Things Fall Apart Quotes

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1. Environment
Throughout the novel the setting does not change much in Umoufia where mostly everything takes place. “And it was not too hot either, because the cold and dry harmatten wind blowing down the north” (4). Here is a minor description on how Chinuea Achebe takes us back to the 19th century era in Nigeria. We can see how the Igbo (Ibo) people have adapted and react to certain weather. “When the rain finally came, it was in large drops of frozen water which people called the nuts of water of heaven” (108). This is an indirect quote that tells us a few things about these Ibo people. First of all the hail is interpreted as the “nuts of frozen water of heaven”. This shows the reader and the audience how valuable hail and water is …show more content…

“Okonkwo was provoked to justifiable anger by his youngest wife, who went to plait her hair at her friends house and did not return early enough to cook the afternoon meal” (25). As we can see the wife or wives are expected to cook for their husband no matter what. The men do not traditionally cook home meals, this is why Okonkwo was very angry, he is so used to coming from a hard day of work outside and receives no food on an empty stomach. “Yam stood for manliness, and he could feed his family on yams from one harvest to another was a very great man indeed” (29). The role of the man could not have been explained any better. The Ibo men are obligated and traditionally the ones who grow their own farm and crops, the “dirty work” and maintain the family settle so they are never in need. “Can I bring you a chair for you? No that is a boys job” (39). Ezinma offers to bring a chair, she’s doing things that boys her age usually do. It seems to Okonkwo that she makes up for the manliness that his boys lack, this is one of the reasons why he is so hard on Nwoye. This is why he repeats to himself constantly that he wishes that Ezinma were a boy. Overall men have a lot to say in Umuofia a lot of authority and respect. On the other hand women are valued much less and have many more restrictions and are stuck with general household

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