Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

1. The Ibo, as described, live in a group of nine villages connected by their ruling elders. The villages’ interactions are marked by the patterns of contact between them. The ideas of family honor, implied “contracts”, bravery, as well as tradition, are all touched on through these interactions, marking the defining factors of Ibo society. One of the first big occurrences, that gives light to Ibo society and culture, is the murder of a tribesman’s wife by another tribe. The leaders gather in the morning to talk about this and Okonkwo is chosen to go to the neighboring tribe and demand that a young virgin and boy must be given to his people, as penitence for the murder of the wife, or there will be war. There are many significant things to

Additionally, this fact is underscored by Okonkwo’s father’s disdain for blood and violence, and his conversion to Christianity, which Okonkwo fears, as it was the defining line between his father and himself. Bravery and fierceness in battle are seen as traditionally desirable traits in men of the Ibo, as it is their means of upholding their tribe and political agreements in times of unrest, such as with the murdered wife situation. Without fierce and brave warriors, such as Okonkwo, the Mbaino tribe might not have given up the virgin and young boy because war would not have been a big threat in that case. The rift between Okonkwo and his father is emphasized by these ideas, and Okonkwo’s fear of not receiving the respect of the tribe, as his father did not, pushed him to be the warrior and leader he is. In more detail, the interactions of the Ibo, despite their respect for the fierce and brave, are a very complex people and also highly value peacefulness. I would liken many interactions, such as the neighbor coming to collect a debt from Okonkwo, to that of many styles of interaction seen in

Okonkwo, as mentioned earlier, is leader within the tribe and also a fierce warrior. He is known as a hard worker and has done very well for himself, having three wives (who additionally each have their own hut), eight children, and much more. The underscoring of this is Okonkwo’s father’s past. His father could never provide for the family and accrued great debts, and additionally did not take a title within the tribe. Okonkwo saw his father as weak and incapable and this created a burning hate for weakness, which pushes Okonkwo to his greatness within his tribe. Okonkwo, though, struggles with his fear of becoming his father and his rash actions, seen to him as masculine and as opposing his father’s actions, many times cause him pain and problems within his home and