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Chapter Analysis: Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

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The novel “Things fall apart” is written by Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian author, in 1958. A wrestling champion, Okonkwo is set as the focus of this book, in the village called Umofia. The novel is considered as a major example of African literature that presents the clash between cultures and people that occurred across the African continent as a consequence of European colonization. From all chapters of “Things fall apart”, chapter 20 had most clearly exhibited the relationship between Okonkwo and Ezinma, that Okonkwo wishes that Ezinma were a boy. In a passage from the chapter, Chinua Achebe utilizes metaphor, rhetorical question, characterization, and dialogue to portray the idea of relationship.9 First, Chinua Achebe makes use of metaphor …show more content…

Chinua Achebe signifies how perfectly Ezinma and Okonkwo understand each other and indicates that Ezinma is the only one that empathizes her father’s thoughts. “A bond of sympathy had grown between them as the years had passed.” The author utilizes the word sympathy to enhance the bond between Ezinma and her father. The word sympathy is used when one person completely agrees and understands other’s feelings. Since she comprehended every mood of her father, Okonkwo wanted her to be a boy that would resemble him with similar characteristics, and feelings. On top of that, Achebe’s rhetorical question also imply that Ezinma is the only child that empathizes the father’s mood and feelings. “Who else among his children could have read his thoughts so well?” Since Ezinma could understand the true meaning behind Okonkwo’s words even if he does not directly tell the children, the author wanted to tell the reader that there is no one but Ezinma that has a strong bond of sympathy between her father. Even if the readers can already infer from the passage that only Ezinma is capable of reading Okonkwo’s mind, the rhetorical question fortifies it again to the reader. In summary, Achebe’s use of the word sympathy explains why Okonkwo wanted Ezinma to be a boy, and the rhetorical question enhance the fact that Okonkwo has strong wish for masculinity of

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Okonkwo’s aggressive ways caused Nwoye to rely on Ikemefuna, A boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village, as an older brother who teaches him a more gentle form of masculinity. The bond between Nwoye and Ikemefuna was stronger than the bond between Nwoye and Okonkwo ever was because of Okonkwo’s refusal to demonstrate affection towards his son as it could make him appear weak. However, because of the death of Ikemefuna, Nwoye fears having to return to the harsh values of his father. Okonkwo’s stubborn ideas of masculinity ruined his relationship with his son beyond repair. Okonkwo’s refusal to show emotion towards his family pushed them apart which shows that Okonkwo is not willing to give up his stern values and reputation to be emotionally committed to his family.

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Okonkwo Falls Apart Chinua Achebe offers a rare look at the natives perspective during colonialism in his work Things Fall Apart. The central struggle in the main character Okonkwo is that he is beginning to lose his way of life, and he is not able to do anything about it. Conflicts in religious beliefs with the arrival of the missionaries heightens Okonkwo 's internal aggression, and his inability to adapt leads to his downfall.

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The novel “things fall apart” is about the fatal demise of Okonkwo and the igbo culture of Umuofia. Okonkwo is well known and respected leader in his community, who is successful in everything he does, such as wrestling and farming. He is quick with his hands and takes pride in his accomplishments. Okonkwo’s family relationship makes him a sympathetic character because of his support and an unsympathetic character because of his cruelty. In many ways Okonkwo showed that he had no sympathy for others , However at times he could be sympathetic.

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895 Words | 4 Pages

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