Things
Fall Apart is a classical novel which tells the story of Okonkwo, a man who resists the rapid change brought into Umuofia in Igbo land in South Eastern Nigeria by
colonialism in the 1890s. Among all the novels written by Achebe, Things Fall Apart has become the mostly widely read. Things Fall Apart was written in 1958 by a renowned Nigerian novelist and poet Chinua Achebe. Achebe was born on November 16, 1930 in Ogidi, a town in South East Nigeria. He attended the Government College in Umuahia in Abia state Nigeria from 1944—1947. He graduated from University College, Ibadan in Oyo state in 1953. He studied history and theology. He also developed his interest in indigenous Nigerian cultures, and for this reason, he rejected his Christian name, Albert, and adopted Chinua, his indigenous name. His inspiration in writing
Things Fall Apart came from the poem of an English poet W. B. Yeats, entitled ''The Second Coming''. The following four lines taken from the poem set the tone of
Things Fall Apart:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre /
The falcon cannot hear the falconer; / Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.
As the story in Things Fall Apart begins, we are introduced to Okonkwo, the protagonist of the novel who has become well-known in the entire
clan of Umuofia because of his extra-ordinary skills in wrestling. In defiance to his poor family background, Okonkwo is determined to be rich and influential in the society.
One day, the clansmen are gathered in the market and they are told by Ogbuefi Ezeugo that someone from the village of Mbaino murdered the wife of an Umuofia tribesman while she was in their market. Because of his bravery, Okonkwo is chosen to be part of the delegation that will travel to Mbaino to deliver the resolution of the clan on the issue.
As atonement for the murder, the delegation brings back a virgin girl from Umuofia to be the wife of the Umuofia tribesman whose wife was killed. They also bring a fifteen-year-old
boy, Ikemefuna whom the elders decide to turn over to Okonkwo for safekeeping and instruction. Okonkwo likes Ikemefuna because he is hard-working. But he will not show his affection to the boy openly for fear of not being thought weak.
As the day of sacrificing Ikemefuna approaches, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, an elder clansman advises Okonkwo not to take part in the boy''s death because of the filial affection the boy has for him. Okonkwo lies to Ikemefuna, telling him that he will be returning to his home village. Ikemefuna cries at this news since he has already developed interest in the family. As Ikemefuna is taken to the shrine of Amala, Okonkwo cuts the boy down for fear of not being thought weak. His action shows that he did not heed Ogbuefi Ezedu''s advice.
After his culpable act, Okonkwo begins to experience acute depression. He feels particularly bad about his condition which he believes is made worse by idleness. The reason of the idleness being that Ikemefuna is killed in the time of harvest when farming activities are in low tide.
During the burial of Ogbuefi, Okonkwo''s gun accidentally explodes and kills Ezeudu''s sixteen-year-old son. According to tradition, killing a clansman is a crime against the earth goddess, and the punishment is usually exile. In accordance with his tradition, Okonkwo gathers his most valuable belongings and takes his family to his mother''s natal village called Mbanta. After his departure, the family of the deceased set his house ablaze and kills his animals to cleanse the village of his sin.
At his maternal home, Okonkwo is warmly received by Uchendu, his uncle. They help him build a new compound of huts and lend him yam seeds to start a farm. His relocation does not deter him from hard work. He continues to work hard and in no time herich as he was in Umuofia. Uchendu advises him to receive the comfort of the motherland thankfully.
Two years after Okonkwo''s exile, Obierika brings him several bags of cowries from Okonkwo''s proceeds in Umuofia. He also brings bad news that a village named Abame has been destroyed by the white man. Two years later, Obierika visits Okonkwo again to tell him that his first son Nwoye has joined the missionaries.
At end of his seven years in exile, Okonkwo returns home to discover at his utter amazement that the winds of change have swept away almost all the societal structures which would have made him a more fulfilled man and envy of the clan. Okonkwo wonders why the clan has allowed the
church and the European
culture to encroach so much on their traditional values. After Obierika has told Okonkwo about how the white man came to assume so much power in the land, Okonkwo can now see through the shrewdness of the white man. Okonkwo deeply regrets the changes in his once warlike clan.
Not quite long after Okonkwo has returned from exile, Enoch, another pro tradition character sets the church building ablaze and in retaliation the District Commissioner rounds up all the elders and throws them into jail for several days. The elders are finally granted bail after a fine of two hundred and fifty cowries has been paid. Henceforth, Okonkwo begins to nurse deep personal revenge on the white man for his humiliation in the jail.
The following day, the villagers gather to deliberate on their humiliation and the possible remedy. In the middle of the meeting five court messengers approach the crowd and order the meeting to end. Okonkwo cannot take this any longer as he kills the leader of the messengers with two strokes of his machete. Okonkwo is blamed for his action. Understanding that his clan will not go to war, Okonkwo wipes his machete free of blood and returns home to commits suicide.
The major characters in Things Fall Apart are Okonkwo, Nwoye, Ezinma, Ikemefuna, Mr. Brown, Reverend James Smith, Uchendu, The District Commissioner, Unoka, Obierika Ekwefi, Enoch, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, Chielo, Akunna, Nwakibie, Mr. Kiaga, Okagbue Uyanwa, Obiageli and Ojiugo.
Things Fall Apart is set in Eastern Nigeria in the 1890s. Part I focuses on pre-colonial Nigeria while Part II portrays the advent of colonialism. Part III mirrors colonialism at its peak.
The most dominant narrative technique in Things Fall Apart is the omniscient or Third Person narrative technique. Achebe deliberately adopts this impersonal narrative technique in order to make the novel more objective.
Some of the major themes of Things Fall Apart are the struggle between change, varying interpretations of masculinity, language as a sign of cultural difference and the issues of colonialism.
The motifs (recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text''s major themes) embedded Things Fall Apart are "chi" (individual''s personal god) and animal imagery.
There are several symbols (objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts)in
Things Fall Apart. Some of these symbols are fire and locusts. The locusts symbolize the invasion of the colonialists while fire represents the flaming temperament of Okonkwo.
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