Things Fall Apart Study Guide
Okonkwo- An influential clan leader in Umuofia. Since early childhood, Okonkwo’s embarrassment about his lazy, squandering, and effeminate father, Unoka, has driven him to succeed. Okonkwo’s hard work and prowess in war have earned him a position of high status in his clan, and he attains wealth sufficient to support three wives and their children. Okonkwo’s tragic flaw is that he is terrified of looking weak like his father. As a result, he behaves rashly, bringing a great deal of trouble and sorrow upon himself and his family.
Obierka- Okonkwo’s close friend, whose daughter’s wedding provides cause for festivity early in the novel. Obierika looks out for his friend, selling Okonkwo’s yams to ensure that Okonkwo won’t suffer financial ruin while in exile and comforting Okonkwo when he is depressed. Like Nwoye, Obierika questions some of the tribe’s traditional strictures.
Ekwefi- Okonkwo’s second wife, once the village beauty. Ekwefi ran away from her first husband to live with Okonkwo. Ezinma is her only surviving child, her other nine having died in infancy, and Ekwefi constantly fears that she will lose Ezinma as well. Ekwefi is good friends with Chielo, the priestess of the goddess Agbala.
Nwoye- Okonkwo’s oldest son, whom he thinks is weak and lazy, Okonkwo continually beats him, hoping to correct the faults in him, influenced by Ikemefuna, as the book goes on he exhibits more masculine behavior which pleases Okonkwo, eventually converts to Christianity because he doubts about some of the laws and rules of his tribe, Okonkwo sees this act as effeminate, Okonkwo thinks that Nwoye is afflicted with the same weaknesses that his father Unoka possessed in abundance
Ikemefuna- A boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village. Ikemefuna lives in the hut of Okonkwo’s first wife and quickly becomes popular with Okonkwo’s children. He develops an especially close relationship with Nwoye, Okonkwo’s oldest son, who looks up to him. Okonkwo too becomes very
Obierka- Okonkwo’s close friend, whose daughter’s wedding provides cause for festivity early in the novel. Obierika looks out for his friend, selling Okonkwo’s yams to ensure that Okonkwo won’t suffer financial ruin while in exile and comforting Okonkwo when he is depressed. Like Nwoye, Obierika questions some of the tribe’s traditional strictures.
Ekwefi- Okonkwo’s second wife, once the village beauty. Ekwefi ran away from her first husband to live with Okonkwo. Ezinma is her only surviving child, her other nine having died in infancy, and Ekwefi constantly fears that she will lose Ezinma as well. Ekwefi is good friends with Chielo, the priestess of the goddess Agbala.
Nwoye- Okonkwo’s oldest son, whom he thinks is weak and lazy, Okonkwo continually beats him, hoping to correct the faults in him, influenced by Ikemefuna, as the book goes on he exhibits more masculine behavior which pleases Okonkwo, eventually converts to Christianity because he doubts about some of the laws and rules of his tribe, Okonkwo sees this act as effeminate, Okonkwo thinks that Nwoye is afflicted with the same weaknesses that his father Unoka possessed in abundance
Ikemefuna- A boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village. Ikemefuna lives in the hut of Okonkwo’s first wife and quickly becomes popular with Okonkwo’s children. He develops an especially close relationship with Nwoye, Okonkwo’s oldest son, who looks up to him. Okonkwo too becomes very