Violence and Saftey - Things Falll Apart

"Every man in Umuofia went about armed with a gun or machete" (165); "Okonkwo warned the others to be fully armed... 'times have changed, and we must be fully prepared'" (166).  Through Okonkwo's warning, Achebe showcases the change in attitude toward ones on safety in the tribe.  Because the rules and punishments were dutifully carried out, there was hardly ever any crime within the tribe and the tribesmen respected one another.  However, as the white men established their presence in the tribe they began enforcing their own rules and punishments: This therefore increased the tension and hatred the people of the tribe had towards the missionaries.  The white men were violent to the natives, whipping them on their back, holding them captive, and withholding food and water from them.  Okonkwo, aware of these changes, warns the others, for he understands that if they don't stand up for themselves the tribe will fall apart.  What began as a safe community turns into an unsafe environment that requires constant awareness.  The outcome would not need to be violent had the missionaries remained peaceful in their conversions.  Nonetheless, the white men came wanting to gain control of the tribes through their religion, but more importantly, through their government.  It is the violent actions of the missionaries that ultimately lead Okonkwo to commit a crime of extreme violence: his suicide.

External Conflict - Things Fall Apart

Achebe creates an extreme, yet realistic example of an external conflict, man vs. man.  The African tribes of the area are all being subjected to the teachings of the white missionaries, ultimately tearing apart the basis of the tribes' community.  It is one thing to come into a new area and share one's beliefs, but it is taken on a whole new level when the missionaries begin to enforce rules and punishments on the tribesmen.  Achebe noted that differing tribes all, knowingly, had different Gods and religious practices and were still able to live in peace with one another.  However, the white men come to spread their beliefs as being the right and only way.  While of course they believe this to be true, the missionaries should have been more thoughtful in the culture's ways in order to successfully and peacefully spread their way, rather they came "and led many astray" (149).  As Tortoise in Ekwefi's story said, "a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself" (85).  Therefore, the missionaries who are stirring up problems within the tribe are only making more problems for themselves.  All of the tribes will eventually hear of the horrific stories of how evil the white man is and will therefore have distrust towards white people.

Customs of a Culture - Things Fall Apart

Achebe includes the customs of the culture as a crucial part of the novel, for the customs ultimately affect the outcome of the plot line.  Because the tribes have such strong bonds within them there are strict rules to follow to protect the relationships.  After Okonkwo's accidental murder "the only course open...was to flee from the clan" because "it was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman" (110).  This consequence of being exiled for a given number of years is a interesting concept that portrays the tribe's culture, for it is because of each member's extreme dedication to each other that a punishment of this caliber is effective.  Even though a large part of the tribe "had no hatred in their hearts against Okonkwo" they all knew the only choice was to exile him out of tradition and respect.  In today's society there would be endless questioning, trying to get around the rules; however, the acceptance of what has to be done shows the strong will of the tribe.  Being removed from the society as Okonkwo was will essentially destroy the titles that he has earned; therefore this exile will further challenge him to reach his ultimate goal of achieving the status of all four titles.  The idea of exiling someone from society out of respect for the clan and gods is not something the white culture uses, rather any time someone is "exiled" or put into jail is out of the safety of society.  Through delineating the strict customs of the African tribes, Achebe contrasts the two cultures of the African man and the white man.

Achebe's Writing Style - Things Fall Apart

Languages of Africa

Achebe masterfully integrates the Igbo language throughout the text to further infuse the novel with the misunderstood culture.  While Achebe could have simply excluded the Igbo words and phrases and therefore made his task easier, he did not: Thus he gave the full effect of the Igbo culture to the readers.  In today's current society, and much of Achebe's initial audience, extremely little was known about the African tribes, including their language.  In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness the "savages" or African tribesmen are seen on the riverbanks jumping up and down and chanting: This portrayal suggests that their words are meaningless nonsense.  But Achebe's choice of including the language in the novel showcases the complexity and reality of the Igbo language; "...his daughter's uri.  It was the day on which her suitor...would bring palm-wine...to the wide and extensive group of kinsmen called umunna" (100); Achebe seamlessly incorporates the foreign language, clearly explaining what each word means in the context of the text.  He therefore gives the audience a greater grasp on the terms.  Achebe's technique stimulates the mind of someone who is bilingual, thinking in both languages and using specific words that can't easily translate.  It is through this way that Achebe is essentially teaching the audience Igbo.

Internal Conflict - Things Fall Apart

As mentined in an earlier post, Okonkwo is a strong, determined man that refuses to display any emotions in order to not appear weak.  After Ezeuda tells Okonkwo not to be apart of Ikemefuna's death Okonkwo has a great conflict within himself as to what he should do about the situation, and he is put into deep contemplation, "Okonkwo sat still for a very long time supporting his chin in his palms" (50).  Ultimately the decision comes down to whether he will let his pride overcome his emotion, as wants to remain manly and fierce, but he has also become attached to Ikemefuna as his own son.  On the walk into the forest Okonkwo moved to the back of the line of men, thus suggesting that he can't come to terms with the idea of killing Ikemefuna and wants to distance himself from the situation.  At the last minute as a man spontaneously sliced Ikemefuna with his machete, Okonkwo runs in to finish his death, showing that Okonkwo was acting in the moment "dazed with fear" (53).  Additionally, the audience understands that from his heart Okonkwo didn't want to commit the murder.  Altogether, Okonkwo's public image was more important to him than his emotional relationships, for his final deciding factor was that "he was afraid of being thought weak" (53).  However, it should be understood that Okonkwo was affected by his actions, for it had a great emotional tole on Okonkwo.  He "did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna" (55); therefore, he couldn't forgive himself internally for what he did.

Stoic Okonkwo - Things Fall Apart

Zeno of Citium founded Hellenistic Philosophy which created the school of stoicism

As the characters of Things Fall Apart continue to develop Okonkwo's personality traits are heightened, thus giving the audience a clearer understanding of his characteristics.  From the first three chapters Achebe describes Okonkwo to be extremely hardworking, as he builds his fortune of yams from nothing.  Continuing on, Achebe goes into the relationships within Okonkwo's family, specifically addressing the newest addition, Ikemefuna.  The third person omniscient narrator allows the audience to know how Okonkwo feels within himself, therefore allowing the audience to connect with Okonkwo.  "Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy - inwardly of course.  Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly" (24), through his fondness of Ikemefuna, Achebe makes Okonkwo relatable.  If Achebe had not made the narrator omniscient the audience would resent Okonkwo for his consistently angry attitude; however, knowing that in his heart Okonkwo feels connected to Ikemefuna the audience can more easily sympathize with Okonkwo's situation.  Okonkwo's stoic character likely reflects most of the men of the Igbo culture, for it is important to them to hold power within the household and therefore the village.

Setting - Things Fall Apart

Withing the first three chapters Achebe portrays the distinctive setting of the Umuofia land and the Igbo customs.  To Achebe these two characteristics were vital in correctly delineating to the audience, in order to defend and redeem the true African lifestyle.  The main things of importance for the people of Umuofia is the size of one's land and yam crop.  Achebe makes this evident with, "Okonkwo's prosperity was visible in his household" (11) and "...a wealthy man...who had three huge barns, nine wives and thirty children" (15).  Okonkwo has been working his entire life to change the fate his father had given him by going out and starting his own yam crop as a teenager.  Seeing his father's failure made him have a thirst for ultimate success, pushing Okonkwo to put a tremendous effort in his work.  It seems normal to the audience that social class would be based on the success one has; however, Achebe sets the Igbo apart from the white world by emphasizing their success of the crop by the weather, "but the year had gone mad.  Rain fell as it had never fallen before" (20).  No canal system or other agricultural advancements are mentioned, suggesting that they solely relied on mother nature.  This idea sets the time frame to be more primitive with little technology.

Things Fall Apart - Video Response

Chinua Achebe when choosing to write about the African culture had to make key decisions in his to fully comunicate to the world his goal.  One of the main factors was choosing to write the novel in English, for it opened the text to countless cultures.  Additionally, Achebe created his main character to be a man devoted to tradition and building his name; therefore, the true culture is able to be delineated.  Reading Heart of Darkness was a vital inspiration for Achebe, giving him the driving force to portray the nonstereotypical version of the African culture.  Because of the great emotional response Achebe had to Heart of Darkness, without reading Conrad's depiction of Africa Achebe would not have created such an impactful work.

Introduction to Me

My favorite place ~ the ocean