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Elements of the novel Things fall apart: Chinua Achebe
Elements of the novel Things fall apart: Chinua Achebe
Elements of the novel Things fall apart: Chinua Achebe
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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.
In chapter 11 of Things Fall Apart, the author used a lot of figurative language. At the start of chapter 11, Achebe uses a hyperbole to exaggerate a meaning. “One could not have known where one’s mouth was in the darkness of that night” (95). This quote shows the importance of the absolute darkness and how it exaggerates how someone won’t know where there mouth is because it is difficult to see in the dark. In the quote, “Her heart jumped painfully with her” (Achebe 100), this is a use of personification.
The author, Chinua Achebe, used Okonkwo as an example of the father/son conflict and how the conflict affects a man’s life. Just because one does not always act like the typical strong, almost emotionless man, that does not mean one is coward. Okonkwo’s thought process leads to his demise because he cannot bear to see the strong willed tribe and culture he has known his whole life fail him: just
China Achebe demonstrates the disrespect the Ibo men had for woman in Things Fall Apart by depicting verbal and physical abuse within the community. The men have control over a woman through power of authority. This physical and verbal abuse lets the men of the society feel empowerment over the woman. “ Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper” Achebe 12.
In Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo reacts to cultural collision in his society by having a closed mind and attempting to retaliate, which ultimately leads to his suicide, contributing to the novel’s theme that one
Killing Ikemefuna shows that Okonkwo does not have absolute control over his emotions. As he sits in his obi afterward he is sad and defeated: “Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna” (Achebe 63). Killing someone close to him causes Okonkwo to fall into a deep state of depression. Starving himself because of his grief reveals that he has succumbed to his fear. Okonkwo has committed his life to avoid a situation that causes him to appear weak, but refusing to eat outwardly demonstrates his pain and sorrow of killing the boy that called him father.
The Soviet Union and the United Nations, led by the United States of America, were engaged in political and economic clashes, known as the Cold War, from the late 1940s to early 1950s. The Soviet Union stood for a Communist government, a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. Communism gained power in the 1930s, from the Great Depression because everyone was then relying on the government to fix the crisis. The United States had a Capitalist government, where a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, and the people have individual rights. So with the two governments clashing, neither of the powers liked what each other stood
Achebe uses this quote to explain how Okonkwo’s sacrifice was thought as justified for following the Oracle’s request, making loyalty seem supreme to morality. In the sacrifice of Ikemefuna by Okonkwo, we see that Okonkwo values obeying the laws of his society and acting manly over showing affection to his dear
After Okonkwo murders Ikemefuna he has a bulk of feelings and becomes emotional which isn’t like him. The text says “ Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna. .. He did not sleep at night, he tried not to think about Ikemefuna but the more he tried, the more he thought about him”(Achebe 63). Okonkwo grown very fond of him, so his death made Okonkwo very dismal about his actions.
When asked why he states "I am calling a feast because I have wherewithal. I cannot live on the bank of a river and wash my hands with spittle", Achebe uses figurative language to convey to the reader Okonkwo 's feelings toward this subject; furthermore, Oknokwo believes that if he has the ability to do
During those three years, Okonkwo and the tribute, Ikemefuna, become like father and son, but after the three years are over, the oracle proclaims that Ikemefuna must die. As Ikemefuna unknowingly walks to his old village with Okonkwo and some other men, they start to close in on him and when Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo, “Okonkwo drew
Among those of the same culture, individuals who are adaptive and open-minded can be successful when there is cultural collision. When the Igbo and European cultures collide, Okonkwo gradually spirals out of control, losing everything he values and his own sense of self. From the beginning of the novel, Achebe depicts Okonkwo as a virile warrior and a successful farmer within the Igbo tribe. Reacting with violence to anything he considers “womanly” or “weak”, “He was a man of action and man of war” (10). Because of his reputation as a warrior he is highly respected by his community.
The organization of chapter seven of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart plays a role in why the readers do not sympathize with Okonkwo’s actions. At the beginning of the chapter Achebe shows how Ikemefuna has fit into the family and looks up to Okonkwo as a father and how Okonkwo treats him just as good, if not better, than his own son, Nwoye (Achebe 52). This creates the reader to feel for Ikemefuna and not feel any sorrow or guilt for him. Then at the end of the chapter Okonkwo turns on Ikemefuna and kills him (Achebe 61).
Eventually, after numerous hardships, Okonkwo earns his success and obtains several barns and wives. This symbolizes wealth and power which were what Okonkwo had been working for all his life. Moreover, Achebe portrays Okonkwo as a fierce warrior and is also represents him as a model clansman in the society:
Okonkwo In literature, there are many characters that stand out and show that they have a variety of qualities about them. In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is one character that presents character traits from both the negative and positive sides of him. Okonkwo is portrayed to be a warrior who wanted to become somebody strong and looked up to, but also possesses less favorable qualities. He, however, does not let any one trait dictate his whole personality; he is written to be a well-rounded character.
