo’s favorite child a girl reveals that Okonkwo’s life was destined to fall apart. Thus by analyzing the relationship between Okonkwo and Ezinma the reader can further understand the downfall of Okonkwo and the text as a whole.
Things Fall Apart was published in 1958. Its fundamental theme, in Achebe's words, is "that African people did not hear of culture for the first time from Europeans." It is a celebration of the depth, value, and beauty of tribal society. Also of the "dignity that African people all but lost during the colonial period. This novel has been translated into over forty languages and has sold well over three million copies.
Throughout Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, struggle between change and tradition is one of the most relevant issues. The Igbo villagers, Okonkwo, and his son Nwoye all experience this problem in many different ways. The villagers have their religion defied, Okonkwo reaches his breaking point and Nwoye finally finds what he believes in. People have struggled to identify and cope with change and tradition throughout history, and will continue to struggle with this issue in the
Unlike his lazy father Unoka, Okonkwo was a heroic and stoic wrestler, funder and defender of his household, possessor of lands, and the companion to more than one woman, going as far as taking another man’s wife. Though he sometimes showed affection for his loved ones, he did not show mild emotion after a machismo slashing of his adopted son’s Ikemefuna’s head. If it was not a display of great violence like beating women and children, or fighting against other cultures, then it was too feminine for Okonkwo to classify with. “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper.
Okonkwo sees his father’s gentleness as a feminine trait. He works hard to be as masculine as possible so that he will be the opposite of his father and overcome the shame his father brought to his family. Okonkwo deals with this struggle throughout the entire book, hiding the intense fear of weakness behind a masculine façade (Nnoromele 149). In order to appear masculine, he is often violent. In his desire to be judged by his own worth and not by the worth of his effeminate father, Okonkwo participates in the killing of a boy he sees as a son, even though his friends and other respected tribe members advise him against it. (Hoegberg 71). Even after the killing of Ikamefuna, Okonkwo hides his feelings of sadness because the emotions are feminine to him. He goes so far as to ask himself, “when did you become a shivering old woman” (Achebe 65), while he is inwardly grieving. The dramatic irony of the secret fears that Okonkwo has will open the reader’s eyes to how important gender identity is to him. This theme is also presented among Okonkwo’s children. He sees his oldest son, Nwoye, as feminine because he does not like to work as hard as his father (Stratton 29). When Nwoye eventually joins the Christian church, Okonkwo sees him as even more feminine. On the other hand, Okonkwo’s
Okonkwo’s participation in the slaying of his adopted son, Ikemefuna is a pivotal moment in Things Fall Apart. It is a moment of horror that cannot please Ani, the great earth goddess, the center of community, the ultimate judge of morality for the clan. It is a moment that changes the course of events, a moment eerily paralleled in the death of Ezeudu’s son. It is a moment that ultimately causes Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye’s to abandon his ancestors and become a Christian. It is a moment when the center of community life, the need to honor blood ties and the need to respect the earth goddess, can no longer hold. It is a moment when things fall apart.