Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
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Book Reviews of Things Fall Apart
Book Review: Ultimately, Worthwhile for Recreating a Culture before Colonization
Summary: 3 Stars
SPOILERS AHEAD:
This novel was set in the Igbo homeland in what is now southeastern Nigeria in the late 1800s/early 1900s. I read about three-quarters of the book before I could begin to appreciate it.
Up to then I'd disliked the main character, Okonkwo, an important person in the village whose major traits were harsh anger, pride and inflexibility, finding him one-sided and uninteresting. I felt the description was plodding and little of importance was happening, and wasn't greatly interested in the village life. Much of the novel was concerned mainly with his point of view, and his interactions with the other, relatively minor characters were unexciting. When a dramatic event occurred, such as his accidental shooting of a villager that led to his exile, it was described in a flat, undramatic tone that seemed inappropriate and puzzled me.
I couldn't help comparing this novel unfavorably with another I happened to be reading, Palace Walk, by Naguib Mahfouz, with its complex, many-sided protagonist, the many other strongly developed people in his family, the dramatic interaction between them, and the rich world around them that was reasonably familiar.
It was only after reading some background material on the Internet that I could begin to understand how Achebe's novel aimed to recreate a vibrant culture that had existed before colonization on its own terms, with its oral tradition, rituals and taboos, and guardian spirits, and show what had been lost. The focus on a period before colonization and the depiction of the whites as interlopers has been called innovative for its time. Likewise the use of language in the words of the villagers, instead of pidgin.
A scholar of African lit, Bernth Lindfors, has described the book like this: "Instead of representing Africa as a barbarous wilderness where savages lived in a permanent state of anarchy until the white man came bringing peace, law, order, religion, and a 'higher' form of civilization, Achebe showed how Africans led decent, moral lives in well-regulated societies that placed strict legal and religious constraints on human behavior. Indeed, according to Achebe, things did not fall apart in Africa until Europe intruded and set everything off balance by introducing alien codes which Africans were then told to live by. Europe did not bring light and peace . . . it brought chaos and confusion" (from the preface to the Anchor Book of Modern African Short Stories).
At the same time, Achebe showed how some elements from outside the traditional culture, such as Christianity, weren't merely imposed from above but appealed strongly to some of the Igbo, especially those at the bottom of the society, and those who felt the new religion was more powerful. And he showed that the traditional society had its own internal problems and was ripe for change. Achebe himself has been quoted as saying, "My sympathies were not entirely with Okonkwo . . . . Life just has to go on and if you refuse to accept changes, then, tragic though it may be, you are swept aside" (from Under African Skies: Modern African Stories).
The conventional action came almost entirely in the last quarter of the novel, when the encroaching missionaries, together with the trading culture and the colonizers' threat of force, began to overwhelm the village. Although I can't say I identified with the main character even by the end, by then I could better appreciate the loss of the village culture.
Book Review: Things Fall Apart- Ms. Scott
Summary: 4 Stars
Umofia was a very religious and great African tribe with many wise and respected men. One of these respected men was Okonkwo. Okonkwo was Unoka's son. Unlike many other sons who respected their fathers in Umofia, Okonkwo hated his father. He hated his lack of strength, his failure, and the fact that he had not taken a title in Umofia during his life. Okonkwo however had taken a title and became a well known and respected man at a very young age. Okonkwo lived in his own farm with his three wives and children. Okonkwo and the elder men of Umofia were called for a meeting. It was concerning the death of a clansman's wife of Umofia, who had been killed by another tribe. As compensation for the loss a young man and a virgin was brought to Umofia. Ikemefuna, the young man, was decided by the elders to stay in Okonkwo's care. Okonkwo and his family soon grew fond of the boy. Nwoye, Okonkwo's son, and Ikemefuna became very close and came to see each others as brothers. As the years passed Okonkwo was able to grow a good harvest. Nwoye was becoming a man in Okonkwo's eyes and this was because of Ikemefuna who had taught him so much. Ikemefuna had spent three years in Okonkwo's household. One morning a group of elders came to Okonkwo's house and called Ikemefuna to be sent back to his homeland. Nwoye cried over this. Okonkwo, Ikemefuna, and the elders set for the journey. After a long walk Ikemefeuna had been killed by the men and by Oknokwo as a sacrifice.When Okonkwo returned home Nwoye knew Ikemefuna had been killed. Nwoye feared his father after that night.Umofia was at mourning for Ezeudo's death and everyone in the village attended his funeral. During th traditional ceremony a cry of agony was heard it was Ezeudo's son. He layed dead on the floor. Okonkwo's gun had accidentally exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy's heart. Okonkwo's only option was to flee with his family to Mbanta, his mother's homeland. He would be able to return to Umofia after seven years. He build his own home and settled in Mbanta for seven years. During these seven years a white man had been traveling to every tribe spreading christanity. The white man and his followers built their own churches and schools. Among these followers was Nwoye. He became a christian and Okonkwo disowned him. Okonkwo returned to Umofia, but it was differnt then the way he had left it seven years ago. Okonkwo was angered and saddened by how christianity had changed his homeland. The only answer Okonkwo saw was war.
A masquerader who impersonated one of the ancestors spirits of the village destroyed the church. A couple of days after the destruction of the church the District comissioner of the church sent for the leaders of Umofia to meet in his headquarters. Among the leaders was Okonkwo. They were held captive until they agreed to pay 200 pounds of cowries as a fine. They were held prisoners and were whipped and mistreated. After their release a town meeting was held and Okonkwo feared his tribe's lack of strenth to call a war. The district comissioner's messengers were sent to sop the meeting. Okonkwo drew his machete and killed the man. The comissioner and other clansmen arrived at Okonkwo's home and found him dangling from a tree. He had comitted suicide.
Book Review: A Tragic Hero Ruled by his fears
Summary: 4 Stars
On the surface this book deals with changes to a traditional society when exposed to outsiders, however there are deeper themes woven into this fabric. Okonkwo is the tragic hero or anti-hero of this novel. He is a man ruled by his fears, especially the fear of looking weak or effeminate. In response he rules his family with an iron hand, is violent and inpetuous. Even before the colonizers appeared, Okonkwo had already violated the mores of his community several times, sinning against the earth goddess by beating his wife during Peace week, shedding innocent blood with the slaying of Ikemefuna, who had become somewhat of a foster son, and brother figure to Nwoye, Okonkwo's son whom he views as effeminate and weak. When Okonkwo tragically commits manslaughter, he and his family are forced into exile. He loses his prominent place in the clan and has to go to his mother's village for seven years. While there, he fumes about his lost social position and vows to regain it as a true warrior when he returns to his village.
Meanwhile, Okonkwo disdains his eldest son Nwoye who undergoes many beatings and punishments for not meeting up to his father's rigourous standards on manhood. Nwoye is a gentle soul and was very attached to Ikemefuna, a captive from another tribe who is entrusted to Okonkwo. When the Christian missionaries arrived, Nwoye is drawn to them, especially because they appeal to the weak, downtrodden, despised and oppressed. In the Christian community, all are brothers and sisters in Christ, with no regard to rank, clan, caste. Many titleless outcasts, or worthless men and women were drawn to the missionaries and accepted. Of course this made Okonkwo despise them even more, as a womanly clan, and he is extremely displeased upon finding out the Nwoye has converted to Christianity, choking him in the neck until Nwoye's uncle intervenes.
Okonkwo vows to get revenge on the Christians and waits for an opportunity to prove himself as a strong warrior again. Tragically for everyone involved, the church is burned down, after one of the zealous converts unmasks an egwugwu (a man portraying an ancestral spirit) during a ceremony. Now Okonkwo has an opportunity, and puts on his warrior's dress when the messengers come from the court. Unfortunately for Okonkwo he acts impulsively and slays the first messenger. Knowing there is no way out, he hangs himself and again commits sin against the traditional Igbo earth goddess. So even though Okonkwo is fighting against outside influences and trying to preserve his way of life, he constantly transgresses the boundaries of behavior as defined by his own cultural traditional.
The only hope that is offered in this sad story is that Nwoye eventually converts all his brothers and sisters and Okonkwo's widows. This was mentioned parenthetically in the chapter dealing with Nwoye's conversion. After Okonkwo's death by ultimate sin, the family must have fallen to a very low status, or become outcasts, the very worthless men and women that Okonkwo looked down on. Ironically, Okonkwo's acts caused his remaining family to gain great hope and promise, no doubt under the gentle loving leadership of Nwoye, the son he never appreciated.
Book Review: Things Fall Apart Review
Summary: 4 Stars
Throughout China Achebe's book, Things Fall Apart, there is one main theme that all events foreshadow. This theme is that the tribes of Africa and their settlements, such as Umuofia, were already civilized and orderly before Western influence. The main point of this book was to eliminate stereotypes about African culture being prehistoric and barbaric. Okonkwo, the main character, shows the pride of a noble race. He is defeated, just as African culture was, by surprise and stealth. Nwoye represents tribesmen who believe in the Western missionaries. He was converted to Christianity, as were many other Africans at that period. This book shows the chaos of the situation when a foriegn culture interferes with years of tradition. The wrestling events were the most exciting time in the village. The people worked themselves into a frenzy. They became so excited for their tribesmen, fighting for honor. The drummers became possessed with the spirit of the drums, playing the beat wildly. The crowd became extremely excited, with the men dancing around striving to throw each other to the ground. The men who kept order had to run around with palm fronds and beat the ground or the legs and feet of the crowd to keep them back. The crowd would burst into a thunderous roar at the conclusion of a match. These matches were so exciting that even the stoic elders had trouble hiding their excitement. The murder of Ikemefuna was a tense scene that ended in a fury of confusion and excitement. The men of Umuofia had deceived Ikemefuna into thinking that they were taking him to his native land, and were leading him through the woods. As they were walking, Ikemefuna became suspicious of the men, after a man growled at him to keep going, sending cold fear down his spine. He wondered why his adoptive father, Okonkwo, had fallen towards the back of the procession. Finally, a man drew his machete and struck him, as Okonkwo looked away. Ikemefuna cried out "My father, they have killed me!" as Okonkwo ran to him. Then, for fear of being weak, Okonkwo cut him down with his machete. The death of the white messenger happens very fast, with Okonkwo reacting instinctively. As soon as Okonkwo hears, "The white man...has ordered this meeting to stop", he draws his machete. He then chops twice at the messenger, decapitating him. He then wipes his machete in the sand and walks away, disappointed in his tribe, knowing they will not fight the white men as he would.
I believe that this book was a good example of how imperialism can destroy cultures and traditions. This book showed that Western imperialists' impression of African natives was totally wrong. I feel that this book taught a valuable lesson by describing the village of Umuofia and the prud tribesman Okonkwo before and after the imperialists influenced their culture. This was not particularly interesting to me, but on an educational level, it did provide another point of view to the common stereotype of the African natives before they were "enlightened" by Western culture. My recommendation for this book would be: choose another book if you want easy, enjoyable reading, but if you would like to learn the truth about a noble culture
Book Review: A heroic tragedy in an African context
Summary: 5 Stars
Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" is the story of a man who watches helplessly as his community, quite literally, falls apart. It takes place, presumably, in Nigeria in the nineteenth century, and the community it portrays is an Ibo clan who live in a group of nine villages collectively called Umuofia. The protagonist is a man named Okonkwo, as noble a figure as any in literature because he is strong, brave, loyal to his family and his community, respectful of the ways of his ancestors, and strictly adheres to a personal code of honor, which in some ways is a corrective response to his own father's lazy, unprincipled lifestyle.Like most in Umuofia, Okonkwo makes his living as a yam farmer, and he has built a large compound in which he lives with his three wives and numerous children, the most prominent of whom are his oldest son Nwoye and his favorite daughter Ezinma. Since the Ibo clan is, like most societies throughout the world, a cult of masculinity, anything related to strength or honor is considered manly, and anything related to weakness or irresolution is considered womanly; so Okonkwo regrets that Ezinma, whom he loves and respects more than any of his other children, was not born male.
The novel is balanced between sketches of daily life in the villages and three major events that shape Okonkwo's character. The first event is Okonkwo's adoption of a boy named Ikemefuna from a nearby village as part of a retribution for a crime committed by a resident of that village on a resident of Okonkwo's. After living three years with Okonkwo's family, Ikemefuna becomes a good friend to Nwoye; but the village elders have decreed a sad fate for the boy, and Okonkwo has no choice but to help carry it out. The second event is when, at a funeral for a village elder, Okonkwo's gun accidentally explodes and kills a boy; according to tribal law, Okonkwo and his family are banished from Umuofia for seven years and relocate to his mother's native village.
The third event is the arrival in Nigeria of white missionaries from the Church of England. They begin to transform Ibo society by building churches, schools, and hospitals, and establishing an Anglican government and legal system. Part of their success is due to their ability to convince the Ibos of the sovereignty of the Christian God, and many Ibos convert. When Okonkwo returns to Umuofia after his exile and learns that this new religion is supplanting the ancestral traditions, he is disgusted by the weak will of his clansmen and especially his own son Nwoye, who has defected to the Church and taken the name Isaac. This event has a larger, pan-African significance, in which Okonkwo becomes a symbol of resistance to the encroachment of Europeanization.
"Things Fall Apart" is a short and simple novel, but it masterfully contains, within a uniquely African context, its protagonist's whole philosophy towards life and reason for being. Whether Okonkwo's actions are to be applauded is left for the individual reader to decide, but there is no mystery about why he does them. He is nothing if not a man of convictions, and he is willing to die for them, even by his own hand.