Things Falling Apart

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Things Falling Apart is an iconic piece of literature written by Chinua Achebe in 1958. This a historical novel that takes place in the 1890s and recounts the culture of the Igbo people in Nigeria and the evolution of changes that occurred as a result of the British colonization. The story is centered around the village of Umuofia and Onkonwo's family. The narrator tells the story from a third person view point. Onkonwo is an influential clan leader who is revered by the villagers. He achieved his influential status at a young age because of his fighting skills. He was most notably known for winning a wrestling match against the Cat. Social status was extremely important to Onkonwo. He struggled with personal self image because of the harsh feelings he had towards his father, Unoka. He viewed Unoka as a weak and lazy man and was determined to be seen as a strong, confident, wealthy and a capable man. Onkonwo had three wives and numerous children. He ruled his home with an iron fist and could best be described as barbaric. He was also …show more content…

The villagers live life based on the ancestry knowledge that has been pasted down from generations. They seek advice and guidance from oracles and prey to mother earth and other gods. They live based on the stories and fables shared by their forefathers and lack independent thought. The clan leaders governed the village with a perverse and barbaric style. The clan and villagers seek retribution when they believe criminal action has happened, that is how Ikemefuna came to live in Umofia. Ikemefuna was taken from a near village along with virgin to right another man's sin. Ikemefuna's care was assigned to Onkonwo, who eventually came to treat the boy as a son. After several years of care, Onkonwo was order to murder Ikemefuna. Ironically, Onkonwo himself was later ostersized for committing a crime by

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