I. Summary
"Things Fall Apart" tells the story of the life of the main character, Okonkwo, from an outside narrator. There are different spatial setting throughout the story including Iguedo and Mbanta while the temporal setting is at the turn of the 19th century. In the beginning of the story Okonkwo was one of them most respected men of his tribe and was constantly moving up the social ladder yearning to join the lords of the tribe. However, after committing crimes against the tribe such as breaking the sacred Week of Peace and committing the murder of one of the tribe 's kinsmen, Okonkwo is exiled from the tribe and is not to return for seven years.
It is while in exile that Okonkwo 's life truly falls apart. For while in exile
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This was my second time reading this novel and I got a lot more out of it the second time around. I liked how the book did not drag out the plot for there was always one event after another. Also, the different plot twist that are thrown in the story kept me guessing what was going to happen next.
I first read the book in a history class in order to read how certain tribes were like in Africa in the past. I did not remember much from the story except that I liked it for the reading was simple and straightforward. I think that this story could have worked even better as different journal entries written by Okonkwo telling the story from his point of view rather than having a narrator. However, it is not unlikely that Chinua Achebe as the narrator is telling a modified story of maybe one of his own family members. Also, while reading this time I was able to enjoy the story more rather than having to study the ways the tribes acted and have to look for possible bias that the author had.
My favorite books are usually those that do tend to revolve around the life of one character and highlights the character 's hardships in life such as the book The Catcher in the Rye. I was able to relate to Okonkwo at times such as when he was not able to show his inner emotions. For as a member of the football team if I were to ever show weakness such as being upset when getting yelled at by the coach or even showing exhaustion after a tough practice I would be looked at
Inner conflict plays an important role in both works. In Things Fall Apart, the main character, Okonkwo, battles with conflict within himself. As a child, he witnessed the constant failure of his father and vowed to be completely opposite of him and successful in everything he does. This drives him to the point where he despises
In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe employs imagery, symbolism, and themes to reveal the story of Okonkwo. Throughout the novel he weaves in these things to really tell us the tale.
For the most part, the novel was very enjoyable. One aspect of it that I loved was that the storyline was extremely intense, which always compelled me to find out what would happen next. For example,
It is always interesting to me to see what types of roles women play in popular books or novels of western history. The role of women in Things fall apart is more of a background story but their significance is deeply rooted in this book. Women play fundamental roles in education, religion and the social balance according to Achebe. In this paper, I am going to detail these roles giving references from Achebe’s Things Fall Apart Novel to show how significant they actually are. You will be surprised to learn that they are very significant indeed even in a traditional African culture which at the time was being polluted by colonialism and other western influences of demoralization and demonization through missionary works.
In the book Things Fall Apart, there are many things that fall apart. The major aspect that fell apart is the clan. There are many major foreshadowing events that showed the decline of the clan, including the locusts, the accidental death of a boy by Okonkwo forcing the exile of his family, and the arrival of the white missionaries. When the missionaries arrive, they start to oppress their religion onto the people of the clan. They are seemed to be crazy, and almost disrespectful of the clan’s customs on religion. As this is happening, Okonkwo is caught in an exile for him and his three wives and children. The exile is caused by an accidental killing of a boy by Okonkwo. After they return to Umuofia after seven years, they are blindsided by
Things Falls Apart tells of the tragedy that takes place when people are out of their place. The first half of the novel contains relatively routine events in the life of Okonkwo. It is not until the second half, when the Europeans arrive, that his life is significantly disrupted. Achebe says that, to Conrad, it is very
Okonkwo’s violent behavior escalate to the point in which he attend to shoot his own wife just because she mumble some words in his back. This doesn’t mean he is a bad person. Later in the chapter is found that he is very fond of his daughter Ezinma, display feelings of love and affection but he consider those emotion as weakness to himself
I am Obierika, and I am a part of the Ibo tribe of Umuofia which is in Nigeria. I have been through a lot with my tribe and sometimes I do not fully agree with the actions my tribe completes. I am writing this to defend the Ibo culture against what the District Commissioner wrote about us in The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger. The District Commissioner is an authority figure to the white government in Nigeria who thinks he completely grasps the culture of the Ibo.
There are 3 stages of the novel, “Things Fall Apart”. The first stage is when Okonkwo gains his glory. In this stage Okonkwo gains his glory by wrestling and honoring his people, he also gets married and has children, who all respect him. The second stage is about Okonkwo having internal conflict with the crime he committed, accidently killing a boy. Okonkwo is banned from his people, so he moves away, but in all the years that he is banned he planned his return. Finally, the last stage is on Okonkwo’s return and him trying to get rid of the new religion. When Okonkwo returns he immediately starts to rebuild and tries to get rid of the foreign religion. Despite Okonkwo’s hardworking return, Okonkwo still has internal conflict and commits suicide.
During a burial ceremony for one of the tribesmen, Okonkwo accidentally kills the dead man’s son. The prescribed punishment for this is exile for seven years. Okonkwo and his family then move to his mother’s old tribe to serve his exile.
Chinua Achebe shows the reader the change of Africa as seen by the main character of the novel, Okonkwo. Okonkwo has the hardship of living in an ever-changing society. It is thru Okonkwo that the reader is able to visualize a society of immense cultural standing, and not as European colonizers would say, a society of savages. The main theme of culture is present in all areas of the novel, which helps to show to the reader all of its underlying themes, themes of tradition and themes of religion. Achebe sees the themes of culture, tradition, and religion in one bright light and European colonizers see those same themes in a totally different, somewhat snobbish dim light. However these themes are viewed, one thing is certain, change is on the horizon.
In the novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is portrayed as a respected and determined individual whose fatal flaw eventually works against him. Throughout the novel the readers are shown that Okonkwo has many of these Characteristics because he is obsessed with the idea of becoming just like his father. This becomes his flaw in the novel that puts him into exile and makes it hard for him to adjust to the changes that were made with in his village.
Okonkwo has become determined to climb his way back up the social ranks after have been knocked to the bottom. “He was determined that his return should be marked by his people. He would return with a flourish, and regain the seven wasted years. Although this determination took his mind off of things, he still remembered the tragedy of Nwoye. “At first it appeared as if it might prove too great for his spirit. But it was a resilient spirit, and in the end Okonkwo overcame his sorrow. He had five other sons and he would bring them up in the way of the clan (172).” Okonkwo goes as far as to say “Now he is no longer my son or you brother (172).”
I loved this book so much. There is so much action and is so much better and exciting with so much amazing detail and description. This is one of my favorite books ever. When you read it, you don’t want to put it down and it makes you feel like you are with the characters in the book and you know them so well. I recommend this book to anyone who can read at this level.
Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Chinua Achebe about the fictional people of the Ibo tribe in Umuofia. The practices of this African tribal society are depicted through the third person limited point of view that follows the main protagonist of the novel known as Okonkwo. The novel illustrates practices and values that are sanctioned by the society as they end up struggling to maintain their prevalence once colonists arrive. As a culture, the Ibo people of Things Fall Apart have practices that shape their society by showcasing what is seen as important. This includes their invaluable idea of masculinity in which they see to require strength and success. The patriarchal rule of Ibo society establishes the framework that leads to the perceived inadequacy of females and