Things Fall Apart
“Things Fall Apart” is a novel set in the Igbo community of Umuofia, Nigeria. Chinua Achebe, the author of this novel, characterizes a well known, and respected man named Okonkwo. Achebe carefully illustrates how Okonkwo life, culture and everything he knows to be true, falls apart. The title “Things Fall Apart” builds on the matter that nothing lasts forever. The title depicts the weakness of things and the great power influence and time can have over things.
You begin to see the first instances of Okonkwo's life falling apart when Ikemefuna, a prisoner who had been staying at Okonkwo's home, was killed.Okonkwo eventually began to consider Ikemefuna as one of his own sons. However Okonkwo made the executive decision to deliver the final blow …show more content…
to Ikemefuna, killing him. He does this because he did not want to be viewed by the clan as weak. Okonkwo was deeply saddened following Ikemefuna's death and was quite affected.
“Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna. He drank palm-wine from morning till night, and his eyes were red and fierce like the eyes of a rat when it was caught by the tail and dashed against the floor. He called his son, Nwoye, to sit with him in his obi. But the boy was afraid of him and slipped out of the hut as soon as he noticed him dozing.” (Chapter 8)
Even though social structure declares that Okonkwo had the right to kill Ikemefuna since the boy was not of blood relation to anyone in the clan nor a member of the clan Okonkwo feels horribly guilty. Okonkwo’s absence of appetite reveals his guilty conscience. Nwoye, now fears his father. If Okonkwo was able to murder Ikemefuna, who he loved, what will impede him from doing the same to Nwoye? Since Ikemefuna was viewed as a member of Okonkwo’s family, Okonkwo failed as a father because he didn’t protect his son. As a result of this Okonkwo’s family begins falling apart for lack of trust.
Another significant incident where Okonkwo's life falls apart was when he was thrown out of the village for seven years for accidentally killing a boy of the clan.
“Okonkwo's gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy's heart.––– The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years.” (Chapter 13)
This event illustrates that Okonkwo's hopes dreams have begun to fall apart.
His aspirations of being a wealthy and respected by the clan had drifted away with this disturbing occurrence. Okonkwo had no longer had his compound or yams and his whole life had been put on hold. He was sent back to his motherland, Mbanta, a place that was completely foreign to him. Everything Okonkwo knew was gone for a total of 7 years. During this period Okonkwo is in deep despair. However, Uchendu, Okonkwo's uncle, implies that Okonkwo has a duty to honor his mother by withdrawing from giving way to despair. When crimes are committed, they impact the entire family. Just as Okonkwo’s family must share in his exile, they may also be affected if Okonkwo sins against his mother by despairing in his …show more content…
motherland.
Another example that showed the downfall in Okonkwo's life was when Nwoye, his oldest son, converted to the white mans religion, Christianity. This change not only illustrates the white man influence on Nwoye the but also the relationship Nwoya now lacks with his father.
“‘What are you doing here?” Obierika had asked when after many difficulties the missionaries had allowed him to speak to the boy.’
‘I am one of them,’ replied Nwoye.
‘How is your father?’ Obierika asked, not knowing what else to say.
‘I don’t know. He is not my father,’ said Nwoye, unhappily.
And so Obierika went to Mbanta to see his friend. And he found that Okonkwo did not wish to speak about Nwoye.” (Chapter 16)
Both father and son have conveyed a wish to separate themselves from each other and cut off all contact or means of affiliation. Each is embarrassed and resentful to be in association to the other now, Nwoye because he has never forgiven his father for killing Ikemefuna and Okonkwo, because of Nwoye’s new found religion. Even with their blood connection, there is no affection or respect in their relationship, and they no longer consider each other to be family. When news came to him that Nwoye was among the white men, one could have foreseen that only no good was coming to Okonkwo after that.
Based upon the recent events that have occurred in Okonkwo's life, the title “Things Fall Apart” perfectly suits the book. Okonkwo's life changes drastically of the course of the book and more bad comes to him than good. The title implies the overall theme throughout the
novel.
You begin to see the first instances of Okonkwo's life falling apart when Ikemefuna, a prisoner who had been staying at Okonkwo's home, was killed.Okonkwo eventually began to consider Ikemefuna as one of his own sons. However Okonkwo made the executive decision to deliver the final blow …show more content…
to Ikemefuna, killing him. He does this because he did not want to be viewed by the clan as weak. Okonkwo was deeply saddened following Ikemefuna's death and was quite affected.
“Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna. He drank palm-wine from morning till night, and his eyes were red and fierce like the eyes of a rat when it was caught by the tail and dashed against the floor. He called his son, Nwoye, to sit with him in his obi. But the boy was afraid of him and slipped out of the hut as soon as he noticed him dozing.” (Chapter 8)
Even though social structure declares that Okonkwo had the right to kill Ikemefuna since the boy was not of blood relation to anyone in the clan nor a member of the clan Okonkwo feels horribly guilty. Okonkwo’s absence of appetite reveals his guilty conscience. Nwoye, now fears his father. If Okonkwo was able to murder Ikemefuna, who he loved, what will impede him from doing the same to Nwoye? Since Ikemefuna was viewed as a member of Okonkwo’s family, Okonkwo failed as a father because he didn’t protect his son. As a result of this Okonkwo’s family begins falling apart for lack of trust.
Another significant incident where Okonkwo's life falls apart was when he was thrown out of the village for seven years for accidentally killing a boy of the clan.
“Okonkwo's gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy's heart.––– The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years.” (Chapter 13)
This event illustrates that Okonkwo's hopes dreams have begun to fall apart.
His aspirations of being a wealthy and respected by the clan had drifted away with this disturbing occurrence. Okonkwo had no longer had his compound or yams and his whole life had been put on hold. He was sent back to his motherland, Mbanta, a place that was completely foreign to him. Everything Okonkwo knew was gone for a total of 7 years. During this period Okonkwo is in deep despair. However, Uchendu, Okonkwo's uncle, implies that Okonkwo has a duty to honor his mother by withdrawing from giving way to despair. When crimes are committed, they impact the entire family. Just as Okonkwo’s family must share in his exile, they may also be affected if Okonkwo sins against his mother by despairing in his …show more content…
motherland.
Another example that showed the downfall in Okonkwo's life was when Nwoye, his oldest son, converted to the white mans religion, Christianity. This change not only illustrates the white man influence on Nwoye the but also the relationship Nwoya now lacks with his father.
“‘What are you doing here?” Obierika had asked when after many difficulties the missionaries had allowed him to speak to the boy.’
‘I am one of them,’ replied Nwoye.
‘How is your father?’ Obierika asked, not knowing what else to say.
‘I don’t know. He is not my father,’ said Nwoye, unhappily.
And so Obierika went to Mbanta to see his friend. And he found that Okonkwo did not wish to speak about Nwoye.” (Chapter 16)
Both father and son have conveyed a wish to separate themselves from each other and cut off all contact or means of affiliation. Each is embarrassed and resentful to be in association to the other now, Nwoye because he has never forgiven his father for killing Ikemefuna and Okonkwo, because of Nwoye’s new found religion. Even with their blood connection, there is no affection or respect in their relationship, and they no longer consider each other to be family. When news came to him that Nwoye was among the white men, one could have foreseen that only no good was coming to Okonkwo after that.
Based upon the recent events that have occurred in Okonkwo's life, the title “Things Fall Apart” perfectly suits the book. Okonkwo's life changes drastically of the course of the book and more bad comes to him than good. The title implies the overall theme throughout the
novel.