Essay on Things Fall Apart

Submitted By 3peat636
Words: 1326
Pages: 6
Open Document
“Things Fall Apart”

In the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achhebe, the main character Okonkwo faces many obstacles throughout his life. Unfortunately, he did not have the start in life which many other young children had. His father did inherit him with neither a barn nor a title. His father was drunk and underachiever. That so, he did not receive a proper burial. Okonkwo biggest fear was to become like his father. Although he had these disadvantages, he was determined to avoid his father unrecognized life. Through the story, Okonkwo pride and fear of showing signs of weakness clashes with events that can be immoral or evil. Although his actions might be portrayed as devilish, the reader can fell sympathetic for his downfall. Okonkwo throughout the book always wanted to be portrayed as a strong, fearless, and masculine man. Early in the book, he has a confrontation with one of his three wife’s Ojiujo. Okonkwo was furious she did not cook that afternoon dinner. He was even more frustrated when he figured out his wife was plaiting her Hair while he was anxious in hunger. Meanwhile, Okonkwo waited in his obi for her returned. When she got back home, she was beaten viciously. So caught up in the moment, Okonkwo had forgotten he beaten his wife on peace week. As a result, Ezeani the priest appeared claiming his actions were evil and disrespectful to the gods.”You will bring to the shrine of Ani tomorrow one she-goat, one hen, a length of cloth and a hundred cowries”(Achebe 26). With this consequence, Okonkwo dint change his perspective on beating his wives. Okonkwo’s fear of being portrayed weak was demonstrated at the end of chapter seven.
A daughter of Umofia was murederd in the makeket of Mbaino.Umofia responded in tumult when ithear the news.But the powerful Okonkwo was born for these situations. He was a worrior ready to fight with a chip on his sholder. Everyone around nearby towns knew him and were clearly afraid of him. Umofia simmited an ultimatum that world declare war or sacrifice a lad of fifteen or a young vigin. Mbaino refused to enter war and handed the young man Ikemefuna. He was well recived in the Okonkwo household but he was filled with greif and sorrow being away from his mother. Ikwmfuna tried running away several times but the attempts fell. Over time Uikmefuna became one of the most popular in the Okonkwo household. He worked on his demanded labor and slowly teaching his fellow friend Noyme how things are done. Okonkwo was pleased and even seen a glimps in himself in Ikemefunda.It was when the oracle announced his to sacrificed Ikemifuna when Oknonwo faced fear of being portrayed weak and frail.Ikemfunda was sliced, then ran to Okwkwo for support and took a blow from his father.Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna.(Achebe 55) “He did not sleep at night. He tried not to think about Ikemfuna, but the more he tried the more he thought about him. (Achebe 55) This shows that okonkwo is will to do anying it takes to viewed as a king even if it takes taking a loved one’s life. In chapter five Okonkwo has another altercation with one of his wife, this time the second . He was enraged his wife had killed his banana tree. Although the tree was not dead, he gave her a sound beating for cutting a small amount of leaves. To cool of his steam, Okonkwo decided to go hunting despite the fact he wasn’t a good hunter. When he heard about the gun never being shot from his wife’s muttering voice, he turned his attention towards her. He loaded his gun and pulled the trigger. His wife laid on the ground unhurt but with an alarmed glare.”He heaved a heavy sigh and went away with the gun”. Again Okonkwo did not learn prior to peace week. He abuses his wife for the second time and feels no remorse. Okonkwo’s strive for perfection conveys him to almost a villain like figure. Okonkwo’s last encounter with drama follows just after chapter twenty three. The clan admitted
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart

When a country is a victim of colonialism, they are no longer able to continue as they did before. These countries have to forget what they once had. This is proven in Things Fall Apart when it says, “Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for…

Words 941 - Pages 4

Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, begins with the life of the warrior, Okonkwo. One of the major symbols used throughout the book to help display this character is the fire, expressing that he is destructive and fierce. Although Okonkwo struggles with his masculinity, he claims that his father was the one that made him become destructive. I found this interesting that he blames his father for his actions. A major theme in part two is the struggle between tradition and change. Okonkwo shows…

Words 229 - Pages 1

Things Fall Apart

'Novels from earlier centuries and novels about distant places takes us into worlds different from our own, but must have something to say about issues of importance in the world to which we, the readers, will return.' Through out the novel Things Fall Apart I found some issues that are relevant to today's world. A few issues I found that seem relevant are gender, families, and fear. For this reason gender is an issue that is relevant to today's life. In the novel, women play a role…

Words 540 - Pages 3

Things Fall Apart

Achebe’s use of repetition and juxtaposition. The juxtaposition of “‘education’ and ‘promise’” with his current terrible situation is important as it shows the reader the extent of his downfall, THEREBY removing any sympathy for Obi, as one cannot just fall so much by just his circumstances. This is replaced with curiosity of how he caused his own downfall. Chinua Achebe confuses the reader BY using Mr. Green’s statement when he is at the bar chatting with….. QUOTE FROM MR GREEN NEEDED HERE The reader…

Words 846 - Pages 4

things fall apart Essay

The changing world of the Ibo has caused things to ‘fall apart’. How does the Achebe demonstrate the impact of the changing world on Okonkwo? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. - Marian Ung For the novel “Things Fall Apart” – Chinua Achebe, a lot of events has been trigger that revolve around the Ibo to cause a changing world in the customs for things to “fall apart”. The world around Okonkwo who is the main protagonist of the novel is he was one of the greatest living warrior alive…

Words 1559 - Pages 7

Locusts In Things Fall Apart

One of my father’s favorite sayings, “Go get yourself a bag” is one of the most memorable things I have ever heard him say. The “bag” in this case symbolizes money. The English language is full of symbolism, and the symbolism in Things Fall Apart can be spotted everywhere . Throughout the novel, countless examples of things that resemble a bigger picture can be found. However, one little detail stuck out to me more than anything, and this was the arrival of the locusts in chapter 7. The locusts…

Words 739 - Pages 3

Essay on Things Fall Apart

out the reason for writing them. However in one of his books titled “Things Fall Apart,” Chinua explains the reasons to his audience. Chinua Achebe wrote this book because he wanted to describe and share Nigerian culture with others. He used this book to explain the effects of European colonization, and respond to western misconceptions about Africans being very barbaric and uncivilized. First, Mr. Achebe wrote “Things Fall Apart,” for a couple of reasons, and one of those reasons was to describe…

Words 526 - Pages 3

Masculinity In Things Fall Apart

society, it is seen as synonymous with terms such as strength, vigor and muscularity, while the term “femininity” is viewed as delicate, weak and child-like. Although this may not come as a shock to anyone who has read Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, it is surprising to realize that these are synonyms used in everyday interactions to describe Western society’s view of gender…

Words 73 - Pages 1

Essay Things Fall Apart

Part IV: Essay D. How does fear dominate Okonkwo in his interactions with his family, tribe, and the white man? How do the decisions he makes in these interactions culminate his eventual fate? In the book Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe, portrays a young man, Okonkwo through his manhood. Despite how intimidating he might be to most people around him, aside from his friends, throughout his whole life he has been shadowed by fear. The initial push that most likely triggered his…

Words 602 - Pages 3

Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Thing Fall Apart- Literary Analysis “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper?” (Achebe 12). Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Chinua Achebe and is set in Nigeria in the late 19th Century during the pre- and post colonial era. The main character ,Okonkwo, is a well respected and a very wealthy man. He was the warrior of a clan in lower Nigeria called, Umuofia. His father, Unoka, was not well liked in the…

Words 635 - Pages 3