Essay on Investigating Why the Book is Entitled Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart follows the events in the life of the main character, Okonkwo. Additionally, the book follows mini-storylines of other characters, such as Obierika. A family is very large in Ibo society because a man typically has more than one wife and children with each wife. Okonkwo has many children, but his oldest son, Nwoye, was crucial in the development of ideas in the novel. Nwoye did not conform to Okonkwo’s ideals, therefore, Nwoye felt out of place in his family. The missionaries aimed to convert people who were outcasts or out of place in the village, to give them a sense of belonging. When the Christian missionaries came to the Okonkwo’s village of Umuofia, the primary people converting were outcasts. This is explicitly said when the Achebe remarks, “None of his converts was a man whose word was heeded in the assembly of the people” (Achebe 143). The detrimental effects of Christian acculturation on the Ibo people are shown in both Achebe’s novel and Adichie’s story, but however, the contrasts are that Achebe concentrates on the methods used whilst Adichie directs attention to the lasting

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a story about personal beliefs and customs, and also a story about conflict. There is struggle between family, culture, and the religion of the Ibo, which is all brought on by a difference in personal beliefs and customs of the Igbo and the British. There are also strong opinions of the main character, Okonkwo. We are then introduced to the views of his village, Umuofia. We see how things fall apart when these beliefs and customs are confronted by those of the white missionaries.

The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, originally written in his native language Ibo, tells the tragic tale of an African pre-Christian tribe seen through the eyes of Okonkwo. Okonkwo became a very successful clan leader in his village, by working hard and refusing to be lazy like his father Unoka. Achebe uses irony to encourage character development, drive the contrast between Okonkwo’s dreams and his reality as others see him, and explain the culture’s beliefs in the way they treat women vs. the way women are revered.

‘’Things Fall Apart’’ novel tries to bring back up cultural, social as well as spiritual basics of traditional Igbo (Ibo) existence from the year 1850 and 1900. The novel cannot be fixed like truthful societal and political old times of Ibo society since it is a work of invented story. However, the novel describes disagreements and apprehensions in Igbo society. It also depicts changes initiated by colonial ruling and Christianity. The author mentions that European colonialism operates as a powerful as well as well-built mediator of the change within Ibo society. Additionally, Christianity attracted the trivial associates of the Igbo society. Igbo and other societies were changed considerably due to this variety of deal with Europeans. A few societies expanded in dimension and authority as marketable centers, whereas others go through great losses in the course of slave invasion. Hostility also gets higher, and conflicts tactics tat are distorted due to the use of weapons.

Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” chronicles the life of Okonkwo, a strong man whose existence is dominated by fear and anger, and the Ibo tribe, a people deeply rooted in cultural belief and tradition. As events unfold, Okonkwo’s carefully constructed world and the Ibo way of life collapses. The story of Okonkwo’s fall from a respected and feared leader of the Ibo tribe to an outcast who dies in disgrace dramatizes his inability to evolve beyond his personal beliefs, affecting the entire Ibo tribe beyond measure. The “things” that fall apart in Achebe’s novel are Okonkwo’s life – his ambition, dreams, family unity and material wealth – and the Ibo way of life – their beliefs, culture and values.

The Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a straight to the point story, embedded with interesting elements that capture readers’ attention. In my view, when I read the story, I found many interesting things about the theme of the book. But The Masculinity Okonkwo was what captures my attention. The story opens up to a Traditional Igbo lifestyle, a theme which is highly stylized from its ritual to the actions performed for certain ceremonies. Most of the action Igbo tribe has been an attempt to show respect to the gods, for example, when ikemefuna became sick and his stomach swelled up their traditions says that he take them to the evil forest and kill him. The story also seems to focus on gender,

The Ibo religion falls in much the same way. This religion is centered about the worship of male gods and ancestors. The female god among these may be the Earth goddess, but Okonkwo offends this goddess twice in the story to save his masculine image: once when he beats his wife during the week of peace; the other when he strikes down his adopted son. The gods' functions are mainly to help in war, and to aid the yearly yam crop, which is considered a man's crop. The highest members in the religious organization are the most respected men in the society; during ceremonies, they don costumes and play the role of the deceased ancestors. The primary influence women have in this religion is in the role of the oracle, who is a woman, although she embodies a male god. It is the women, also, who practice witchcraft, which is greatly feared in the tribes, but it should be noted that even this is a passive force with only intangible connections to any physical effects.

Sara Orozco 12/07/15 Period 2 Mrs.Smith In the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo has a strong negative response towards the Western ideas coming into the ibo culture.

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart depicts the Nigerian tribe Umuofia and their struggle to keep their identity and tradition from European missionaries. In particular, the novel follows the life of Okonkwo, a man who is revered in his village but is also known for his explosive anger and brutal judgment. Okonkwo strives very hard to provide for his three wives and eight children and to also become a successful title holder among his clansmen. Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was very lazy and did not hold a title.

At first glance, Things Fall Apart by Achebe, may seem like a bona fide innocent novel. When a reader further analyzes the novel, one can identify the true meaning of the text, the meaning that the author has tried to portray. Throughout the text, Achebe uses multiple literary devices to effectively portray the idea that although people are not open to change, change will still happen and life as we know it will be different than what we experience today. Such is the case multiple times when Okonkwo is analyzed as a character, and is most prominently seen as the white Christian’s come into the villages.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe follows the African village of Umuofia as it transitions into a colonial society. The story follows the respected clan leader, Okonkwo, as he navigates and responds to the consequential paradigm shift. Motifs of respect and masculinity feature prominently throughout as a means to discuss socioeconomic conditions in Umuofia prior to colonization. Achebe opens his novel by characterizing Okonkwo as a strong and direct man before detailing the aftermath of a clash between two clans. Here, the characters’ interpersonal relationships are developed, and a dichotomy is drawn between the village’s and Okonkwo’s respective views on manhood and responsibility. While the village in general adopts more lenient stances, Okonkwo’s hardline, old-fashioned approaches represent fundamental beliefs in the Umuofian culture that ultimately assist the English in colonization. Using the manifestations of masculinity in societal expectations, respect, and conflict resolution, Chinua Achebe posits that the colonization of Umuofia is not solely the result of European interference; it is also the result of divisions within the nation due to outdated standards that rendered its people susceptible to colonization. Achebe’s piece serves as a social commentary

As Leah LaBelle said, “Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to,”(Kenyon). Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe tells the story of a man named Okonkwo. He had to build his life from the ground up, due to lack of support from his lazy, dishonorable father. Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, would never work and most of the time just played flute or went to parties. He also did not have any titles, which gave a person respect in Ibo society. In the Ibo culture a man was supposed to be hardworking and independent. In fear of being like his father, Okonkwo worked very hard to get to the top of his clan. Okonkwo was

Things fall apart, this phrase being used in both the novel title Things Fall Apart and the poem written by Yeats, “The Second Coming” keeps us wondering how both are related. Achebe uses Yeats’ poem as an epigraph to foreshadow how the events in the novel later on might occur. Reading the epigraph, we come to understand that Yeats is referring to an image of disaster and to a society that is losing control. In Things Fall Apart, the community faces some changes that affect the lives of certain main characters and leads to a very severe disaster. Achebe uses a lot of imagery and dualism in his novel to portray certain messages to the readers and to clarify his point. Also, Achebe wanted to answer back any writer who criticized the Africans and insulted them. He wanted the voice of the Africans to be heard and to take a stand when the Christians came in and tried to change a lot in the traditions that were present. Both, the poem and the novel are related in a way that shows how the downfall of the main character, Okonkwo, happened and what lead to it. Both writers have many things in common in their writings that can be compared in a social and religious way. Achebe uses double meaning in order to pass on his messages to the readers.

In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, tells two stories that are interlaced with each other both centering on the main charter Okonkwo. The first story is that of conflict between the individual and society. This story outlines Okonkwo’s fall from grace with the tribal world. The second is a story is a clash of cultures, and the disappearance of Okonkwo’s world when aggressive missionaries arrive.

In the novel, Things Fall Apart the story follows a man named Okonkwo and his life in the Ibo tribe. Okonkwo has a strong desire to be the complete opposite of his father. He sees his father to be weak and a “woman”. Okonkwo is driven by fear of being like his father, therefore he is stubborn and aggressive because he does not want to become soft. Okonkwo’s gun goes off and he accidentally kills one of his clansmen. In his religion, if you kill a clansman you must leave the village for seven years. Okonkwo goes to his mother's village (Mbanta) where Europeans have come to spread Christianity. Many people from the Ibo tribe have accepted Christianity as their new religion because they have found their superstitions to be false. Upon that, Nwoye (Okonkwo’s son) becomes a Christian. Okonkwo is upset that his whole world is changing around him. He knew he had to change or be killed, but Okonkwo is not willing. Many themes are developed within the novel such as, we do not always have to be like our parents, if you are driven by fear, you will be destined for failure, you will get what's coming to you, and there is fate and free will.