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Introduction:

Things Fall Apart is a traditional novel written by Chinua Achebe, published in 1958. It is about Okonkwo, a renowned fighter and warrior who defeated one of the best, gaining respect and fame in the Igbo tribe. However, the book gradually exposes Okonkwo’s wrongdoings as well as his insecurities, lowering his status in the readers’ views. 

Plot:

In the Umuofia clan, Okonkwo is a well-respected warrior who is committed to overcoming the legacy of his feeble father, Unoka, by becoming powerful, prosperous, and manly. He adopts a boy named Ikemefuna, who grows to be like a son to him and aids in the manhood development of his biological son, Nwoye. Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna despite his attachment in order to avoid coming across as weak, which severely hurts Nwoye and disturbs his own tranquility. When Okonkwo’s gun unintentionally kills the man’s son at a village elder’s funeral, the man is sentenced to seven years of exile in his mother’s village. His friend Obierika pays him a visit while he is in exile and delivers the depressing news of British colonization and the devastation of a nearby village. Tensions are raised as Christian missionaries, initially under the gentle guidance of Mr. Brown and later under the severe guidance of Reverend Smith, start to convert the locals. The District Commissioner arrests and degrades the village leaders after a convert named Enoch reveals a sacred figure, causing the clan to demolish the church. In an attempt to incite rebellion after their release, Okonkwo murders a court messenger, but the villagers oppose him. Desperate, Okonkwo hangs himself after realizing that his clan will not resist the white colonists. Because suicide is taboo in his culture, his friends won’t touch his body. Upon his arrival, the Commissioner views Okonkwo’s passing as a mere footnote in his colonial book, signifying the colonizers’ reduction and misinterpretation of the complexity of African lives.

Analysis:

The novel presents the setting as a lower Nigerian town, reflecting back on the fact that it also presents the traditional Ibo tribe stories. The book shows the internal turmoil of Okonkwo, as he is a respected warrior in the Ibo tribe, but struggles to dismiss the expectations of his father, who was the opposite, but with better conduct. However, as he tries to become different from his father, he tries to show that he is strong, masculine, respected, and wealthy, even through his sins. All his good actions can be taken because of the neighborhood people’s watch. This all shows how he let Ikemefuna in and then shot him. His pride and fear of being weak put him to kill Ikemefuna, despite warnings, marking his downfall. Another small, significant representation is the kola nut, which portrays their signature food. Even for their festivals, the kola nut is required. The book also symbolizes Chi as a God who decides each consequence: good doings lead to good consequences, bad to bad consequences. The latter theme presents cultural differences as Umuofia and Christianity differ, and it can be illustrated that their communication isn’t clear. The turning point is clear: when Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, betrays his family and turns into a Christian. Then, Okonkwo goes away from Umuofia, returning in a few years, just to see them changed and not being able to resist the forces. The ending is a tragedy, with Okonkwo, who commits suicide, reflecting on his wrongdoings. 

Conclusion:

Chinua Achebe’s 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart, follows Okonkwo, a renowned warrior, as he faces a decline in his status due to his wrongdoings and insecurities. There are, indeed, numerous representations and symbols, with themes, such as chi, a personal God who determines each person’s consequences, and cultural differences, as shown with communications between Christians and Ibo people. It also presents the tragedy that fell upon Okonkwo, who ended up with suicide because of his pride and fear.