While reading the third section of "Things Fall Apart," by Chinua Achebe, I discovered a few points that I thought I should mention.
First, on page 145, the missionaries were written as having said "they were all sons of God." This here is appealing to the emotion (pathos) of the people in the African countryside, because the missionaries are saying that they are alike, even though they are separated by their two different faiths. This makes the Africans more inclined to listen to what the missionaries have to say.
Something else that I noticed was how much Okonkwo wants to believe what he wants and not what is. I got this idea from the passage on page 153:
"Okonkwo was popularly called the 'Roaring Flame.' As he looked into the log fire he recalled the name. How then could he have begotten a son like Nwoye, degenerate and effeminate? Perhaps he was not his son. No! he could not be. His wife had played him false. He would teach her! But Nwoye resembled his grandfather, Unoka, who was Okonkwo's father. He pushed the thought out of his mind. He, Okonkwo, was called a flaming fire. How could he have begotten a woman for a son? At Nwoye's age Okonkwo had already become famous throughout Umofia for his wrestling and his fearlessness"
Okonkwo is debating with himself whether Nwoye is his son, and he then makes himself believe that he is not, because he is supposedly not tough enough. He creates this world in his head, where his wife had an affair, which is supposed to be an explanation for his son. I just think that Okonkwo is a man that needs a lot of help--he is always looking for the negatives, never the positives. His whole mindset is just horrible--extremely argumentative. He is an instigator, always looking to start some trouble, never willing to accept and appreciate what is (He considers his son a girl, wishes his daughter was a boy, etc.).
Lastly, I had a question about the whole missionary thing. I am curious as to whether anyone knows the time period? Since the book is talking about missionaries coming to convert the people, I am guessing that it must be way back in history, when nations were looking to take over other lands, spread their beliefs, etc. I am also curious as to whether Okonkwo will convert? There might be a new Okonkwo in the works. Also, I am guessing that Okonkwo might try and do something to his son as punishment.
From what I’ve read from One Hundred Years of Solitude, a common theme in both novels is the effects of a new idea coming into society. Paul commented for One Hundred Years of Solitude, “…Melquiades does expose Jose Arcadio Buendia and the villagers to the technological advances of the world, however I feel that the new technology has corrupted what seems like the perfect society...”, as well as the changes that Jose goes through. Things Fall Apart shows how the missionaries, like the gypsies, come into the tribes and bring along a new religion, Christianity (similar to how the Melquiades new gadgets). Many of the tribe’s people have converted to Christianity, such as Okonkwo’s own son, Nwoye. Achebe writes, “He had just send Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, who was now called Isaac, to the new training college for teachers in Umuru. And he had hoped that Okonkwo would be happy to hear of it. But Okonkwo had driven him away with the threat that if he came into his compound again, he would be carried out of it.” (182) Although, converting to this new religion, has allowed Nwoye to escape his father’s violence, as seen in the quote, and the constant of pressure of being a “man”, it has turned Nwoye away from his own culture (such as how he changed his name to an English name). I agree with Marrisa that the missionaries are trying to appeal to the tribes, but these missionaries are deceitful, and rather than just helping these tribes, they are just trying to conform them to be like Englishmen, like Nwoye and what the gypsies did to Melquiades. When Okonkwo and the other leaders tried to stop these missionaries from taking away their people, by getting the church to be destroyed, they are punished by being handcuffed, beaten, and charged a fine (which is another strike to Okonkwo’s ego, since he’s being treated like a criminal). All this oppression eventually leads to Okonkwo’s suicide, and as Obierika said, “‘that man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog. . . .’” (208). Thus, my opinions on the missionaries, and alas the title of Things Fall Apart.
When i began reading the third part of "Things Fall Apart" I noticed that Okonkwo is becoming very upset with the white men. He is planning on returning and earning back his rightful spot. Also there was a reference to the title right away. Okonkwo says, "He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."(176) This really shows the meaning of the title. When the new religion emerged, the old one is beginning to be wiped out. People such as Okonkwo are not ready to give up their religion and say that it is beginning to fall apart.
Akunna made a good point on page 179. He was saying that the other Gods are false. He said that if you put a face on a piece of wood and call it a God, it is still only a piece of wood. I believe that this religion is better then the old one because the older one is very aggressive and hostel. There are way too many rules and many innocent people die due to them.
Schools, churches, and hosptitals were being built. There was also a stable government emerging. I do like the new religion better, but I feel as if the people of Umuofia are better off with their own religion. The white men have no right to try to take over a place that was doing fine on their own. Okonkwo is sick of what is happening to his land and is ready to try to fix it. He is very angry with the fact that so many men are converting to this new religion. Okonkwo also refers to the men in Umuofia as becoming "soft like women."(183) It really shows the inequality between men and women in the clans.
I understand what the missionaries are trying to do, but in a way i feel as if they shouldn't have intruded on a clan that already had a set religion. Also the demasking of the spirit stood out to me as what is going on in the society. The old religion is being demasked and turned into something it is not supposed to be. I found it quite ironic that it happened. The white men are basically torturing the leaders until the fee is paid off. I thought they were trying to bring a better society into place, but now i know that they are just trying to take over everything and control all the lands.
I agree with Angel when she talked about the strike to Okonkwo's ego. Eventually he kills himself, and Obierika knows that it is the commisioners' fault. Okonkwo always followed the rules of society and was completely against the evil. So it is pretty ironic that in the end, Okonkwo becomes one of the "evil bodies." In my mind he died for what he believed in and shouldn't be considered evil. The society believes otherwise, and "Things Fall Apart."
As the novel drew to a close, I found Okonkwo's suicide extremely out of character. For a man who believed himself to be a warrior since childhood, taking his own life was completely contradictory to his moral standards.
As Marrisa said earlier Okonkwo, "never willing to accept and appreciate what is." His suicide is perfect evidence supporting this. Factors leading to his suicide were the changes in the clan that were beyond his control, along with his arrest by the white missionaries, and the loss of his oldest son, as Marissa discussed earlier.
As he returned from his exile, he was deeply perturbed at the transformation of his home, Umofia. Achebe writes, "Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women" (183) Because his home differed from his ideal home, and because his friends changed and now held different beliefs than he held, Okonkwo considered them "soft like women." He believes himself to be a warrior, very masculine and high in status above women. With his tribe converting to "feminine qualities", he know sees himself powerless, since his attributes are no longer of value to anyone besides himself.
While his community is falling apart, some of their beliefs still remained intact by the time of his suicide. After he is found hanged, Obierika tells the Europeans, "It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth, and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen. His body is evil, and only strangers may touch it." (207)
I find this ending to be very ironic, for the people who Okonkwo despised the most ended up burying him.
In the final act of the novel, Things Fall Apart, the story then introduces a stranger in the plot and how his death has led to the deaths of a whole village of Abame. The author sets up the story around the Colonial Age of European Imperialism and how these “strangers” or white men has inhabited the region of the nine villages. Achebe writes with historical reference to the plot to begin the rising action of the conflict between Okonkwo and the missionaries. The narrative would go on Page.143, to describe how these missionaries had already made an impact in their society, which is possible that most people will clash among theological beliefs. The past chapter included the passage that would summarize the struggle between native beliefs and the new coming faith, which states: “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others”(141).
The element of an inconsistent character like Okonkwo combines with the situation of how missionaries and foreigners are altering the society where he wishes to return. In addition, since this change can also compromise his former title in this society and how Okonkwo a protagonist that is obsessed with acquiring much title becomes aware of how it will be impossible to retain any marks of distinction, thus leading him to rebel against anything the missionaries create especially their religion. The dream of Okonkwo to return to his own greatness becomes a struggle to maintain the society of Umuofia that has supported him for years and has brought him his power and fame. The irony of the whole excerpt from the middle paragraph on p.182 to p.183 would tell of the efforts and labors of Okonkwo to appease and make a place himself in his society becomes futile for a new and foreign “civil order” that has became more different to Okonkwo. The narrative goes as far as to call the once proud warriors of the clan “to become soft as women”(183). Therefore, the fear of is failure to uphold his strong, wealthy and dominant role in the village has actually came to reality, not by his own faults but, but by the change of his land that no longer recognized a “true warrior” or believed in the same things he did. The land that gave him his success would turn it’s back on him.
On p.203-204, the clansmen who objected the new occupation of the white men in their land showed disdain to the new civilization and one proverb which was said in p.22 was spoken again in a different context: “Men has learned to shot without missing their mark and I have learn to fly without perching on a twig”(p.22, p.204). The line that was the former quote would have a better meaning with this context, especially how each were used to give the same meaning. The quote can be interpreted as how in new and dangerous times, men can exact death and destruction to life, and how one cannot trust the land that he stands on, so to speak. So one must prosper independently away from the land and its’ inhabitants.
This whole message would have a profound effect on Okonkwo in which he could not think of abandoning the land that had promised him prosperity and such control over his own life. The cruel irony of the story of how Okonkwo kills himself in the end would only prove that he has failed in trying not to resemble his father by not dying a failure and a painful and shameful death: “It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth, and a man who commits it, will not be buried by his clansmen.”(207). The verbal irony was that the proverb spoke of a bird “flying without perching” away to escape from a land that is being destroyed by men of bane and corruption and in the end, Okonkwo has “escaped” in his own way.
The third section of Things Fall Apart introduces many ideas that lead up to the surprising conclusion of the novel. In the beginning of the third section, Achebe makes it clear that Okonkwo wants to make an unforgettable return to Umuofia when Achebe states “he was determined that his return should be marked by his people. He would return with a flourish, and regain the seven wasted years.” (171). The idea that Okonkwo strongly desires to make an incredible return to Umuofia is ironic because the people of Umuofia are so consumed with the missionaries and the new Christian religion that they do not take much notice in the fact that Okonkwo and his family have returned to the tribe. In addition, Okonkwo finally is able to make a lasting impression on his tribe, but it comes about through the way in which he decides to leave the tribe - by taking his own life. The conclusion of the statement is also ironic because he considers the time he has spent in exile on his motherland as “seven wasted years”(171) and he anticipates his return to his fatherland, where he knows that he can flourish and prosper. Although he had the potential of obtaining a great amount of knowledge from his kinsmen and his uncle, Uchendu, I feel that the idea of him living on his motherland and the negative ways his clan viewed living on a man’s motherland, caused him to look at his punishment as one that would restrict, rather than help him achieve his goals.
Upon returning to Umuofia, Okonkwo quickly realized how much the tribe had changed due to the missionaries’ invasion and he was willingly to do anything in order to restore the original values in Umuofia. However, many clan members were unwillingly to go to war against the missionaries, even though people like Obierika felt that the white man “… has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” (176). Despite the District Commissioner’s goal of bringing “civilization to different parts of Africa” (208) the strong unity that the clan once had, was now broken. Umuofia had become like “a startled animal with ears erect, sniffing the silent, ominous air and not knowing which way to run” (196) and I think the clan’s destroyed ideals caused Okonkwo so much pain that he killed himself. However, I agree with AllThatJazz 07 in feeling that Okonkwo’s suicide was out of character because he was a proclaimed warrior, one who was always very quick to point out flaws in other men and he even went as far as convincing himself that he did not father Nwoye because he thought Nwoye was less of a men, when all of the while Okonkwo could not find the strength inside himself to be a powerful leader and assist the clan in prevailing through some of their most difficult times.
Towards the conclusion of the novel, Obierika confronted the District Commissioner and stated, “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog.” (208). After reading Obierika’s statement, I understood and somewhat agreed with his statement because the missionaries suddenly invaded Umuofia and nearly destroyed their land by causing tension and animosity amongst many clan members. At the same time, I feel that Okonkwo allowed these men to mentally destroy him because it was the first time in a while that Okonkwo had been confronted by people who were potentially stronger than him. Regardless of how much Okonkwo prepared for war, the white men had more advanced weapons and more importantly, they had support from other converts, where as Okonkwo was one of few people in his clan that was willing to enter into a war. Throughout the novel, I felt that Okonkwo’s anger and desire to show his strengths were fueled by his aspiration to hide some of his deepest emotions, especially the resentment and connections he had with his father. Even though they seemed to be polar opposites, in the end, they both committed deplorable crimes against their culture and were forced to die alone.
At the end of the novel, I found a strange coincidence that I would like to point out. Towards the end of the novel, Okonkwo states that he does not believe that the white folk could ever understand the culture of his tribe unless he learned their language. This reminds me of and the beginning of the book, where the content was so thickly laced with vocabulary from the tribe's native language that I found it incredibly difficult and often times frustrating to read. It just occured to me that maybe the author's purpose in using so many foriegn words was so that he would be able to teach white people about this tribe's culture.
I think a second purpose this book contains is so that the author can explain how the existance of a society can lead to the destruction of an individual. Throughout the course of the novel, Okonkwo has repeatedly hid his affections for his wives and children in order to appear "manly" and "strong", even going as far to have personally slaughtered a child who he looked at as his own. He spends his entire life trying to conform to his society's mold of the ideal adult male. Perhaps a better and larger example in this story is how the larger and more powerful white man's culture took control of and wiped out the tribal culture, "[putting] a knife on the things that held [them] together and [they] have fallen apart."
It is interesting how Okonkwo's life is more or less tied into his social status, and the "life" of his tribe. He spends almost the entirety of his energy into building up the reputation of being a fierce warrior and a true man, but in the end he still lost it all and wound up comitting suicide. I find it interesting how earlier in the novel, a warriors extravagant burial service is described as an amazing event, while Okonkwo was said to have been buried like a dog. I believe this was done intentionally on the part of the author to create a stronger sense of irony.
Well there is much to respond to. To start off i just had to say that i found the ending to be very surprising. Never would I have imagined that Okonkwo would have taken his own life. Although Okonkwo's action is surprising and definitly out of character, as many of you have noticed, it does go along with the theme of irony that has been going on throughout the novel. The one man who was so insistant on keeping traditions, being a man, and holding a title within the clan, was the same man who ended up taking his own life as seen in page 207.
I never thought Okonkwo would have hung himself and instead I thought he might die battling the white men. My favorite part in this third part is when Obierika and the other clansmen lead the white men to where Okonkwo had killed himself. The entire time Obierika remained calm as he explained to the white man that he would need assistance in taking Okonkwo's body down. Obierika made sure to let the white man know that " that man was one the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog." (208). Those few wrods wre so simple and yet they were so loaded with emotion. I could practically imagine Obierika's stoic face as he said the words but at the same same time a sad intensity in his eyes.
As other people have already commented, it is obvious in this third part why the book is entitled "Things Fall Apart". It is ironic that after having waited so anxiuously to return to Umuofia, Okonkwo came back home ot find it succumbing to the pressure of the white men and their religion. This leads me to think about whta would have happened if Okonkwo had stayed in the clan. Would he have been able to stop the influence of Christianity from spreading? Or would he have just been powerless to the influence like the other men in the clan?
One final thought that I wanted to mention was how in the very end the District Commissioner mentioned that he would write about Okonkwo's death in the novel he was planning on writing. It is interesting how he would not even dedicate a chapter to Okonkwo's death due to the white men taking over and yet here we are reading an entire novel about htis one man's life. Does anyone find it interesting how ironic it is? By having made that commen the D.C. was just showing how insignificant the lives of the tribe's people really were to the missionaries. All of this says something about perspective...but I'm not excatly sure what. Help anyone?
Cynthia brought up a great question, if Okonkwo would have been able to stop the spread of Christianity. Personally, I think he would have been able to, because he would have still had his authority in the clan. The reason why he couldn't do it after returning from being in exile was because the people with no titles had converted, thus leaving the people with titles. But what is your title if you are amongst people you are equal with? There is no authority, which I think is one of the main reasons Okonkwo really was opposed to the idea of Christianity. On page 153 Achebe writes, "[Okonkwo] saw himself and his fathers crowding round their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days, and his children the while praying to the white man's god." This also reinforces that his main reason against Nwoye converting to Christianity is that he would lose his authority and power, both very vauluable to him.
Another thing I found ironic in this last part is when the leaders of the clan decide what to do in regards to the converts. They decide to just ostracize them, but Okonkwo is not happy. Instead, he believes that the village should go against its laws in order to preserve the peace, something that would have been unthinkable in the first few chapters.
As to Okonkwo's suicide, I think the reason why he did so is because he could not let go of his manhood and traditional values. He prefers to die than to submit to white people ruling him.
In the end, I am still left with a question: Which religion does Achebe sympthize with, if any? I think that he wrote this book to make aware the complexity of their culture. Yet, he challenges its beliefs when he includes some of the things that the white men say. So, whose side is he on?
Okay, I too noticed the irony of Okonkwo's death in the sense that he dedicated his life to avoiding becoming his father but in the end he ends up dying a shameful death as well (207). What does this say about societal honor and prosperity? In a way this undermines the idea of hardwork and prestige because although Okonkwo was prosperous and honored he experienced a shameful demise.
As for Okonkwo's motives for suicide, I have two ideas. First, Okonkwo is a man who values power and control over everything so once it is lost he has nothing to live for. The white men have usurped the power and with it they have taken Okonkwo's hard-earned status. Gaining status was his purpose for life and without this goal he has nothing. Another motive was that the tradition was crumbling. In my previous posts I addressed how although Okonkwo was a man of power, he was also subject to tradition. This very tradition is what kept his world together. When the people of Umuofia became "soft", and when Nwoye converted, Okonkwo believed these were signs of effeminacy that broke tradition. These changes were out of his control and when he tried to take matters into his own hands by killing the head messenger, he is criticized by the onlookers from his own village. Overall he found himself in a lose-lose situation. His entire tribe no longer backed him. Okonkwo felt his situation was hopeless and therefore committed suicide.
Cynthia brought up an interesting point concerning the D.C.'s book. He describes Okonkwo's life story as an "interesting read" (208). This shows that the white men saw the lives of the villagers as mere sources of entertainment. From what we have all read we know that Okonkwo's life was rather tragic so it kind of disturbed me when I read this. Any thoughts?
Lastly, for some reason I found the advent of the missionaries somewhat acceptable and even beneficial for some of the villagers, like Nwoye for example. I didn't see the missionary work as a totally negative change for the village of Umuofia. On the other hand, when I read about the introduction of the government or "white man's law" (174) I felt that this encroached on the culture and negatively impacted the village. I felt as if the white men had overstepped their boundaries. Perhaps this is because the Christianity offered comfort to some villagers while the government offered nothing of the sort. Overall what I'm trying to say is that it was as if the white men were going too far and really pushing their own culture onto the Nigerian villagers when they introduced their government. How did you all feel about the government's presence in the village? Was it beneficial or detrimental?
Malisa here, and I got a question later on I’m hoping somebody might be able to clarify upon.
Referring to something Katie mentioned in the second half of the book, the white men and their religion was definitely relatable to the swarm of locusts that was mentioned earlier. I admit, when I first read about the locusts I was confused, since I was under the impression that the bugs were generally harmful since they ate crops. This observation would come useful later, as I realized that in a way, the Achebe uses the locusts for that purpose. While at first, the tribe was happy to see the white men, and they were a fascination for them, it soon escalated into an epidemic of sorts and grew out of control, turning into a plague if you will.
What I admit that I’m not entirely sure about is why Okonkwo reacted so harshly to the messenger. While at first I suspected that the messenger was perhaps his son, I realized that if it was Nwoye, then the villagers wouldn’t question why he struck him down. Was it simply an escalation if you will, a bottling up of emotions until it finally burst and was taken out on by the lead messenger? That action in turn led to his suicide, which, like Taylor said earlier, seemed contradictory to his characteristics.
However, as others stated, it goes along well with the clear theme of irony. Like Cynthia thought earlier, I thought that perhaps Okonkwo would die a warrior’s death, battling the white man (perhaps even alone) and possibly even beating the white men back, despite the odds. While his death does make sense in an odd way, as a collective reaction to his life falling apart around him, in a sense it is out of the ordinary. While Okonkwo realizes what his brash action caused him, I would have thought that he would realize that by hanging himself, he doomed his legacy to be almost akin, if not worse, than the father which he detested so greatly. Rather than go out honorably in a warrior’s death, he hanged himself, which in turn caused him to be left alone, abandoned by his clan.
Katie once again raises a good question about Achebe’s meanings behind his story. Does Achebe himself sympathize with either religion, since although the book educates the reader about the intricacy of the culture, he constantly challenges the beliefs. I can only say that in my humble opinion that perhaps Achebe doesn’t side with either religion; that he sees it as cultural knowledge, and facts. While he sympathizes with the tribe’s plight, he himself views it through a different angle, perhaps as one who followed the culture, only to later become a convert himself. After all, it is stated in the About the Author that he grew up in a large village, which was one of the first areas of Anglican missionary work in South Africa.
Well then... I was obviously expecting an ironic ending, but Okonkwo killing himself did surprise me. I mean, WHOA! Not only was his death a shameful way to die in the clan, but in a sense, Okonkwo died just as bitterly as his father. Like his father, Okonkwo died alone and in a disgraced way. What I found most ironic however, was the fact that Okonkwo dead body was cared for and buried by the people he hated the most--the people that broke up what he loved most, Umuofia. I do not believe that it was entirely the missionaries fault that Okonkwo killed himself. Actually, it wasn't there fault at all. It was the fact that Okonkwo bottled up so much anger and regret and embarrassment that pushed him over the edge. Because he saw it as "womanly," Okonkwo did not express the emotions which were killing him from within. (Anger to danger is only one letter away and Okonkwo couldn't tell the difference.) The passage that best illustrates Okonkwo's emotional state was on page 183, "Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women." The grief was for Umuofia and the men that he was once proud of. Now, Okonkwo felt helpless and trapped. Of course, suicide was his way of riding himself of his own pain and disgust with the clan; but I never cease to understand his method of madness. He CHOSE to die in an worthy way, full of shame and rejection, he CHOSE to end his life in ways that went against what he believed in, and he CHOSE to leave behind his family and friends, which proves that they did not mean as much to him as power and fame that he wanted in Umuofia. His death brought me back to the passage where his friend, Obierika, said to sacrifice himself or his son to him. Okonkwo would have been better off doing that back then. It would have spared him his shame watching his son leave his teachings to join a new God and would have spare him the insanity of killing himself. You would think that Okonkwo would die a noble death... I'm still surprised. So much for him being called the "Roaring Flame." Seems like that flame was blown out.
I found it to be somewhat upsetting to see the missionaries divide the clan, and eventually destroy it. Umuofia lived in such a wrapped-up world of themselves that they were happy with their customs and lives. It brings me to reality where this actually happens and villages fall apart and people are killed, all because their customs and traditions are seen as sinful or inhumane. On the other hand however, the missionaries did help a vast quantity of people in the village (for example Nwoye and the thrown away twins.)
I'm still have doubts about that missionary's book. He doesn't seem to understand the villagers at all, and not to mention he see things in "black and white." This also symbolizes the actual power between the white men and the people of Umuofia. Of course the white men are gaining ground and new converts.
Kayla again. I, like everyone else it seems, was greatly surprised by Okonkwo's suicide. When Obierika said "‘we can take you where he is, and perhaps your men will help us.'"(206), my first thought was that Okonkwo was in hiding and Obierika was showing the men his hiding place. I was confused as to why Obierika would turn against him like that, but it was the only thing in my mind that made sense. Even when Achebe wrote "Then they came to a tree from which Okonkwo's body was dangling..."(207), I still couldn't wrap my mind around what happened. Normally it doesn't take me very long to understand something, but I believe since it was such a change from what one expected, my brain refused to wrap around it.
Moving on. I feel like the title of the book, "Things Fall Apart," was something that can't be tacked down to one particular moment. I think Achebe was trying to show you can't live your life fearfully and angry like Okonkwo did, but more like his father, if anything. Things will slip from your control, and if you've got something, make use of it while you can, because eventually it's going to get messed up or taken away. When the missionaries first settled, things fell apart. When Okonkwo was exiled, things fell apart. When he came back but people were too absorbed to be excited by his return, things for him fell apart. The list goes on, ending with his entire life falling apart.
I, in a way, liked the negative reaction to the missionaries from some people. Coming from a Christian church you only hear about the wonderful things missionaries do and how everyone is so happy they are there and blah blah. You do hear about the struggles they go through as well, but it always seems as if they are in the right and the people they are teaching and preaching to are in the wrong. But this showed the opposite side of things. The missionaries were unfair, and stepped over their limits. I do agree that Okonkwo’s death was partly his fault because of keeping in his bottled feelings, but at the same time, if they hadn’t pushed the clan so much, events may not have unfolded in those ways.
Finally, I love the way Obierika spoke to the D.C. when he told him Okonkwo was one of the greatest men in Umuofia and he was driven by the missionaries to kill himself which means he will be buried like a dog. It was like Obierika was finally realizing that their clan’s customs were wrong. At the same time, he was very against the Christians, so he disliked them as well. Obierika was angry and confused, but knew how to safely handle his anger. So, technically Okonkwo was to be buried as a dog. But would he be remembered thusly, or as a great man?
I was extremely suprised by this last part of the book. It started off being a story about Okonkwo's struggles and success in becoming an honorable and a title-worthy man. As the story continues on, it slowly becomes one about the conquer of a people by missionaries. As a matter of fact, the ending was about Mr. Smith and his idea for a novel. I found this to be extremely interesting. It gave me the chills. I don't know if anyone else feel the same way.
I want to comment on the possibility of Achebe's work being a parody of society. At first, Achebe describes the traditions and customs of a people. A new group of people enter into this world and begin to introduce new ideas and concepts. While Okonwko and others outright rejected these new thoughts, many others (most likely the younger generation) fully accepted them, and most of them did because of the money that was pouring into the tribe's economy. Our society definitely revolves around the idea of making money and making even more money as more generations are borne. Maybe Achebe is frowning down upon the idea that many people, mainly the youth, will give away their traditions and customs of their fathers to earn more money, or as the missionaries in the book saw it as to get an education. Nwoye has definitely proven to be capable of being influenced by a new religion since he already rebels against his father's. As a young generation of today, we can definitely all say that we're getting a better education than our parents and their parents, that we're seeking for even more along the way. However, this usually includes giving up rooted ideas and beliefs that our parents have passed on to us since we're so fussed about knowing what's good for us ourselves. Thus, the frustration of parents. Just a far-fetched thought.
Also, another thing about society: A man unwilling to change his ways to conform to society do not usually make it far in life. Society has, how can I say this, "guidelines" to becoming successful in life. For example, one should be educated. Okonkwo refuses to allow the Whites to educate him and his family. He tries against all odds to relive his old ways, where the little gods are still worshipped and where farming is the only method for making money. He gets hell from his people and from the missionaries. In the end, he ends his life, even if that means dishonor in the tribe. Knowing Okonkwo, doing something that will strip him of his honor is not even thinkable.
I believed I answered Katie's question about which religion Achebe sympathizes with through my above explanation, where the conquered is the victim and the conquerors are not. Society teaches us that when white men come to a society and try to change its religions and custom, they're the bad guys. Thinking outside the box, though, Achebe definitely utilizes irony well. Umofia is known for its manpower and its victories in wars. Yet, the white men do not exude any violence, except to the prisoners, and they are the ones to reign in the end.
Going on a different path and relating Things Fall Apart to How to Read Literature like a Professor, I observed that nighttime is when all the violence occurences take place. For example, pg. 9 of the book, Achebe writes that "The night was very quiet...Darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them." And then on pg. 11 we find out that a wife of a man in Umofia had been killed by a neighboring village. Also, on pages 54 through 56, the locusts arrive in Umofia. They are described as having to cast a shadow upon the clan and having "hidden the sun behind a thick cloud." In the new few pages, Ikemefuna is murdered. And in another instance on pg. 124, Achebe says that "darkness is around the corner..." After this description, Okonkwo kills a man's son by accident and is exiled from his fatherland, to return to a dishonorable home.
Overall, the ending of Things Fall Apart really threw me on a wild curve. I enjoyed the book and the messages Achebe sends to his audience. Human characteristics are greatly demonstrated in this story through the different characters. They exude pride, honor, sympathy, fear, valor, sympathy, etc.
Okonkwo's suicide was a last resort to maintain comtrol in his life, in my opinion. He had lost control over his family ( Nwoye leaving) and over Umoufia converting to Christianity that I believe that he killed himself as a last ditch effort to resort some form of control over his life, and the only control that he had left was control over whether he lived or died. Not to mention that soon all of Umoufia would have been converted and he would be left alone.
In an earlier post I mentioned that I thought the quote "may Agbala shave your head...twist your neck" (105), might come back to bight Okonkwo in the butt, and it did! When he along with some others are held in the courthouse, a messenger shaves their heads. Then, after he kills the messenger during the clan meeting, Okonkwo goes to a tree behind his compound and hangs himself, "twist your neck".
In the end Okonkwo took his own life. Kayla asked,"So, technically Okonkwo was to be buried as a dog. But would he be remembered thusly, or as a great man?". In my opinion Okonkwo was never a great man and though he had done great things during his lifetime, he was not a great person.
"It seemed as if the very soul of the tribe wept for a great evil that was coming- its own death" (187), Achebe writes following the unmasking of the egwugwu. The breadth of part 3 describes what could be considered the death of the tribe which also related to the title itself- Things Fall Apart, as the tribe is thrown into greater confusion culminating in Okonkwo's suicide. On that detail, I must cite Courtney's analysis, believing that his suicide was a means for Okonkwo to exert a last control over his tumultuous life. Yet, one can also note the irony of it. As many others described, Okonkwo in spite of his efforts to disengage himself from his father, failed and he too died a shameful death. In the grander scheme, Achebe emphasizes the fact that Okonkwo's effort and toil to gain societal/political standing was folly as he ended the same way as his slothful father- shamefully.
Mr. Brown's successor, Mr. Smith, who gained his position following the former's death, was a great contrast to Mr. Brown and his actions. Whereas Mr. Brown never openly antagonized the tribes for their metaphysical beliefs, Smith derided them. Further Smith "condemned openly Mr. Brown's policy of compromise and accomodation. He saw things as black and white. And black was evil" (184). Not only did Smith reproach Brown for his (more) humane treatment but was clearly fueled by rascism - a "black was evil" mindset rather than simply the religious motivations of a missionary. These two characters are overtly juxtaposed. It is logical that Smith was more hostile than Brown for he helped catalyze/speed up the process of degeneration within the tribe.
Cynthia made an interesting point that I'd like to comment on. She noted the irony of the Dictrist Commissioner's actions. He planned on devoting a single chapter to Okonkwo's death where the reader had just read a whole book concerning the trials and ultimate downfall of the man. The D.C. focused such a chapter solely on the suicide, for "the story of a man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make an interesting reading" (208), and as Michaela noted, the tribes served as a form of entertainment. Achebe painted a complex picture of the tribe both socially and culturally and thus ended his book quite ironically with the inclusion of the title of the D.C.'s book- The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of Lower Niger. In this manner, Achebe seems to prod the reader to question their definition of primitive given such a rich description of the tribe throughout the book.
Wow...I finished this book in two days. Fastest I've ever read any book. But anyhow, I enjoyed the book except I found myself a little "startled" I guess one could say through some of the scenes, scared basically.
I wondered the same thing that marrisa asked about the time period. At first, I thought it was during the times of slavery because the white man came on an "iron horse" strolling through the village. But, then I realized that the white people were missionaries spreading Christianity.
I just knew that Nwoye was going to grow up hating his father. The only reason why he was able to put up with his father was because of Ikemefuna. But now that Okonkwo slaughtered him ruthlessly, Nwoye had nobody to understand him. His father doubts his abilities as a man. Now, thanks to the missionaries, he is able to break free of his father's grasp and go on to his own path as a Christian. "'I am one of them...I don't know. He is not my father...'" (144). One can sense the hurt and tension in Nwoye's words towards his father, Okonkwo. From the beginning when Okonkwo would beat and nag at Nwoye, I already saw that the future Okonkwo had for his son was not what was going to be.
The end was a shock to me. Okonkwo, so much pride, masculinity, and determination--kill himself when all seemed to go wrong. I read that page over again to actually see if I missed something. This is one of Achebe's ironic twists. I never expected that for Okonkwo. Also, for his father, Unoka, he lived a happy life but was full of debt, yet he didn't go off and kill himself. I agree with Courtney. Yes, Okonkwo did do great things during his time, but his character was beyond that. I don't think that the tribe will bury him as a dog though. He was known as a warrior and a well respected man. I doubt that they would bury him. The tribe would probably consult the agbala for this.
Wow this book was truly fantastic. When i began too read the last page of part two i realized this book was going to throw me for a hhuge loop i never anticipated that Okonkwo would have been exiled for seven years.Something i noticed is that when ever some one is killed in this book like Ikemefuna or the boy he killed accidently there is no grusome detial its just tells you abruptly this person was killed and moves on. I think that Chinua Achebe had a point to do this i think it was to show how in that culture that death was just some thing that happens, and is moved on from relatively quickly.
When the missionaries began to appear in some of the other tribes Okonkwo did not thing he would have to even give it a second thought but when one appeared in his village he was outraged. Okonkwo was very stern on traditions and staying true to his culture. He seemed to fear difference because the ways he grew up were what allowed him to be wealthy and well of as an adult. When the missionaries asked to build a church in his village he told the council members there was no way but at the time they thought let them have the land they wont last here and it was because of their spiritual beliefs that they thought these missionaries would be gone soon but when they didnt leave they it tested the faith of the people and soon they saw the missionaries as a real potential threat.
Nwoye on the other hand had always resented his father like Okonkwo his for how he choose to lead his life. Things that Okonkwo choose to do just so he would not seem weak or caring disgusted his son. Nwoye did what Okonkwo had done he was going to make sure that he would never ever end up like his father. So when the missionaries appeared with the praise of love for one another Nwoye wanted that kind of enviornment of love and compassion around him. In a way it was almost karma towards Okonkwo he never tried to come to terms with or respect his father and so his son was never able to do the same either.
Okonkwos death was truly unbelievable it was almost in one short sentence like i mentioned above that they said he had killed himself. It was not that suprising to me that he did it because he was a man of pride and stature and he would of never let any man who was less than him be the one to take his life.
Well..I am as surprise as everybody else. The third part of this book was unbelievable chaos! Okonkwo life had changed alot. Even his son Nwoye left him for the new missionaries; "...he was happy to leave his father"(152). Christianity, the missionaries, were the way Nwoye found to finally escape from his father. This new religion gave him the strength to finally leave the dark shadow of his father. Okonkwo knew that he could not relied on his family anymore to fight against the white men. So he turned to his "clan". He wanted to start a war to take over his old village, "And they had listened to him with respect. It was like the good old days again, when a warrior was a warrior"(192). This is what first of all got Okonkwo in so much trouble and when he starts feeling superior, we know that something horrible is going to happen to him. This is the hint of more problems to Okonkwo. And once again to prove my point, Okonkwo decides to kill a white man and his old clan turned their backs on him. The only way out he saw was to committ suicide: "...they come to the tree from which Okonkwo's body was dangling"(207). It was an ironic ending for Okonkwo. Okonkwo contradicted his words with his actions. A minute ago, he was the spokeperson, the leader, telling his people to fight for their beliefs because their Gods were "weeping"(203) and the next minute, he committed suicidal which pretty much is against all of his beliefs. This demonstrates how not of a strong man he was.
Overall the novel was a case of not being able to be flexible. "Lack of understanding leading us from away from unity"; Okonkwo only viewed one side of the spectrum and never the other. Viewing the other would be considered “effeminate”. Okonkwo’s downfall is brought upon him by the fact that he couldn’t be flexible. Trying to move up the hierarchy made him a rigid man.
“It’s not good to be rigid or too masculine. Life should be both masculine and feminine.”
-Victor Banor Senior
Being masculine or feminine shouldn’t over weigh the other; they must both be balanced. That way, the center will hold and “Things will [not] fall apart”. The civilizations that fell, were not able to change and they themselves were too rigid. Changing doesn't mean that your past ideas are torn away. New ideas are put in however; giving you a stronger foundation of knowledge.
At the end of the story much has happened. The white man has invaded Umuofia and is completely taking over their culture and life. I find it really ironic that Okonkwo's son Nwoye has joined the white man and their church like religion. Okonkwo tried so desperately to not become like his father and his own son hates the way that Okonkwo has brought him up and leaves the clan completely. I think that Okonkwo was so caught up in not being like his father that he never really showed Nwoye that he just wanted him to become great but in a loving way.
The clan has utterly given up upon the return of Okonkwo's banishment. He find this utterly appauling and wishes he could do something great. As the story goes on, Okonkwo and six other men are captured by the white man whom has invaded Umuofia. The white man whom name is Mr. Smith tell them that they may only get their men back for a price. This angers Okonkwo so much, however being rescued and saved from the white man, their heads were shaved and they were deprived of food. Okonkwo's anger takes the most of him and during a meeting kills a white man upon his return.
Okonkwo knew nothing was left for him so he hung himself. What I didn't understand was, why would he kill himself if he knew that suicide was such a great sin to his religion. Now he will not have a proper burial and cursed for life. I based a conclusion that Okonkwo had to much pride to let anyone kill him unless it were himself.
I must admit the suicide of Okonkwo did not surprise me at all. His entire life he had strived to be great and to take the top leader ship of Umuofia. His first major setback had been his exile. However "even in his first year of exile he had begun to plan for his return"(171) to Umuofia. However devastation only greets him when he realizes that his own village has succumbed to the white men. And the old traditions had been very much overshadowed and somewhat forgot about. By the end he realizes that he can never reach his goal and that he had in reality not accomplished anything that he set out to do. And this would make him the equivalent of his father who he whole heartedly loathed and his purpose in life was to be the complete opposite of him. His warrior mindset could not possibly bear this dissappoint or shame.
To connect one theme with another I found the changing of society by an outter source apparent in "Things Fall Apart" and "One Hundred Years of Solitude". These white men had come in to these week and vulnerable villages and capitalized on their weaknesses. It was said that "apart from the church the white man had also brought a government"(174). They had manipulated the people and even prayed on the weak or "osu"(155). This just like the different ideas and customs introduced to the people of Melaquiades that slowly but surely tore apart that once very quiet content city. It is funny how you introduce a group of people to something new outside of their realm of beliefs or thinking and the chaos that you can create is just fasicnating. "Things Fall Apart" is a perfect title for this book, because plain and simple that is exactly what happened.
Another quote that I think that had a somewhat of a foreshadowing part was " Living fire begets cold, impotent ash." (153). Okonkwo had been nicknamed "Roaring Flame" (153). This name fits him perfectly. He was a roaring fire literally. He was fierce and wild. Not much could hold him back, he was a hot head. He had a passionate personality and was noticed by everyone. He was quick to erupt and could casue alot of destruction in his path. And in the end he was symbollically reduced to ash. He had been his own worse enemy and just like fire he had withered away and burned himself out.
Tzivia's observation regarding the juxtaposition of Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith could not have been more on the mark (in my opinion). On one hand, we have a tolerant missionary who spends time learning about the culture of Umuofia, spending "long hours with Akunna in his obi talking through an interpreter about religion. Neither of them succeeded in converting the other but they learned more about their different beliefs" (179). On the other hand, Mr. Smith "condemned openly Mr. Brown's policy of compromise..." (184). Here, of course, Achebe is giving both sides of the missionary story. Achebe, through his narrative tone, seems to like Mr. Brown's style better, yet he acknowledges that missionaries were more like Mr. Smith than Mr. Brown. He gives us both faces of Christian evangelism in that time period. That Mr. Smith (the intolerant, passionate evangelist) succeeds Mr. Brown (the tolerant and soft spoken missionary)is, in my opinion, symbolic of the triumph of oppressive "for-your-own-good" kind of colonial rule over the honest intentions of missionaries like Mr. Brown.
I loved Katie's question: Who's Achebe rooting for? Which side is he sympathetic to? I think that this book was written by Achebe to give the other side of the cultural war that took place long ago. The cultural domination that accompanied European colonial expansion into Africa has been largely overlooked by history textbooks. All we get in history class is a map shaded in red for British and blue for French documenting the imperialism that took place. What we don't get is the slavery, the tradition, the cultural complexity, and very real emotions that Achebe recreates in this book. So in the end, I don't think that he's taking sides in a war. I think he's just "revealing the other side" of that war.
And the suicide. The act of a man who knows that the very foundation of his life- his beliefs, his values, his religion, and his very way of life- is inexorably moving away from him. The society dominated by tradition and tribal rule is replaced by a Christian colonial administration. An administration that demonstrates its dishonor when it tricks the elders of the tribe and humiliates them. And the outburst from Obierika: "This man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog..." (208). A culture that has (from the point of view of Okonkwo) degenerated into a pathetic shadow of it's rich cultural heritage.
In Part Three of the book, Okonkwo seems to be earning back his status and power when the clansmen "had listened to him with respect. It was like the good old days again, when a warrior was a warrior." (192) Okonkwo was ready to fight for his homeland and was sure that he was convincing the other men to want to do the same.
Later on, we see that Okonkwo is proved wrong on how powerful he was becoming. When Okonkwo killed the messenger with his machete, I felt that he thought others would follow suit and start to attack the white men, but instead Okonkwo realized that Umuofia will not go to war when "he heard voices asking: 'Why did he do it?'" (205)It showed that the people were not behind him as much as he thought so he just "wiped his machete on the sand and went away." (205)
Like everyone else, I was suprised mostly by the way Okonkwo died. Some people think that suicide is the easy way out of life instead of going through the hardships that may get thrown at a person. Okonkwo always showed that he was a tough warrior and seeing him kill himself, to me, was him saying that he was giving up. He knew he was pretty much the only one who wanted to fight the white men, so he gave up on life before the white men could change it for him.
I read lots of great points I want to follow up on:
michaela brought up a good point about the D.C. and thalp followed up quite succinctly, but I'd like to add that not only does it question the "definition of primitive," but it also opens up our eyes to how even ourselves tend to look at cultures and peoples different from ourselves. How about the wild tribe of "Naciremas"*?
Also, michaela noted Okonkwo's loneliness in the third part of the book, and that it turned out to be a "lose-lose" situation as he tried to live by his standards. What I saw happening was that Okonkwo was a symbol, through rigorously working himself into "success," as defined by the Umuofian standards. So hard did he work that he practically became Umuofia, one of the prime examples of what Umuofia is. And part of his "success" was to be a man of great ferocity and strength. But, as time goes on, the standards change; the missionary strangers come along, Umuofia becomes "womanly," and thus Okonkwo's suicide symbolizes the death of a generation of warriors. I believe that the new age of change has completely wiped out a generation with the death of Okonkwo. He was the last of his kind.
thalp pointed out clearly that there is irony in the fact that Unoka died shamefully, and though Okonkwo was different, almost completely opposite, he died shamefully too. I saw this as two people unwilling to conform to the new standards of success. In the old days, Unoka was lazy and couldn't provide for his family. This went directly against what was considered ideal for Umuofia, a great man who earned his way through toil and strength. However, as times changed, Okonkwo, who was the ideal man during his younger days, was now the lone man and embittered man. It's sad how Unoka says during his dying days, "A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone." Here, Okonkwo dies alone.
*http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~thompsoc/Body.html A great short read, and it fits perfectly with the ending of Things Fall Apart.
I completely agree with angel's point on the similarities between this book and "A Hundred Years." They both involve a society that has a deep culture and a history of families, and they both have to do with "the downfall". "The White Man" entered society and ruined the peace and harmony that once was... hence "Things Fall Apart".
What was surprising (not) was that instead of being cleansed of his fear, hatred, and confusion, Achebe used irony to worsen the situation, leading Okonkwo's worst fear to become reality. He finished just like his father, "buried like a dog". Just like in Greek myths, when one attempt to change one's ill fate, the attempt is most likely the cause of the disaster.
Also, I was wondering whether Okonkwo might be a Christ figure or not. -great struggle -his sons/ezinma are his "disciples" -one of his disciples were not loyal -death is caused by people of another opposing religion
not to be a jesus-freak or anything but, it is possible.
i believe that Okonkwo hanged himself thinking that there was nothing left of the home he used to live in. The tradition, culture, and what he believed real men were was gone. He was ridiculed and robbed by these foreigners and he would no longer remain in a world where he was made to look weak.
I enjoyed Achebe's deep and powerful writing and his beautiful culture. This book really gave me insight and ability to see things the way the citizens of Umofia would.
As Angel said, things have finally fallen apart. I must admit my original prediction as to what the new religion would bring (see last blog) was off… but not entirely.
I had suspicions about the new religion from the start because, as those of us that have taken any form of history know, imperialism tends not to be the best policy for those being imperialized. Though Mr. Brown was at first very calm about the situation and did not try fanatically to recruit and convert, his successor did. Again, like Angel said, this is fairly similar to 100 Years of Solitude with the outsiders coming into a society to ruin an otherwise stable community. In 100 Years of Solitude I believe it was the government that brought the downfall of the society and led it on its path. In Things Fall Apart, I believe it is going to be Christianity that does that (Kris10 pointed out a good passage in the novel that says this almost explicitly: “[the white man] has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."(176)). As we have seen, the officials of the Christian church are corrupt, and arrest and beat the natives (Okonkwo included). The religion also lead to Okonkwo’s “forced” suicide and I believe would lead to the entire downfall of all the Nigerian tribes if the storyline were continued (as already happened to one village and has begun to happen to Umuofia).
I must say I felt a good deal of remorse and pity for Okonkwo and his family after the unfortunate series of events that took place that led to him falling apart. Clearly Okonkwo is a sexist war hound (“Worth men are no more… Isike will never forget how we slaughtered them in that war... Before the end of the fourth market week they were suing for peace. Those were the days when men were men” (200)) but I still believe that it is due to the circumstances and society he has grown up in, and not his own beliefs.
I liked gypsyloo’s analysis of Okonkwo as a Christ figure. To add to it, Okonkwo died as a martyr for his religion and I would like to prupose this question: does anyone think that (if the story were to be extended) Okonkwo’s death and his reputation as a great man would bring Umuofia to the point of expelling the intruding religion?
It was a nice voyage with you all, and if I were to give advise from all three summer reading books it would be this: Don’t miss opportunities. Dislike the Government and Religion. (Just kidding :P)
To comment on Kristen's comment about the new religion being better than the old, yes it is true that their old religion is very violent and very aggressive, making it unfair for certain individuals, but that's not what most of them think, most of them are very traditional and basically are doing well in that life. Most of the ones that converted are the ones that had to experience the aggressiveness and didn't want to deal with it, so they chose the "easy way out" from their own religion. For example, there was a mother who had many twins and each time she gave birth, she had to abandon them in the forest. I am pretty sure that being separated from their children with be emotionally painful.
I was so angry when the book ended with Okonkwo's death. The way Chinua led us to his death was, in my opinion, was good. It was like an "in your face, look what you did to us" kind of good, that made the missionaries and commissioner realize what they were the reason for Okonkwo's suicide. I didn't agree with his decision though. He left so much behind. Why not move to another village?
From what I said before, Okonkwo is hubris, (which I spelt wrong the first time… =b), which led to his downfall. Okonkwo would be the tragic hero in this story.
While reading the final part of the book, i was actually on the side of the people of Umaufia because although they keep old traditions and customs, they were happy with their lives and the missionaries came and took over as if it was nothing.
To answer Dario's question, "does anyone think that (if the story were to be extended) Okonkwo’s death and his reputation as a great man would bring Umuofia to the point of expelling the intruding religion?" Since i agree with gypsyloo about Okonkwo being a Christ figure, I think that Okonkwo's death would have made the missionaries and commissioner realize that they are wrong for going against their gods, just like Jesus made the soldiers realize they were wrong for going against his god. Despite the two different story lines, the only real difference was that Okonkwo killed himself and Jesus allowed himself to die.
Well first of all, I would like to say that I understand the title of the book now and although I didn't see the connection nor felt like the title fit, now I think that i understand the concept. Not only have the tribes themselves fallen apart by the missionaries coming in, but the whole culture has fallen apart, as seen with the youth converting, the unmasking of the egwugwu in public, the tribe splitting among those who want to fight and those who want to just have peace...it really does seem that their entire lives have just...well, fallen apart. Many of you have touched on this already and so I guess I won't go into much more detail, but I love the concept.
So as for the ironic part...is our world falling apart also? For example...this may be a stretch, but lets take for example what is going on between us and the middle east right now. We went in, and established our own form of government there, and completely "opened their eyes" to the injustices we felt were going on in their country. Similar to Okonkwo and his men being beaten in prison, we have all heard the stories of some American soldiers torturing the prisoners of war, have we not? I think that the message of this story can easily be applied to our lives today, like Mary has been trying to point out in her blogs. Could it be that our world today is falling apart as we know it? Young generations following into new and taboo things, disappointing their parents and losing the values they were once taught to be so important. Like Mary said, its just a thought, probably a stretch.
Another thing I noticed which seems to be an attempt by Achebe to connect all people is the cockiness of Commissioner and his stubbornness as well. He refuses to change the title of his book, no matter what content he places into it, this is similar to Okonkwo's stubbornness in almost all of his actions. I also found it super ironic that the title of the Commissioner's book would be called The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger, because as we can obviously see from this book, their culture is ANYTHING but Primitive. Their society contained a lot of complex ideals and methods and I hardly even felt that throughout the book that these people were really living in small huts.I felt that they were such a complicated people with so many rules and traditions that they were anything but primitive...just my opinion.
Sooooo have a good day everyone and like i said in a previous post, my favorite summer read!
In the last third of the novel, things get more chaotic as we are brought back to Umuofia again. The missionaries have definitely had an influence on certain people of the village, drawing them away from beliefs that they had questioned before. Nwoye was the primary example of the doubts that the Umuofian traditions created amongst its people. I can understand why Nwoye had decided to join with the missionaries, and that Okonkwo was part of the blame for his son’s betrayal of his own religion. Beginning from Nwoye’s rebellion, the life as Okonkwo has envisioned falls to pieces. His village, once characterized by men of bravery, is now under the power of the white missionaries. This shift in the novel isolates Okonkwo from the rest of his village. A sense of change is coming about and as we all know, Okonkwo is too stubborn to accept anything apart from his own beliefs. His pride and ignorance causes his own death.
The ending to the novel is very dramatic. I had not expected Okonkwo to commit suicide. Gypsloo’s analysis of Okonkwo as a Christ figure seems to be quite accurate. Though he was once a man of importance in his village, Achebe continues to employ irony as he ends the novel stating that Okonkwo will only be commemorated by not “a whole chapter but a reasonable paragraph.” (209) Okonkwo who has attempted throughout his life to die not as his father had, without any honors, ironically follows his father’s example. Achebe seems to be making a very realistic yet harsh point about life. Achebe uses Okonkwo to demonstrate the cynical side of life in which one’s accomplishments is disregarded in that even “one of the greatest men in Umuofia…will be buried like a dog.” (208)
Overall I enjoyed reading this novel and I have to agree with angela that there are many similarities between this novel and One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Following up to and The Benefactor Is... Dario question about if the story was extended would Okonkwo's death bring Umuofia to expel the intuders, I actually believe they won't push them out. On page 208 Okonkwo's friend, Obierika, expressed his anger to the District Commissioner but soon to only to stop talking as "his voice trembled..."(208)and as he choked on his words. He stopped to a simple "shut up." Even though the white people first seemed so friendly and fair, their true color shows as they have taken over without much regret.
Lastly, to respond to Lilly's feeling to Okonkwo's death, he could of just moved to another village but Umuofia was his land and to him the warlike village he once loved is now lost just as gypsyloo said. I am somewhat unhappy with the fact that Oknokwo's death could actually be ignored by the Commission for the very strong meaning behind it.
Over all I enjoyed this book. It gives the lesson that being emotionless for the sake of looking strong is not worth it, as it can hurt so many people.
It has been made clear in the last part of the novel the Okonkwo intends to return with a bang. However upon his arrival, he is soon exposed to the many changes made by the missionaries. This is ironic in the sense that Okonkwo, who was determined to reclaim his titles upon his return and then some, has now no chance of any social mobility and in turn tries to rebel against any traditions or rituals taught by the missionaries. Since most of Okonkwo's tribe has excepted the Chirstian ways and beliefs and has integrated it into their own culture, Okonkwo is now fighting against what he originally was protect. Of course the twist ending where Okonkwo takes his own life is ironic as it shows that Okonkwo has failed to become everything his father wasn't. I also found it interesting how Okonkwo was called the "Roaring Flame", and flame always seems to symbolize destruction and inability to create.
I interpreted Okonkwo's death a little differently than Lilly. Lilly states, "It was like an 'in your face, look what you did to us' kind of good, that made the missionaries and commissioner realize what they were the reason for Okonkwo's suicide." Achebe lets us into the minds of the Commissioner and we even see his reaction to this martyr's death. The commissioner refers to Okonkwo as "not a whole chapter but a reasonable paragraph" in his new book. This means that he could care less about the man's death. We may understand that Okonkwo was driven to death by the white man, but the commissioner remains in his ignorance.
Ignorance is the reason for Achebe to write such a book and the ending makes it clear. Throughout this story, the reader has made a deep connection with Okonkwo and his Nigerian culture, we start to understand their ways and look past what may have seemed "uncivilized" to some. However, the real lesson about accepting different cultures was learned when we saw the reason for Okonkwo's death. The white man looked down on culture of the tribes ever since they interact with the tribes. Achebe was trying to emphasize that the white man came to Nigeria believing that their culture and religion were supreme and the only ones worthy to exist. This was where the contrast between the different culture and the white man's culture began. Basically what I am trying to say is, when Okonkwo died the reader realized something. First, how wrong this imperialistic group was in coming to the tribes trying to interfere with their lives. Second, that the real "animals" are actually the white man.
The last part of the book was an unexpected combination of the two plots, Okonkwo's fall from the top and the battle for the supreme culture. Even more unexpected was the death of Okonkwo but was a wise decision by the author because of its emphasis on his purpose. Well, Okonkwo is gone, I hope I can manage my loss.
This site will be the summer resource for students in Mr. Gallagher and Ms. Clapp's AP Literature courses. You'll come here to discuss summer reading, college searches and applications, and literary topics in general.
34 comments:
Hello Everyone.
While reading the third section of "Things Fall Apart," by Chinua Achebe, I discovered a few points that I thought I should mention.
First, on page 145, the missionaries were written as having said "they were all sons of God." This here is appealing to the emotion (pathos) of the people in the African countryside, because the missionaries are saying that they are alike, even though they are separated by their two different faiths. This makes the Africans more inclined to listen to what the missionaries have to say.
Something else that I noticed was how much Okonkwo wants to believe what he wants and not what is. I got this idea from the passage on page 153:
"Okonkwo was popularly called the 'Roaring Flame.' As he looked into the log fire he recalled the name. How then could he have begotten a son like Nwoye, degenerate and effeminate? Perhaps he was not his son. No! he could not be. His wife had played him false. He would teach her! But Nwoye resembled his grandfather, Unoka, who was Okonkwo's father. He pushed the thought out of his mind. He, Okonkwo, was called a flaming fire. How could he have begotten a woman for a son? At Nwoye's age Okonkwo had already become famous throughout Umofia for his wrestling and his fearlessness"
Okonkwo is debating with himself whether Nwoye is his son, and he then makes himself believe that he is not, because he is supposedly not tough enough. He creates this world in his head, where his wife had an affair, which is supposed to be an explanation for his son. I just think that Okonkwo is a man that needs a lot of help--he is always looking for the negatives, never the positives. His whole mindset is just horrible--extremely argumentative. He is an instigator, always looking to start some trouble, never willing to accept and appreciate what is (He considers his son a girl, wishes his daughter was a boy, etc.).
Lastly, I had a question about the whole missionary thing. I am curious as to whether anyone knows the time period? Since the book is talking about missionaries coming to convert the people, I am guessing that it must be way back in history, when nations were looking to take over other lands, spread their beliefs, etc. I am also curious as to whether Okonkwo will convert? There might be a new Okonkwo in the works. Also, I am guessing that Okonkwo might try and do something to his son as punishment.
Thanks.
From what I’ve read from One Hundred Years of Solitude, a common theme in both novels is the effects of a new idea coming into society. Paul commented for One Hundred Years of Solitude, “…Melquiades does expose Jose Arcadio Buendia and the villagers to the technological advances of the world, however I feel that the new technology has corrupted what seems like the perfect society...”, as well as the changes that Jose goes through. Things Fall Apart shows how the missionaries, like the gypsies, come into the tribes and bring along a new religion, Christianity (similar to how the Melquiades new gadgets). Many of the tribe’s people have converted to Christianity, such as Okonkwo’s own son, Nwoye. Achebe writes, “He had just send Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, who was now called Isaac, to the new training college for teachers in Umuru. And he had hoped that Okonkwo would be happy to hear of it. But Okonkwo had driven him away with the threat that if he came into his compound again, he would be carried out of it.” (182) Although, converting to this new religion, has allowed Nwoye to escape his father’s violence, as seen in the quote, and the constant of pressure of being a “man”, it has turned Nwoye away from his own culture (such as how he changed his name to an English name). I agree with Marrisa that the missionaries are trying to appeal to the tribes, but these missionaries are deceitful, and rather than just helping these tribes, they are just trying to conform them to be like Englishmen, like Nwoye and what the gypsies did to Melquiades. When Okonkwo and the other leaders tried to stop these missionaries from taking away their people, by getting the church to be destroyed, they are punished by being handcuffed, beaten, and charged a fine (which is another strike to Okonkwo’s ego, since he’s being treated like a criminal). All this oppression eventually leads to Okonkwo’s suicide, and as Obierika said, “‘that man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog. . . .’” (208). Thus, my opinions on the missionaries, and alas the title of Things Fall Apart.
:)
When i began reading the third part of "Things Fall Apart" I noticed that Okonkwo is becoming very upset with the white men. He is planning on returning and earning back his rightful spot. Also there was a reference to the title right away. Okonkwo says, "He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."(176) This really shows the meaning of the title. When the new religion emerged, the old one is beginning to be wiped out. People such as Okonkwo are not ready to give up their religion and say that it is beginning to fall apart.
Akunna made a good point on page 179. He was saying that the other Gods are false. He said that if you put a face on a piece of wood and call it a God, it is still only a piece of wood. I believe that this religion is better then the old one because the older one is very aggressive and hostel. There are way too many rules and many innocent people die due to them.
Schools, churches, and hosptitals were being built. There was also a stable government emerging. I do like the new religion better, but I feel as if the people of Umuofia are better off with their own religion. The white men have no right to try to take over a place that was doing fine on their own. Okonkwo is sick of what is happening to his land and is ready to try to fix it. He is very angry with the fact that so many men are converting to this new religion. Okonkwo also refers to the men in Umuofia as becoming "soft like women."(183) It really shows the inequality between men and women in the clans.
I understand what the missionaries are trying to do, but in a way i feel as if they shouldn't have intruded on a clan that already had a set religion. Also the demasking of the spirit stood out to me as what is going on in the society. The old religion is being demasked and turned into something it is not supposed to be. I found it quite ironic that it happened. The white men are basically torturing the leaders until the fee is paid off. I thought they were trying to bring a better society into place, but now i know that they are just trying to take over everything and control all the lands.
I agree with Angel when she talked about the strike to Okonkwo's ego. Eventually he kills himself, and Obierika knows that it is the commisioners' fault. Okonkwo always followed the rules of society and was completely against the evil. So it is pretty ironic that in the end, Okonkwo becomes one of the "evil bodies." In my mind he died for what he believed in and shouldn't be considered evil. The society believes otherwise, and "Things Fall Apart."
As the novel drew to a close, I found Okonkwo's suicide extremely out of character. For a man who believed himself to be a warrior since childhood, taking his own life was completely contradictory to his moral standards.
As Marrisa said earlier Okonkwo, "never willing to accept and appreciate what is." His suicide is perfect evidence supporting this. Factors leading to his suicide were the changes in the clan that were beyond his control, along with his arrest by the white missionaries, and the loss of his oldest son, as Marissa discussed earlier.
As he returned from his exile, he was deeply perturbed at the transformation of his home, Umofia. Achebe writes, "Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women" (183) Because his home differed from his ideal home, and because his friends changed and now held different beliefs than he held, Okonkwo considered them "soft like women." He believes himself to be a warrior, very masculine and high in status above women. With his tribe converting to "feminine qualities", he know sees himself powerless, since his attributes are no longer of value to anyone besides himself.
While his community is falling apart, some of their beliefs still remained intact by the time of his suicide. After he is found hanged, Obierika tells the Europeans, "It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth, and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen. His body is evil, and only strangers may touch it." (207)
I find this ending to be very ironic, for the people who Okonkwo despised the most ended up burying him.
In the final act of the novel, Things Fall Apart, the story then introduces a stranger in the plot and how his death has led to the deaths of a whole village of Abame. The author sets up the story around the Colonial Age of European Imperialism and how these “strangers” or white men has inhabited the region of the nine villages. Achebe writes with historical reference to the plot to begin the rising action of the conflict between Okonkwo and the missionaries. The narrative would go on Page.143, to describe how these missionaries had already made an impact in their society, which is possible that most people will clash among theological beliefs. The past chapter included the passage that would summarize the struggle between native beliefs and the new coming faith, which states: “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others”(141).
The element of an inconsistent character like Okonkwo combines with the situation of how missionaries and foreigners are altering the society where he wishes to return. In addition, since this change can also compromise his former title in this society and how Okonkwo a protagonist that is obsessed with acquiring much title becomes aware of how it will be impossible to retain any marks of distinction, thus leading him to rebel against anything the missionaries create especially their religion. The dream of Okonkwo to return to his own greatness becomes a struggle to maintain the society of Umuofia that has supported him for years and has brought him his power and fame. The irony of the whole excerpt from the middle paragraph on p.182 to p.183 would tell of the efforts and labors of Okonkwo to appease and make a place himself in his society becomes futile for a new and foreign “civil order” that has became more different to Okonkwo. The narrative goes as far as to call the once proud warriors of the clan “to become soft as women”(183). Therefore, the fear of is failure to uphold his strong, wealthy and dominant role in the village has actually came to reality, not by his own faults but, but by the change of his land that no longer recognized a “true warrior” or believed in the same things he did. The land that gave him his success would turn it’s back on him.
On p.203-204, the clansmen who objected the new occupation of the white men in their land showed disdain to the new civilization and one proverb which was said in p.22 was spoken again in a different context: “Men has learned to shot without missing their mark and I have learn to fly without perching on a twig”(p.22, p.204). The line that was the former quote would have a better meaning with this context, especially how each were used to give the same meaning. The quote can be interpreted as how in new and dangerous times, men can exact death and destruction to life, and how one cannot trust the land that he stands on, so to speak. So one must prosper independently away from the land and its’ inhabitants.
This whole message would have a profound effect on Okonkwo in which he could not think of abandoning the land that had promised him prosperity and such control over his own life. The cruel irony of the story of how Okonkwo kills himself in the end would only prove that he has failed in trying not to resemble his father by not dying a failure and a painful and shameful death: “It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth, and a man who commits it, will not be buried by his clansmen.”(207). The verbal irony was that the proverb spoke of a bird “flying without perching” away to escape from a land that is being destroyed by men of bane and corruption and in the end, Okonkwo has “escaped” in his own way.
The third section of Things Fall Apart introduces many ideas that lead up to the surprising conclusion of the novel. In the beginning of the third section, Achebe makes it clear that Okonkwo wants to make an unforgettable return to Umuofia when Achebe states “he was determined that his return should be marked by his people. He would return with a flourish, and regain the seven wasted years.” (171). The idea that Okonkwo strongly desires to make an incredible return to Umuofia is ironic because the people of Umuofia are so consumed with the missionaries and the new Christian religion that they do not take much notice in the fact that Okonkwo and his family have returned to the tribe. In addition, Okonkwo finally is able to make a lasting impression on his tribe, but it comes about through the way in which he decides to leave the tribe - by taking his own life. The conclusion of the statement is also ironic because he considers the time he has spent in exile on his motherland as “seven wasted years”(171) and he anticipates his return to his fatherland, where he knows that he can flourish and prosper. Although he had the potential of obtaining a great amount of knowledge from his kinsmen and his uncle, Uchendu, I feel that the idea of him living on his motherland and the negative ways his clan viewed living on a man’s motherland, caused him to look at his punishment as one that would restrict, rather than help him achieve his goals.
Upon returning to Umuofia, Okonkwo quickly realized how much the tribe had changed due to the missionaries’ invasion and he was willingly to do anything in order to restore the original values in Umuofia. However, many clan members were unwillingly to go to war against the missionaries, even though people like Obierika felt that the white man “… has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” (176). Despite the District Commissioner’s goal of bringing “civilization to different parts of Africa” (208) the strong unity that the clan once had, was now broken. Umuofia had become like “a startled animal with ears erect, sniffing the silent, ominous air and not knowing which way to run” (196) and I think the clan’s destroyed ideals caused Okonkwo so much pain that he killed himself. However, I agree with AllThatJazz 07 in feeling that Okonkwo’s suicide was out of character because he was a proclaimed warrior, one who was always very quick to point out flaws in other men and he even went as far as convincing himself that he did not father Nwoye because he thought Nwoye was less of a men, when all of the while Okonkwo could not find the strength inside himself to be a powerful leader and assist the clan in prevailing through some of their most difficult times.
Towards the conclusion of the novel, Obierika confronted the District Commissioner and stated, “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog.” (208). After reading Obierika’s statement, I understood and somewhat agreed with his statement because the missionaries suddenly invaded Umuofia and nearly destroyed their land by causing tension and animosity amongst many clan members. At the same time, I feel that Okonkwo allowed these men to mentally destroy him because it was the first time in a while that Okonkwo had been confronted by people who were potentially stronger than him. Regardless of how much Okonkwo prepared for war, the white men had more advanced weapons and more importantly, they had support from other converts, where as Okonkwo was one of few people in his clan that was willing to enter into a war. Throughout the novel, I felt that Okonkwo’s anger and desire to show his strengths were fueled by his aspiration to hide some of his deepest emotions, especially the resentment and connections he had with his father. Even though they seemed to be polar opposites, in the end, they both committed deplorable crimes against their culture and were forced to die alone.
At the end of the novel, I found a strange coincidence that I would like to point out. Towards the end of the novel, Okonkwo states that he does not believe that the white folk could ever understand the culture of his tribe unless he learned their language. This reminds me of and the beginning of the book, where the content was so thickly laced with vocabulary from the tribe's native language that I found it incredibly difficult and often times frustrating to read. It just occured to me that maybe the author's purpose in using so many foriegn words was so that he would be able to teach white people about this tribe's culture.
I think a second purpose this book contains is so that the author can explain how the existance of a society can lead to the destruction of an individual. Throughout the course of the novel, Okonkwo has repeatedly hid his affections for his wives and children in order to appear "manly" and "strong", even going as far to have personally slaughtered a child who he looked at as his own. He spends his entire life trying to conform to his society's mold of the ideal adult male. Perhaps a better and larger example in this story is how the larger and more powerful white man's culture took control of and wiped out the tribal culture, "[putting] a knife on the things that held [them] together and [they] have fallen apart."
It is interesting how Okonkwo's life is more or less tied into his social status, and the "life" of his tribe. He spends almost the entirety of his energy into building up the reputation of being a fierce warrior and a true man, but in the end he still lost it all and wound up comitting suicide. I find it interesting how earlier in the novel, a warriors extravagant burial service is described as an amazing event, while Okonkwo was said to have been buried like a dog. I believe this was done intentionally on the part of the author to create a stronger sense of irony.
Hello there!
Well there is much to respond to. To start off i just had to say that i found the ending to be very surprising. Never would I have imagined that Okonkwo would have taken his own life. Although Okonkwo's action is surprising and definitly out of character, as many of you have noticed, it does go along with the theme of irony that has been going on throughout the novel. The one man who was so insistant on keeping traditions, being a man, and holding a title within the clan, was the same man who ended up taking his own life as seen in page 207.
I never thought Okonkwo would have hung himself and instead I thought he might die battling the white men. My favorite part in this third part is when Obierika and the other clansmen lead the white men to where Okonkwo had killed himself. The entire time Obierika remained calm as he explained to the white man that he would need assistance in taking Okonkwo's body down. Obierika made sure to let the white man know that " that man was one the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog." (208). Those few wrods wre so simple and yet they were so loaded with emotion. I could practically imagine Obierika's stoic face as he said the words but at the same same time a sad intensity in his eyes.
As other people have already commented, it is obvious in this third part why the book is entitled "Things Fall Apart". It is ironic that after having waited so anxiuously to return to Umuofia, Okonkwo came back home ot find it succumbing to the pressure of the white men and their religion. This leads me to think about whta would have happened if Okonkwo had stayed in the clan. Would he have been able to stop the influence of Christianity from spreading? Or would he have just been powerless to the influence like the other men in the clan?
One final thought that I wanted to mention was how in the very end the District Commissioner mentioned that he would write about Okonkwo's death in the novel he was planning on writing. It is interesting how he would not even dedicate a chapter to Okonkwo's death due to the white men taking over and yet here we are reading an entire novel about htis one man's life. Does anyone find it interesting how ironic it is? By having made that commen the D.C. was just showing how insignificant the lives of the tribe's people really were to the missionaries. All of this says something about perspective...but I'm not excatly sure what. Help anyone?
Cynthia brought up a great question, if Okonkwo would have been able to stop the spread of Christianity. Personally, I think he would have been able to, because he would have still had his authority in the clan. The reason why he couldn't do it after returning from being in exile was because the people with no titles had converted, thus leaving the people with titles. But what is your title if you are amongst people you are equal with? There is no authority, which I think is one of the main reasons Okonkwo really was opposed to the idea of Christianity. On page 153 Achebe writes, "[Okonkwo] saw himself and his fathers crowding round their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days, and his children the while praying to the white man's god." This also reinforces that his main reason against Nwoye converting to Christianity is that he would lose his authority and power, both very vauluable to him.
Another thing I found ironic in this last part is when the leaders of the clan decide what to do in regards to the converts. They decide to just ostracize them, but Okonkwo is not happy. Instead, he believes that the village should go against its laws in order to preserve the peace, something that would have been unthinkable in the first few chapters.
As to Okonkwo's suicide, I think the reason why he did so is because he could not let go of his manhood and traditional values. He prefers to die than to submit to white people ruling him.
In the end, I am still left with a question: Which religion does Achebe sympthize with, if any? I think that he wrote this book to make aware the complexity of their culture. Yet, he challenges its beliefs when he includes some of the things that the white men say. So, whose side is he on?
Okay, I too noticed the irony of Okonkwo's death in the sense that he dedicated his life to avoiding becoming his father but in the end he ends up dying a shameful death as well (207). What does this say about societal honor and prosperity? In a way this undermines the idea of hardwork and prestige because although Okonkwo was prosperous and honored he experienced a shameful demise.
As for Okonkwo's motives for suicide, I have two ideas. First, Okonkwo is a man who values power and control over everything so once it is lost he has nothing to live for. The white men have usurped the power and with it they have taken Okonkwo's hard-earned status. Gaining status was his purpose for life and without this goal he has nothing. Another motive was that the tradition was crumbling. In my previous posts I addressed how although Okonkwo was a man of power, he was also subject to tradition. This very tradition is what kept his world together. When the people of Umuofia became "soft", and when Nwoye converted, Okonkwo believed these were signs of effeminacy that broke tradition. These changes were out of his control and when he tried to take matters into his own hands by killing the head messenger, he is criticized by the onlookers from his own village. Overall he found himself in a lose-lose situation. His entire tribe no longer backed him. Okonkwo felt his situation was hopeless and therefore committed suicide.
Cynthia brought up an interesting point concerning the D.C.'s book. He describes Okonkwo's life story as an "interesting read" (208). This shows that the white men saw the lives of the villagers as mere sources of entertainment. From what we have all read we know that Okonkwo's life was rather tragic so it kind of disturbed me when I read this. Any thoughts?
Lastly, for some reason I found the advent of the missionaries somewhat acceptable and even beneficial for some of the villagers, like Nwoye for example. I didn't see the missionary work as a totally negative change for the village of Umuofia. On the other hand, when I read about the introduction of the government or "white man's law" (174) I felt that this encroached on the culture and negatively impacted the village.
I felt as if the white men had overstepped their boundaries. Perhaps this is because the Christianity offered comfort to some villagers while the government offered nothing of the sort. Overall what I'm trying to say is that it was as if the white men were going too far and really pushing their own culture onto the Nigerian villagers when they introduced their government. How did you all feel about the government's presence in the village? Was it beneficial or detrimental?
Malisa here, and I got a question later on I’m hoping somebody might be able to clarify upon.
Referring to something Katie mentioned in the second half of the book, the white men and their religion was definitely relatable to the swarm of locusts that was mentioned earlier. I admit, when I first read about the locusts I was confused, since I was under the impression that the bugs were generally harmful since they ate crops. This observation would come useful later, as I realized that in a way, the Achebe uses the locusts for that purpose. While at first, the tribe was happy to see the white men, and they were a fascination for them, it soon escalated into an epidemic of sorts and grew out of control, turning into a plague if you will.
What I admit that I’m not entirely sure about is why Okonkwo reacted so harshly to the messenger. While at first I suspected that the messenger was perhaps his son, I realized that if it was Nwoye, then the villagers wouldn’t question why he struck him down. Was it simply an escalation if you will, a bottling up of emotions until it finally burst and was taken out on by the lead messenger? That action in turn led to his suicide, which, like Taylor said earlier, seemed contradictory to his characteristics.
However, as others stated, it goes along well with the clear theme of irony. Like Cynthia thought earlier, I thought that perhaps Okonkwo would die a warrior’s death, battling the white man (perhaps even alone) and possibly even beating the white men back, despite the odds. While his death does make sense in an odd way, as a collective reaction to his life falling apart around him, in a sense it is out of the ordinary. While Okonkwo realizes what his brash action caused him, I would have thought that he would realize that by hanging himself, he doomed his legacy to be almost akin, if not worse, than the father which he detested so greatly. Rather than go out honorably in a warrior’s death, he hanged himself, which in turn caused him to be left alone, abandoned by his clan.
Katie once again raises a good question about Achebe’s meanings behind his story. Does Achebe himself sympathize with either religion, since although the book educates the reader about the intricacy of the culture, he constantly challenges the beliefs. I can only say that in my humble opinion that perhaps Achebe doesn’t side with either religion; that he sees it as cultural knowledge, and facts. While he sympathizes with the tribe’s plight, he himself views it through a different angle, perhaps as one who followed the culture, only to later become a convert himself. After all, it is stated in the About the Author that he grew up in a large village, which was one of the first areas of Anglican missionary work in South Africa.
Well then...
I was obviously expecting an ironic ending, but Okonkwo killing himself did surprise me. I mean, WHOA! Not only was his death a shameful way to die in the clan, but in a sense, Okonkwo died just as bitterly as his father. Like his father, Okonkwo died alone and in a disgraced way. What I found most ironic however, was the fact that Okonkwo dead body was cared for and buried by the people he hated the most--the people that broke up what he loved most, Umuofia. I do not believe that it was entirely the missionaries fault that Okonkwo killed himself. Actually, it wasn't there fault at all. It was the fact that Okonkwo bottled up so much anger and regret and embarrassment that pushed him over the edge. Because he saw it as "womanly," Okonkwo did not express the emotions which were killing him from within. (Anger to danger is only one letter away and Okonkwo couldn't tell the difference.) The passage that best illustrates Okonkwo's emotional state was on page 183, "Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women." The grief was for Umuofia and the men that he was once proud of. Now, Okonkwo felt helpless and trapped. Of course, suicide was his way of riding himself of his own pain and disgust with the clan; but I never cease to understand his method of madness. He CHOSE to die in an worthy way, full of shame and rejection, he CHOSE to end his life in ways that went against what he believed in, and he CHOSE to leave behind his family and friends, which proves that they did not mean as much to him as power and fame that he wanted in Umuofia. His death brought me back to the passage where his friend, Obierika, said to sacrifice himself or his son to him. Okonkwo would have been better off doing that back then. It would have spared him his shame watching his son leave his teachings to join a new God and would have spare him the insanity of killing himself. You would think that Okonkwo would die a noble death... I'm still surprised. So much for him being called the "Roaring Flame." Seems like that flame was blown out.
I found it to be somewhat upsetting to see the missionaries divide the clan, and eventually destroy it. Umuofia lived in such a wrapped-up world of themselves that they were happy with their customs and lives. It brings me to reality where this actually happens and villages fall apart and people are killed, all because their customs and traditions are seen as sinful or inhumane. On the other hand however, the missionaries did help a vast quantity of people in the village (for example Nwoye and the thrown away twins.)
I'm still have doubts about that missionary's book. He doesn't seem to understand the villagers at all, and not to mention he see things in "black and white." This also symbolizes the actual power between the white men and the people of Umuofia. Of course the white men are gaining ground and new converts.
That's it for now..
not time for more!
Kayla again. I, like everyone else it seems, was greatly surprised by Okonkwo's suicide. When Obierika said "‘we can take you where he is, and perhaps your men will help us.'"(206), my first thought was that Okonkwo was in hiding and Obierika was showing the men his hiding place. I was confused as to why Obierika would turn against him like that, but it was the only thing in my mind that made sense. Even when Achebe wrote "Then they came to a tree from which Okonkwo's body was dangling..."(207), I still couldn't wrap my mind around what happened. Normally it doesn't take me very long to understand something, but I believe since it was such a change from what one expected, my brain refused to wrap around it.
Moving on. I feel like the title of the book, "Things Fall Apart," was something that can't be tacked down to one particular moment. I think Achebe was trying to show you can't live your life fearfully and angry like Okonkwo did, but more like his father, if anything. Things will slip from your control, and if you've got something, make use of it while you can, because eventually it's going to get messed up or taken away. When the missionaries first settled, things fell apart. When Okonkwo was exiled, things fell apart. When he came back but people were too absorbed to be excited by his return, things for him fell apart. The list goes on, ending with his entire life falling apart.
I, in a way, liked the negative reaction to the missionaries from some people. Coming from a Christian church you only hear about the wonderful things missionaries do and how everyone is so happy they are there and blah blah. You do hear about the struggles they go through as well, but it always seems as if they are in the right and the people they are teaching and preaching to are in the wrong. But this showed the opposite side of things. The missionaries were unfair, and stepped over their limits. I do agree that Okonkwo’s death was partly his fault because of keeping in his bottled feelings, but at the same time, if they hadn’t pushed the clan so much, events may not have unfolded in those ways.
Finally, I love the way Obierika spoke to the D.C. when he told him Okonkwo was one of the greatest men in Umuofia and he was driven by the missionaries to kill himself which means he will be buried like a dog. It was like Obierika was finally realizing that their clan’s customs were wrong. At the same time, he was very against the Christians, so he disliked them as well. Obierika was angry and confused, but knew how to safely handle his anger. So, technically Okonkwo was to be buried as a dog. But would he be remembered thusly, or as a great man?
I was extremely suprised by this last part of the book. It started off being a story about Okonkwo's struggles and success in becoming an honorable and a title-worthy man. As the story continues on, it slowly becomes one about the conquer of a people by missionaries. As a matter of fact, the ending was about Mr. Smith and his idea for a novel. I found this to be extremely interesting. It gave me the chills. I don't know if anyone else feel the same way.
I want to comment on the possibility of Achebe's work being a parody of society. At first, Achebe describes the traditions and customs of a people. A new group of people enter into this world and begin to introduce new ideas and concepts. While Okonwko and others outright rejected these new thoughts, many others (most likely the younger generation) fully accepted them, and most of them did because of the money that was pouring into the tribe's economy. Our society definitely revolves around the idea of making money and making even more money as more generations are borne. Maybe Achebe is frowning down upon the idea that many people, mainly the youth, will give away their traditions and customs of their fathers to earn more money, or as the missionaries in the book saw it as to get an education. Nwoye has definitely proven to be capable of being influenced by a new religion since he already rebels against his father's. As a young generation of today, we can definitely all say that we're getting a better education than our parents and their parents, that we're seeking for even more along the way. However, this usually includes giving up rooted ideas and beliefs that our parents have passed on to us since we're so fussed about knowing what's good for us ourselves. Thus, the frustration of parents. Just a far-fetched thought.
Also, another thing about society: A man unwilling to change his ways to conform to society do not usually make it far in life. Society has, how can I say this, "guidelines" to becoming successful in life. For example, one should be educated. Okonkwo refuses to allow the Whites to educate him and his family. He tries against all odds to relive his old ways, where the little gods are still worshipped and where farming is the only method for making money. He gets hell from his people and from the missionaries. In the end, he ends his life, even if that means dishonor in the tribe. Knowing Okonkwo, doing something that will strip him of his honor is not even thinkable.
I believed I answered Katie's question about which religion Achebe sympathizes with through my above explanation, where the conquered is the victim and the conquerors are not. Society teaches us that when white men come to a society and try to change its religions and custom, they're the bad guys. Thinking outside the box, though, Achebe definitely utilizes irony well. Umofia is known for its manpower and its victories in wars. Yet, the white men do not exude any violence, except to the prisoners, and they are the ones to reign in the end.
Going on a different path and relating Things Fall Apart to How to Read Literature like a Professor, I observed that nighttime is when all the violence occurences take place. For example, pg. 9 of the book, Achebe writes that "The night was very quiet...Darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them." And then on pg. 11 we find out that a wife of a man in Umofia had been killed by a neighboring village. Also, on pages 54 through 56, the locusts arrive in Umofia. They are described as having to cast a shadow upon the clan and having "hidden the sun behind a thick cloud." In the new few pages, Ikemefuna is murdered. And in another instance on pg. 124, Achebe says that "darkness is around the corner..." After this description, Okonkwo kills a man's son by accident and is exiled from his fatherland, to return to a dishonorable home.
Overall, the ending of Things Fall Apart really threw me on a wild curve. I enjoyed the book and the messages Achebe sends to his audience. Human characteristics are greatly demonstrated in this story through the different characters. They exude pride, honor, sympathy, fear, valor, sympathy, etc.
Yup, and that's all. =]
Okonkwo's suicide was a last resort to maintain comtrol in his life, in my opinion. He had lost control over his family ( Nwoye leaving) and over Umoufia converting to Christianity that I believe that he killed himself as a last ditch effort to resort some form of control over his life, and the only control that he had left was control over whether he lived or died. Not to mention that soon all of Umoufia would have been converted and he would be left alone.
In an earlier post I mentioned that I thought the quote "may Agbala shave your head...twist your neck" (105), might come back to bight Okonkwo in the butt, and it did! When he along with some others are held in the courthouse, a messenger shaves their heads. Then, after he kills the messenger during the clan meeting, Okonkwo goes to a tree behind his compound and hangs himself, "twist your neck".
In the end Okonkwo took his own life. Kayla asked,"So, technically Okonkwo was to be buried as a dog. But would he be remembered thusly, or as a great man?". In my opinion Okonkwo was never a great man and though he had done great things during his lifetime, he was not a great person.
"It seemed as if the very soul of the tribe wept for a great evil that was coming- its own death" (187), Achebe writes following the unmasking of the egwugwu. The breadth of part 3 describes what could be considered the death of the tribe which also related to the title itself- Things Fall Apart, as the tribe is thrown into greater confusion culminating in Okonkwo's suicide. On that detail, I must cite Courtney's analysis, believing that his suicide was a means for Okonkwo to exert a last control over his tumultuous life. Yet, one can also note the irony of it. As many others described, Okonkwo in spite of his efforts to disengage himself from his father, failed and he too died a shameful death. In the grander scheme, Achebe emphasizes the fact that Okonkwo's effort and toil to gain societal/political standing was folly as he ended the same way as his slothful father- shamefully.
Mr. Brown's successor, Mr. Smith, who gained his position following the former's death, was a great contrast to Mr. Brown and his actions. Whereas Mr. Brown never openly antagonized the tribes for their metaphysical beliefs, Smith derided them. Further Smith "condemned openly Mr. Brown's policy of compromise and accomodation. He saw things as black and white. And black was evil" (184). Not only did Smith reproach Brown for his (more) humane treatment but was clearly fueled by rascism - a "black was evil" mindset rather than simply the religious motivations of a missionary. These two characters are overtly juxtaposed. It is logical that Smith was more hostile than Brown for he helped catalyze/speed up the process of degeneration within the tribe.
Cynthia made an interesting point that I'd like to comment on. She noted the irony of the Dictrist Commissioner's actions. He planned on devoting a single chapter to Okonkwo's death where the reader had just read a whole book concerning the trials and ultimate downfall of the man. The D.C. focused such a chapter solely on the suicide, for "the story of a man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make an interesting reading" (208), and as Michaela noted, the tribes served as a form of entertainment. Achebe painted a complex picture of the tribe both socially and culturally and thus ended his book quite ironically with the inclusion of the title of the D.C.'s book- The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of Lower Niger. In this manner, Achebe seems to prod the reader to question their definition of primitive given such a rich description of the tribe throughout the book.
-Tzivia
Wow...I finished this book in two days. Fastest I've ever read any book. But anyhow, I enjoyed the book except I found myself a little "startled" I guess one could say through some of the scenes, scared basically.
I wondered the same thing that marrisa asked about the time period. At first, I thought it was during the times of slavery because the white man came on an "iron horse" strolling through the village. But, then I realized that the white people were missionaries spreading Christianity.
I just knew that Nwoye was going to grow up hating his father. The only reason why he was able to put up with his father was because of Ikemefuna. But now that Okonkwo slaughtered him ruthlessly, Nwoye had nobody to understand him. His father doubts his abilities as a man. Now, thanks to the missionaries, he is able to break free of his father's grasp and go on to his own path as a Christian. "'I am one of them...I don't know. He is not my father...'" (144). One can sense the hurt and tension in Nwoye's words towards his father, Okonkwo. From the beginning when Okonkwo would beat and nag at Nwoye, I already saw that the future Okonkwo had for his son was not what was going to be.
The end was a shock to me. Okonkwo, so much pride, masculinity, and determination--kill himself when all seemed to go wrong. I read that page over again to actually see if I missed something. This is one of Achebe's ironic twists. I never expected that for Okonkwo. Also, for his father, Unoka, he lived a happy life but was full of debt, yet he didn't go off and kill himself. I agree with Courtney. Yes, Okonkwo did do great things during his time, but his character was beyond that. I don't think that the tribe will bury him as a dog though. He was known as a warrior and a well respected man. I doubt that they would bury him. The tribe would probably consult the agbala for this.
Wow this book was truly fantastic. When i began too read the last page of part two i realized this book was going to throw me for a hhuge loop i never anticipated that Okonkwo would have been exiled for seven years.Something i noticed is that when ever some one is killed in this book like Ikemefuna or the boy he killed accidently there is no grusome detial its just tells you abruptly this person was killed and moves on. I think that Chinua Achebe had a point to do this i think it was to show how in that culture that death was just some thing that happens, and is moved on from relatively quickly.
When the missionaries began to appear in some of the other tribes Okonkwo did not thing he would have to even give it a second thought but when one appeared in his village he was outraged. Okonkwo was very stern on traditions and staying true to his culture. He seemed to fear difference because the ways he grew up were what allowed him to be wealthy and well of as an adult. When the missionaries asked to build a church in his village he told the council members there was no way but at the time they thought let them have the land they wont last here and it was because of their spiritual beliefs that they thought these missionaries would be gone soon but when they didnt leave they it tested the faith of the people and soon they saw the missionaries as a real potential threat.
Nwoye on the other hand had always resented his father like Okonkwo his for how he choose to lead his life. Things that Okonkwo choose to do just so he would not seem weak or caring disgusted his son. Nwoye did what Okonkwo had done he was going to make sure that he would never ever end up like his father. So when the missionaries appeared with the praise of love for one another Nwoye wanted that kind of enviornment of love and compassion around him. In a way it was almost karma towards Okonkwo he never tried to come to terms with or respect his father and so his son was never able to do the same either.
Okonkwos death was truly unbelievable it was almost in one short sentence like i mentioned above that they said he had killed himself. It was not that suprising to me that he did it because he was a man of pride and stature and he would of never let any man who was less than him be the one to take his life.
Well..I am as surprise as everybody else. The third part of this book was unbelievable chaos!
Okonkwo life had changed alot. Even his son Nwoye left him for the new missionaries; "...he was happy to leave his father"(152). Christianity, the missionaries, were the way Nwoye found to finally escape from his father. This new religion gave him the strength to finally leave the dark shadow of his father. Okonkwo knew that he could not relied on his family anymore to fight against the white men. So he turned to his "clan". He wanted to start a war to take over his old village, "And they had listened to him with respect. It was like the good old days again, when a warrior was a warrior"(192). This is what first of all got Okonkwo in so much trouble and when he starts feeling superior, we know that something horrible is going to happen to him. This is the hint of more problems to Okonkwo. And once again to prove my point, Okonkwo decides to kill a white man and his old clan turned their backs on him. The only way out he saw was to committ suicide: "...they come to the tree from which Okonkwo's body was dangling"(207). It was an ironic ending for Okonkwo. Okonkwo contradicted his words with his actions. A minute ago, he was the spokeperson, the leader, telling his people to fight for their beliefs because their Gods were "weeping"(203) and the next minute, he committed suicidal which pretty much is against all of his beliefs. This demonstrates how not of a strong man he was.
Overall the novel was a case of not being able to be flexible. "Lack of understanding leading us from away from unity"; Okonkwo only viewed one side of the spectrum and never the other. Viewing the other would be considered “effeminate”. Okonkwo’s downfall is brought upon him by the fact that he couldn’t be flexible. Trying to move up the hierarchy made him a rigid man.
“It’s not good to be rigid or too masculine. Life should be both masculine and feminine.”
-Victor Banor Senior
Being masculine or feminine shouldn’t over weigh the other; they must both be balanced. That way, the center will hold and “Things will [not] fall apart”. The civilizations that fell, were not able to change and they themselves were too rigid. Changing doesn't mean that your past ideas are torn away. New ideas are put in however; giving you a stronger foundation of knowledge.
At the end of the story much has happened. The white man has invaded Umuofia and is completely taking over their culture and life. I find it really ironic that Okonkwo's son Nwoye has joined the white man and their church like religion. Okonkwo tried so desperately to not become like his father and his own son hates the way that Okonkwo has brought him up and leaves the clan completely. I think that Okonkwo was so caught up in not being like his father that he never really showed Nwoye that he just wanted him to become great but in a loving way.
The clan has utterly given up upon the return of Okonkwo's banishment. He find this utterly appauling and wishes he could do something great. As the story goes on, Okonkwo and six other men are captured by the white man whom has invaded Umuofia. The white man whom name is Mr. Smith tell them that they may only get their men back for a price. This angers Okonkwo so much, however being rescued and saved from the white man, their heads were shaved and they were deprived of food. Okonkwo's anger takes the most of him and during a meeting kills a white man upon his return.
Okonkwo knew nothing was left for him so he hung himself. What I didn't understand was, why would he kill himself if he knew that suicide was such a great sin to his religion. Now he will not have a proper burial and cursed for life. I based a conclusion that Okonkwo had to much pride to let anyone kill him unless it were himself.
I must admit the suicide of Okonkwo did not surprise me at all. His entire life he had strived to be great and to take the top leader ship of Umuofia. His first major setback had been his exile. However "even in his first year of exile he had begun to plan for his return"(171) to Umuofia. However devastation only greets him when he realizes that his own village has succumbed to the white men. And the old traditions had been very much overshadowed and somewhat forgot about. By the end he realizes that he can never reach his goal and that he had in reality not accomplished anything that he set out to do. And this would make him the equivalent of his father who he whole heartedly loathed and his purpose in life was to be the complete opposite of him. His warrior mindset could not possibly bear this dissappoint or shame.
To connect one theme with another I found the changing of society by an outter source apparent in "Things Fall Apart" and "One Hundred Years of Solitude". These white men had come in to these week and vulnerable villages and capitalized on their weaknesses. It was said that "apart from the church the white man had also brought a government"(174). They had manipulated the people and even prayed on the weak or "osu"(155). This just like the different ideas and customs introduced to the people of Melaquiades that slowly but surely tore apart that once very quiet content city. It is funny how you introduce a group of people to something new outside of their realm of beliefs or thinking and the chaos that you can create is just fasicnating. "Things Fall Apart" is a perfect title for this book, because plain and simple that is exactly what happened.
Another quote that I think that had a somewhat of a foreshadowing part was " Living fire begets cold, impotent ash." (153). Okonkwo had been nicknamed "Roaring Flame" (153). This name fits him perfectly. He was a roaring fire literally. He was fierce and wild. Not much could hold him back, he was a hot head. He had a passionate personality and was noticed by everyone. He was quick to erupt and could casue alot of destruction in his path. And in the end he was symbollically reduced to ash. He had been his own worse enemy and just like fire he had withered away and burned himself out.
Hi, Stephen again.
Tzivia's observation regarding the juxtaposition of Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith could not have been more on the mark (in my opinion). On one hand, we have a tolerant missionary who spends time learning about the culture of Umuofia, spending "long hours with Akunna in his obi talking through an interpreter about religion. Neither of them succeeded in converting the other but they learned more about their different beliefs" (179). On the other hand, Mr. Smith "condemned openly Mr. Brown's policy of compromise..." (184). Here, of course, Achebe is giving both sides of the missionary story. Achebe, through his narrative tone, seems to like Mr. Brown's style better, yet he acknowledges that missionaries were more like Mr. Smith than Mr. Brown. He gives us both faces of Christian evangelism in that time period. That Mr. Smith (the intolerant, passionate evangelist) succeeds Mr. Brown (the tolerant and soft spoken missionary)is, in my opinion, symbolic of the triumph of oppressive "for-your-own-good" kind of colonial rule over the honest intentions of missionaries like Mr. Brown.
I loved Katie's question: Who's Achebe rooting for? Which side is he sympathetic to? I think that this book was written by Achebe to give the other side of the cultural war that took place long ago. The cultural domination that accompanied European colonial expansion into Africa has been largely overlooked by history textbooks. All we get in history class is a map shaded in red for British and blue for French documenting the imperialism that took place. What we don't get is the slavery, the tradition, the cultural complexity, and very real emotions that Achebe recreates in this book. So in the end, I don't think that he's taking sides in a war. I think he's just "revealing the other side" of that war.
And the suicide. The act of a man who knows that the very foundation of his life- his beliefs, his values, his religion, and his very way of life- is inexorably moving away from him. The society dominated by tradition and tribal rule is replaced by a Christian colonial administration. An administration that demonstrates its dishonor when it tricks the elders of the tribe and humiliates them. And the outburst from Obierika: "This man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog..." (208). A culture that has (from the point of view of Okonkwo) degenerated into a pathetic shadow of it's rich cultural heritage.
I can feel his pain.
All in all, a terrific book.
In Part Three of the book, Okonkwo seems to be earning back his status and power when the clansmen "had listened to him with respect. It was like the good old days again, when a warrior was a warrior." (192) Okonkwo was ready to fight for his homeland and was sure that he was convincing the other men to want to do the same.
Later on, we see that Okonkwo is proved wrong on how powerful he was becoming. When Okonkwo killed the messenger with his machete, I felt that he thought others would follow suit and start to attack the white men, but instead Okonkwo realized that Umuofia will not go to war when "he heard voices asking: 'Why did he do it?'" (205)It showed that the people were not behind him as much as he thought so he just "wiped his machete on the sand and went away." (205)
Like everyone else, I was suprised mostly by the way Okonkwo died. Some people think that suicide is the easy way out of life instead of going through the hardships that may get thrown at a person. Okonkwo always showed that he was a tough warrior and seeing him kill himself, to me, was him saying that he was giving up. He knew he was pretty much the only one who wanted to fight the white men, so he gave up on life before the white men could change it for him.
Helloo
I read lots of great points I want to follow up on:
michaela brought up a good point about the D.C. and thalp followed up quite succinctly, but I'd like to add that not only does it question the "definition of primitive," but it also opens up our eyes to how even ourselves tend to look at cultures and peoples different from ourselves. How about the wild tribe of "Naciremas"*?
Also, michaela noted Okonkwo's loneliness in the third part of the book, and that it turned out to be a "lose-lose" situation as he tried to live by his standards. What I saw happening was that Okonkwo was a symbol, through rigorously working himself into "success," as defined by the Umuofian standards. So hard did he work that he practically became Umuofia, one of the prime examples of what Umuofia is. And part of his "success" was to be a man of great ferocity and strength. But, as time goes on, the standards change; the missionary strangers come along, Umuofia becomes "womanly," and thus Okonkwo's suicide symbolizes the death of a generation of warriors. I believe that the new age of change has completely wiped out a generation with the death of Okonkwo. He was the last of his kind.
thalp pointed out clearly that there is irony in the fact that Unoka died shamefully, and though Okonkwo was different, almost completely opposite, he died shamefully too. I saw this as two people unwilling to conform to the new standards of success. In the old days, Unoka was lazy and couldn't provide for his family. This went directly against what was considered ideal for Umuofia, a great man who earned his way through toil and strength. However, as times changed, Okonkwo, who was the ideal man during his younger days, was now the lone man and embittered man. It's sad how Unoka says during his dying days, "A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone." Here, Okonkwo dies alone.
*http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~thompsoc/Body.html
A great short read, and it fits perfectly with the ending of Things Fall Apart.
I completely agree with angel's point on the similarities between this book and "A Hundred Years." They both involve a society that has a deep culture and a history of families, and they both have to do with "the downfall". "The White Man" entered society and ruined the peace and harmony that once was... hence "Things Fall Apart".
What was surprising (not) was that instead of being cleansed of his fear, hatred, and confusion, Achebe used irony to worsen the situation, leading Okonkwo's worst fear to become reality. He finished just like his father, "buried like a dog". Just like in Greek myths, when one attempt to change one's ill fate, the attempt is most likely the cause of the disaster.
Also, I was wondering whether Okonkwo might be a Christ figure or not.
-great struggle
-his sons/ezinma are his "disciples"
-one of his disciples were not loyal
-death is caused by people of another opposing religion
not to be a jesus-freak or anything but, it is possible.
i believe that Okonkwo hanged himself thinking that there was nothing left of the home he used to live in. The tradition, culture, and what he believed real men were was gone. He was ridiculed and robbed by these foreigners and he would no longer remain in a world where he was made to look weak.
I enjoyed Achebe's deep and powerful writing and his beautiful culture. This book really gave me insight and ability to see things the way the citizens of Umofia would.
As Angel said, things have finally fallen apart. I must admit my original prediction as to what the new religion would bring (see last blog) was off… but not entirely.
I had suspicions about the new religion from the start because, as those of us that have taken any form of history know, imperialism tends not to be the best policy for those being imperialized. Though Mr. Brown was at first very calm about the situation and did not try fanatically to recruit and convert, his successor did. Again, like Angel said, this is fairly similar to 100 Years of Solitude with the outsiders coming into a society to ruin an otherwise stable community. In 100 Years of Solitude I believe it was the government that brought the downfall of the society and led it on its path. In Things Fall Apart, I believe it is going to be Christianity that does that (Kris10 pointed out a good passage in the novel that says this almost explicitly: “[the white man] has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."(176)). As we have seen, the officials of the Christian church are corrupt, and arrest and beat the natives (Okonkwo included). The religion also lead to Okonkwo’s “forced” suicide and I believe would lead to the entire downfall of all the Nigerian tribes if the storyline were continued (as already happened to one village and has begun to happen to Umuofia).
I must say I felt a good deal of remorse and pity for Okonkwo and his family after the unfortunate series of events that took place that led to him falling apart. Clearly Okonkwo is a sexist war hound (“Worth men are no more… Isike will never forget how we slaughtered them in that war... Before the end of the fourth market week they were suing for peace. Those were the days when men were men” (200)) but I still believe that it is due to the circumstances and society he has grown up in, and not his own beliefs.
I liked gypsyloo’s analysis of Okonkwo as a Christ figure. To add to it, Okonkwo died as a martyr for his religion and I would like to prupose this question: does anyone think that (if the story were to be extended) Okonkwo’s death and his reputation as a great man would bring Umuofia to the point of expelling the intruding religion?
It was a nice voyage with you all, and if I were to give advise from all three summer reading books it would be this:
Don’t miss opportunities. Dislike the Government and Religion. (Just kidding :P)
Bye!
-Dario
To comment on Kristen's comment about the new religion being better than the old, yes it is true that their old religion is very violent and very aggressive, making it unfair for certain individuals, but that's not what most of them think, most of them are very traditional and basically are doing well in that life. Most of the ones that converted are the ones that had to experience the aggressiveness and didn't want to deal with it, so they chose the "easy way out" from their own religion. For example, there was a mother who had many twins and each time she gave birth, she had to abandon them in the forest. I am pretty sure that being separated from their children with be emotionally painful.
I was so angry when the book ended with Okonkwo's death. The way Chinua led us to his death was, in my opinion, was good. It was like an "in your face, look what you did to us" kind of good, that made the missionaries and commissioner realize what they were the reason for Okonkwo's suicide. I didn't agree with his decision though. He left so much behind. Why not move to another village?
From what I said before, Okonkwo is hubris, (which I spelt wrong the first time… =b), which led to his downfall. Okonkwo would be the tragic hero in this story.
While reading the final part of the book, i was actually on the side of the people of Umaufia because although they keep old traditions and customs, they were happy with their lives and the missionaries came and took over as if it was nothing.
To answer Dario's question, "does anyone think that (if the story were to be extended) Okonkwo’s death and his reputation as a great man would bring Umuofia to the point of expelling the intruding religion?"
Since i agree with gypsyloo about Okonkwo being a Christ figure, I think that Okonkwo's death would have made the missionaries and commissioner realize that they are wrong for going against their gods, just like Jesus made the soldiers realize they were wrong for going against his god. Despite the two different story lines, the only real difference was that Okonkwo killed himself and Jesus allowed himself to die.
Well first of all, I would like to say that I understand the title of the book now and although I didn't see the connection nor felt like the title fit, now I think that i understand the concept. Not only have the tribes themselves fallen apart by the missionaries coming in, but the whole culture has fallen apart, as seen with the youth converting, the unmasking of the egwugwu in public, the tribe splitting among those who want to fight and those who want to just have peace...it really does seem that their entire lives have just...well, fallen apart. Many of you have touched on this already and so I guess I won't go into much more detail, but I love the concept.
So as for the ironic part...is our world falling apart also? For example...this may be a stretch, but lets take for example what is going on between us and the middle east right now. We went in, and established our own form of government there, and completely "opened their eyes" to the injustices we felt were going on in their country. Similar to Okonkwo and his men being beaten in prison, we have all heard the stories of some American soldiers torturing the prisoners of war, have we not? I think that the message of this story can easily be applied to our lives today, like Mary has been trying to point out in her blogs. Could it be that our world today is falling apart as we know it? Young generations following into new and taboo things, disappointing their parents and losing the values they were once taught to be so important. Like Mary said, its just a thought, probably a stretch.
Another thing I noticed which seems to be an attempt by Achebe to connect all people is the cockiness of Commissioner and his stubbornness as well. He refuses to change the title of his book, no matter what content he places into it, this is similar to Okonkwo's stubbornness in almost all of his actions. I also found it super ironic that the title of the Commissioner's book would be called The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger, because as we can obviously see from this book, their culture is ANYTHING but Primitive. Their society contained a lot of complex ideals and methods and I hardly even felt that throughout the book that these people were really living in small huts.I felt that they were such a complicated people with so many rules and traditions that they were anything but primitive...just my opinion.
Sooooo have a good day everyone and like i said in a previous post, my favorite summer read!
In the last third of the novel, things get more chaotic as we are brought back to Umuofia again. The missionaries have definitely had an influence on certain people of the village, drawing them away from beliefs that they had questioned before. Nwoye was the primary example of the doubts that the Umuofian traditions created amongst its people. I can understand why Nwoye had decided to join with the missionaries, and that Okonkwo was part of the blame for his son’s betrayal of his own religion. Beginning from Nwoye’s rebellion, the life as Okonkwo has envisioned falls to pieces. His village, once characterized by men of bravery, is now under the power of the white missionaries. This shift in the novel isolates Okonkwo from the rest of his village. A sense of change is coming about and as we all know, Okonkwo is too stubborn to accept anything apart from his own beliefs. His pride and ignorance causes his own death.
The ending to the novel is very dramatic. I had not expected Okonkwo to commit suicide. Gypsloo’s analysis of Okonkwo as a Christ figure seems to be quite accurate. Though he was once a man of importance in his village, Achebe continues to employ irony as he ends the novel stating that Okonkwo will only be commemorated by not “a whole chapter but a reasonable paragraph.” (209) Okonkwo who has attempted throughout his life to die not as his father had, without any honors, ironically follows his father’s example. Achebe seems to be making a very realistic yet harsh point about life. Achebe uses Okonkwo to demonstrate the cynical side of life in which one’s accomplishments is disregarded in that even “one of the greatest men in Umuofia…will be buried like a dog.” (208)
Overall I enjoyed reading this novel and I have to agree with angela that there are many similarities between this novel and One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Hey guys,
Following up to and The Benefactor Is... Dario question about if the story was extended would Okonkwo's death bring Umuofia to expel the intuders, I actually believe they won't push them out. On page 208 Okonkwo's friend, Obierika, expressed his anger to the District Commissioner but soon to only to stop talking as "his voice trembled..."(208)and as he choked on his words. He stopped to a simple "shut up." Even though the white people first seemed so friendly and fair, their true color shows as they have taken over without much regret.
Lastly, to respond to Lilly's feeling to Okonkwo's death, he could of just moved to another village but Umuofia was his land and to him the warlike village he once loved is now lost just as gypsyloo said. I am somewhat unhappy with the fact that Oknokwo's death could actually be ignored by the Commission for the very strong meaning behind it.
Over all I enjoyed this book. It gives the lesson that being emotionless for the sake of looking strong is not worth it, as it can hurt so many people.
It has been made clear in the last part of the novel the Okonkwo intends to return with a bang. However upon his arrival, he is soon exposed to the many changes made by the missionaries. This is ironic in the sense that Okonkwo, who was determined to reclaim his titles upon his return and then some, has now no chance of any social mobility and in turn tries to rebel against any traditions or rituals taught by the missionaries. Since most of Okonkwo's tribe has excepted the Chirstian ways and beliefs and has integrated it into their own culture, Okonkwo is now fighting against what he originally was protect. Of course the twist ending where Okonkwo takes his own life is ironic as it shows that Okonkwo has failed to become everything his father wasn't. I also found it interesting how Okonkwo was called the "Roaring Flame", and flame always seems to symbolize destruction and inability to create.
I interpreted Okonkwo's death a little differently than Lilly. Lilly states, "It was like an 'in your face, look what you did to us' kind of good, that made the missionaries and commissioner realize what they were the reason for Okonkwo's suicide." Achebe lets us into the minds of the Commissioner and we even see his reaction to this martyr's death. The commissioner refers to Okonkwo as "not a whole chapter but a reasonable paragraph" in his new book. This means that he could care less about the man's death. We may understand that Okonkwo was driven to death by the white man, but the commissioner remains in his ignorance.
Ignorance is the reason for Achebe to write such a book and the ending makes it clear. Throughout this story, the reader has made a deep connection with Okonkwo and his Nigerian culture, we start to understand their ways and look past what may have seemed "uncivilized" to some. However, the real lesson about accepting different cultures was learned when we saw the reason for Okonkwo's death. The white man looked down on culture of the tribes ever since they interact with the tribes. Achebe was trying to emphasize that the white man came to Nigeria believing that their culture and religion were supreme and the only ones worthy to exist. This was where the contrast between the different culture and the white man's culture began. Basically what I am trying to say is, when Okonkwo died the reader realized something. First, how wrong this imperialistic group was in coming to the tribes trying to interfere with their lives. Second, that the real "animals" are actually the white man.
The last part of the book was an unexpected combination of the two plots, Okonkwo's fall from the top and the battle for the supreme culture. Even more unexpected was the death of Okonkwo but was a wise decision by the author because of its emphasis on his purpose. Well, Okonkwo is gone, I hope I can manage my loss.
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