Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Since Okonkwo stood out more than all the other men he was seen as Umuofia's most powerful man. Although Okonkwo is the most powerful man in Umuofia he also has weaknesses. One of those weaknesses is his father, he doesn’t wanna be a weak man and careless like his father. As the white missionaries moved in into their home land, the Igbo people who are unsure of how to react to these traditions either switched to their ways or stayed faithful to their faith. Many people became persuaded of the new religions authorities, however Okonkwo who is an warrior at heart refuses to accept the changes that were taking place in his community.

What effects can fear have on a person? And how can these effects influence that person? Fear is defined in the Oxford dictionary as ‘an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm’. The tragic novel “Things Fall Apart”, written by the renowned Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, is an incredibly influential text. The novel is also an example of how fear can be utilised as an approach to characterisation. Achebe composed his novel in a manner, which portrays a complex and dynamic community to represent Nigerian cultures to a western audience. Achebe was able to attain this through the Ibo communities and the main character Okonkwo. In the beginning of the novel, Okonkwo is represented as a man of pride, success, and hard

Chinua Achebe in the book Things Fall Apart, explains Okonkwo’s battle with failure. When experienced the changes of Umfia he couldn’t live, with he makes a tragic ending. Okonkwo was the one the Ibo tribe looked up to because he was a “fearless” warrior. Okonkwo was driven to be better than his father. Okonkwo was a successful farmer by taking good care of his crops. When the missionaries came in and brought changes, Okonkwo struggled with the changes. Okonkwo’s biggest challenges was when he realized the white man changed everything. Okonkwo proved his strength to the tribe in many ways.

they wonder why he did it. Before the white men came to Umuofia, Okonkwo’s act of murdering a potential threat to the clan would not be questioned, but now everyone frowns upon Okonkwo’s actions. He is cast aside like a osu, an outcast. “…he mourned for the war like men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women”(Achebe 170) Okonkwo’s idea of manliness is not of high importance to the clansmen, at least not anymore. Consequently, his sense of identity changes. Being manly and strong was the only thing that Okonkwo had going for him, now he is loss of what he does with himself. The message that Chinua Achebe tells

In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the characters Ikemefuna and Obierika are used as “foil characters,” and reveal pertinent traits of Okonkwo’s true nature. The traits of Ikemefuna and Obierika contrast the traits Okonkwo, and allow the reader greater insight into Okonkwo’s fear of emasculation and his trepidation for the transformation of Igbo culture. Both Obierika and Ikemefuna accentuate the abhorrence Okonkwo has for becoming epicene and opprobrious like his father. Obierika also is skeptical of the Igbo culture in that he questions aspects of Igbo traditions and rituals, for he feels a certain degree of change may benefit their society. Furthermore, Ikemefuna’s character also reveals not only Okonkwo’s fear of emasculation, but

Women in the Igbo society are not as respected as men and they are treated badly. In order for the men to prove their power, and look manlier they tend to mistreat their women by beating them. In the novel Okonkwo beats his wife. However, he beats her at a time where he was not allowed to because it was the week of Peace; moreover, he did not care and kept beating her just because she did not cook, and instead went to do her hair. “He walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo’s return. And when she returned he beat her heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace. His first two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with him that it was the sacred week. But Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating somebody half-way through,

A literary character that makes bad decisions that eventually leads to his/her downfall is what we define as a tragic hero, Okonkwo is this character. In the novel “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe illustrates his own version of a tragic hero through the character, Okonkwo. In relation to other tragic heroes in other literature or films, Okonkwo does not fare well towards the end of the novel. All throughout the Igbo community, Okonkwo is known for his honorable and respective social status, though they are present Okonkwo’s poignant flaws, anger, and fear of failure, lead to his destruction. Okonkwo is one of the most important men in the Igbo tribe, in his tribe, people both fear and respect him.

Chinua Achebe’s portrayal of the role of women is significant because it disproves the stereotypes of non-western society. In Igbo society, women have many roles both in the household and in the village. “Igbo women [have] rights and freedoms”, such as “cook[ing] for themselves and rais[ing] their own children” (Ohadike xxxii). Because women are tasked with these important duties, women are very important. In Igbo society, sometimes women have more freedom than in other societies (such as western).

In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe conflict is almost inevitable when two cultures come into contact. Okonkwo has a normal life as a male villager he has to grow his yams and live normal but when foreigners show up conflict occurs. This is shown in the book by showing the villagers saying to the white men to build their church in the evil forest and the white men go on and do it. This attracts some of the villagers to this which leads to major conflict in the village and they start to attack each other by burning things and arresting each other. It does not have to lead to conflict right away but it does happen at some point hence the name Things Fall Apart when the Christians first arrive all is ok but later on it all breaks loose. By looking

Another form of political resistance is through the characters in Achebe’s Things fall Apart. The character’s use their bodies and morals to rise against oppression. What the characters do is isolate difference or let, “Umuofia…decided to kill him… [in fear] of being thought weak” (Achebe, 1986, pp. 40-43). Through the physical act of death the end is inevitable and while the Africans decide to act upon it, the colonization is what refrains the movement of the town. There is a clash of cultural conflict because of the way societies deal with political situations. Resulting in separation in Okonkwo’s morals, especially when, “All was silent… Okonkwo’s gun had exploded and a piece pf iron… [In] the…heart… [Forced] to flee.” (Achebe, 1986,

Chinua Achebe masterpiece “Things Fall Apart” (1959) is the classic story of Okonkwo, a young man who strives to be revered by his village and family but because of his own internal character flaws meets his own demise. In the Igbo culture, family traditions are an important narrative throughout the novel. Okonkwo, the protagonist character of this story, begins with many attributes of what would be concluded as a hero with his cultural society. He is hard working, a material provider, feared and yet respected by his fellow tribesman. Yet, when dissecting the character more closely, you will in fact see that Okonkwo is not the criterion of a hero and eventually becomes an outcast within his tribe. By understanding the father-son

Imagine your favorite TV show, and think about the characters. Which character is your favorite? Most of us would say it is the main character, the one that is the most relatable. That character is called the protagonist, and it is often the one that we identify with the most. In contrast to the protagonist, a character we think about less often is the foil character. This character is the complete opposite of the main character. Usually, a foil goes through the same events as the main character however he will see things differently and have a different opinion. The purpose of this character is to shed light on the main character, and to show how things could work out differently

The story of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart takes place in Umuofia, a set of villages, where the Nigerian tribe and Ibo people settle. A tribesman and the protagonist named Okonkwo is the famous leader in Umuofia. Okonkwo is very brave, but he stands solo when it comes to deciding to fight. He is afraid of how people will view on him through his actions towards the society because men play big roles in their culture. With his victory against Amalinze the Cat, Okonkwo brought more fame towards his position in the Ibo society. Although his braveness and courageousness in fighting is strong, Okonkwo is afraid to be emotional and thought of weak like his father, Unoka. Unoka is a talented musician, yet he is lazy and irresponsible. He had

Its impetrative to analyze and research the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe so as to be able to understand what the novel is all about. It involves deciphering all relevant interpretations about how one culture develops in direct competition against the emergence of another foreign culture, such as the colonialist. The novel, together with its various themes and aspects of culture therefore portray deep knowledge about the novel.

In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the Ibo culture is presented through the lives of the people and the circumstances in which the natives have to rely on their understanding of the world and life through the customary teachings and ways of their ancestors. Customs like polygamy and polytheism are deeply rooted in the Ibo culture. The communities carry out many exercises of punishment and actions to ratify any wrong done. No harm is done without retribution. As the book progresses, it becomes evident that the way of life carried out by the people has somewhat of an unmovable and unwavering presence. However, the strength of the traditions and beliefs is heavily dependent on people who haven’t seen a culture and society that is very different from theirs. This leads the people to questioning and abandonment of the ways of the people and the destruction of the fabric which makes up their culture and heritage. The European religion was first placed to control the Africans minds; making them question the Gods their people were brought up believing. After becoming followers of Christ, the Europeans were able to control the actions of the Africans by making them believe that not only was their religion right, but their way of conducting society was as well. Violence and physical force was used on those who choose to cling to their heritage and not convert to Christianity.