Things Fall Apart, Essay Example

What are the events that have led up to Okonkwo’s banishment to his motherland (Mbanta)

Okonkwo was banished to his motherland of Mbanta due to the accidental murder of a clansmen. The murder occurred during a funeral ceremony. The funeral was for Ezeuda and Okonkwo murdered his 16 year old son at the funeral when his rifle accidentally exploded and it punctured the heart of the boy.

Ironically, what kind of crime did Okonkwo commit and why is this ironic?

The irony of this killing is that the tribe has a ritual which requires the son’s killer to continue the heritage of the father. The reason this is ironic is because being the killer of the child, Okonkwo is also banished from the clan back to his motherland essentially obligated to carry on the heritage in his homeland.

How does Obierika reinforce his good relationship with Okonkwo at this point in the novel and how does this reveal the differences between the two men?

Throughout the first part of the novel, Okonkwo struggles with an internal conflict driven by a fear that he will become like his father. He does not want to be considered weak and focuses entirely on suppressing emotion and portraying the role of a strong man and leader. Obeirika reinforces his good relationship with Okonkwo by countering this perspective and trying to instill some form of logic and rational thought in his decision making process. When Okonkwo is banished, Obierika reinforces his good relationship with Okonkwo by selling his yams to guarantee he won’t suffer financial ruin during his exile.

Describe the differences between Okonkwo and Obierika. Who is the most successful? Who do you admire most? Which of these two characters do you empathize with the most and why? How are they both honoured in their society? Which do you think will do the best in the new colonized society (which comes later in the novel)?

A key difference can be seen between the two men when they conflict over the morality of Okonkwo killing Ikemefuna. Obeirka tells Okonkwo, “If I were you, I would have stayed at home. What you have done will not please the Earth. It is the kind of action for which the goddess wipes out whole families” (Achebe, 46-47). Okonwo’s view of his action is very different. He feels he is morally right because he followed the instructions of the oracle. He responds to Obierika by contesting that “the Earth cannot punish me for obeying her messenger (Achebe, 46-47)” Obeirka responds by stating he would respect the opinion of the oracle but he would not have taken part in the actual killing of Ikemefuna. This demonstrates that Okonkwo has no real moral foundation of his own and just follows the tribe’s traditional strictures without question. In this way he is the weak man he has been trying not to be. Obierka will definitely do better in the new colonized society because he already has his own moral compass.

What is the purpose of Achebe including the description of Obierika’s daughter’s uri in chapter 12? How does this add to our understanding of the context of the novel? What is your response to this ritual, as a reader?

The symbolism of the uri in the book is to provide the reader with an opportunity to more closely identify with the culture of the clan. The ceremony is very similar to many other marital rituals in modern times. My response to the ritual was that it reminded me of similar rituals like the father paying for the cost of his bride’s wedding or even the offering of a dowry to the bride and groom to startup their lives together. I believe this ritual serves as a perfect way to show the Umuofia people are similar to many other cultures in the west.

What is the purpose of including the episode of Enzima begin taken to the oracle? What does it reveal about the relationship between Okonkwo and Ekwefi? Does this reveal more about Okonkwo’s character?

This part of the book revelas that Okonwo and Ekwefit share a deep love and appreciation for their daughter. Part of the reason why Achebe includes the section with Enzima being taken to the oracle is to foreshadow the interaction between the white men and the clan. This is done when Ekwefi tells the story of the Tortoise and the bird noting that, “But before they left each took back the feather he had lent to Tortoise. And there he stood in his hard shell full of food and wine but without any wings to fly home” (Achebe, 99). This is a symbolic point for the entire novel because it foreshadows the arrival of the white men who will provide them with a better way of life but take away the identity and culture they knew before.

In chapter 10, the Egwugwu are called. How does the reader respond to them? What is their importance in the community? How does it reveal laws and rules? Are they fair?

The Egwugwu are meant to be a symbolic representation of the cultural independence of the Umuofia in the form of ancestral gods. In actuality, they are elders of the Umuofia dressed in masks. They are important because they provide structure to the community of Umuofia. They resolve conflicts and symbolically they are the spirit driving the clan as a whole. The moment the Egwugwu lose power in the tribe, it represents a transition from them having an identity to them losing their identity. This can especially be seen in the way the white court takes over many of the responsibilities once managed by the Egwugwu. Once the white court has taken control, the power of the Egwuwu isn’t just lost, but the identity of the Umuofia people are also lost in the process. It can however be deduced that not all of the laws are fair as Obeirika and many others throughout the book question the morality of many of the decisions made.

In chapter 9, Enzima becomes very ill. How does Okonkwo’s reaction to this soften our understanding of his character?

Enzima’s sickness demonstrates Okonkwo’s feelings of powerlessness and his anxious fear of death in regards to his loved ones. Okonkwo is still depressed over killing Ikemefuna and now fears losing Ezinma. He travels to the cave four times in a worried state before seeing Ekwefi. This softens the reader’s perspective of Okonkwo because it reveals his vulnerable nature and shows his real character under the fake façade of being emotionless. Up until this moment in the novel, Okonkwo has attempted to suppress his emotions, but his behavior here reveals the deep concern he has for Enzima and the fear that she might die.

Chapters 7 and 8 tell of the killing of Ikemefuna. What is revealed in chapter 8 through the conversation between Obierika and Okonkwo? Do you think he did the right thing? Why did he feel that he had to be the one to kill Ikemefuna? What weakness does this reveal in Okonkwo?

The main thing revealed in the conversation between Okonkwo and Oberika is that difference in how they perceive the sanctity of their culture. Okonkwo fundamentally follows the letter of the law, while Obierika is his own man staying true to his culture but retaining his own concept of what’s right and wrong. The thing that is revealed about Okonkwo is that he is concerned with what the villagers think about him to a fault. In fact, he is almost incapable of thinking for himself. His morality is based entirely on what the oracle deems to be right or wrong and the standards of what is considered manly.