tradition in things fall apart essays

Things Fall Apart

Chinua achebe, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

The novel's title is a quote from a poem by the Irish poet W.B. Yeats called "The Second Coming": "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” Much of the novel centers on Umuofia traditions of marriage, burial, and harvest. Achebe's decision to use a third-person narrator instead of writing the book from Okonkwo's perspective demonstrates just how central the idea of tradition is to the book, since the third-person narrator can more objectively describe facets of Umuofia society—their love of proverbs or how they make judicial decisions, for example—to the reader than Okonkwo could as an insider to these rituals. As the quote in the epigraph suggests, though, these traditions that form the center of Umuofia society cannot survive in the face of major changes occurring around them. As the white men enter the clans and impose their world order upon them, Umuofia society spirals apart.

Okonkwo and his son Nwoye also symbolize tradition and change, respectively. Okonkwo's character represents tradition, since he holds conventional ideas of rank, reputation, and masculinity in high esteem. As the book progresses, however, Okonkwo begins to fall out of favor with the clans, and his descent signals the crumbling of traditional Umuofia society. His adherence to tradition also drives him to kill his own surrogate son, Ikemefuna , driving away Nwoye in the process. Nwoye feels cold when he contemplates certain aspects of Umuofia society—such as leaving infant twins out to die and the idea of sacrificing innocents like Ikemefuna—and this pushes him to join the Christians when he's given the chance later in the novel.

Tradition vs. Change ThemeTracker

Tradition vs. Change Quotes in Things Fall Apart

Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.

Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.

And in fairness to Umuofia it should be recorded that it never went to war unless its case was clear and just and was accepted as such by its Oracle – the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. And there were indeed occasions when the Oracle had forbidden Umuofia to wage a war. If the clan had disobeyed the Oracle they would surely have been beaten, because their dreaded agadi-nwayi would never fight what the Ibo call a fight of blame .

Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness, and even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father was agbala . That was how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could also mean a man who had taken no title. And so Okonkwo was ruled by one passion – to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness.

Okonkwo did as the priest said. He also took with him a pot of palm-wine. Inwardly, he was repentant. But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error. And so people said he had no respect for the gods of the clan.

And at last the locusts did descend. They settled on every tree and on every blade of grass; they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground. Mighty tree branches broke away under them, and the whole country became the brown-earth color of the vast, hungry swarm.

“The world is large,” said Okonkwo. “I have even heard that in some tribes a man's children belong to his wife and her family.” “That cannot be,” said Machi. “You might as well say that the woman lies on top of the man when they are making the children.”

It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years…

As soon as the day broke, a large crowd of men from Ezeudu's quarter stormed Okonkwo's compound, dressed in garbs of war. They set fire to his houses, demolished his red walls, killed his animals and destroyed his barn. It was the justice of the earth goddess, and they were merely her messengers. They had no hatred in their hearts again Okonkwo. His greatest friend, Obierika, was among them. They were merely cleansing the land which Okonkwo had polluted with the blood of a clansman.

“…I forgot to tell you another thing which the Oracle said. It said that other white men were on their way. They were locusts, it said, and that first man was their harbinger sent to explore the terrain. And so they killed him.”

But there was a young lad who had been captivated. His name was Nwoye, Okonkwo's first son. It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him…It was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the marrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul – the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed.

Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.

“But I fear for you young people because you do not understand how strong is the bond of kinship…And what is the result? An abominable religion has settled among you. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. He can curse gods of his fathers and his ancestors, like a hunter's dog that suddenly goes mad and turns on his master. I fear for you; I fear for the clan.”

“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has a put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”

One of the greatest crimes a man could commit was to unmask an egwugwu in public, or to say or do anything which might reduce its immortal prestige in the eyes of the uninitiated. And this was what Enoch did.

Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

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Conflict and Tradition in Things Fall Apart Essay example

Conflict and Tradition in Things Fall Apart The book Things Fall Apart successfully expressed how Chinua Achebe had succeeded in writing a different story. It pointed out the conflict of oneself, the traditional beliefs, and the religious matters of the Africans. Throughout the novel, Chinua Achebe used simple but dignified words and unlike other books, he also included some flashbacks and folktales to make the novel more interesting and comprehensible. Things Fall Apart was about a man named Okonkwo, who was always struggling with his inner fear although he was known for being a strong, powerful, and fearless warior. He feared of weakness, and failure more than the fear of losing …show more content…

When a man wanted to marry a woman, he had to pay the bride price to her relatives if htey accepted him. Each day, the wives had to prepare their own dishes for their husbands and would have to obey them for whatever reason. Although their order might go against the wives' will, they could not question their husbands because it's against the cultural traditions. When a child was born, it belonged to its father and his family instead of the mother's because the man was the head of the family and the wife was always supposed to obey his command. But when a man was in an exile, he would have to return to his mother's kinsmen until the period of exile was over . Furthermore, when a woman died, she was taken home to burry with her own kinsmen and not with her husband's. Chinua Achebe described these customs clearly in the story because they revealed the distinctness of the Igbo women at that time and these traditions made the story more appealing to the readers. According to Chinua Achebe, the religion was one of the reasons that led to the death of Okonkwo at the end. The clans of the Igbo society worshipped their gods, which made of stones and woods, differently than other religions. They had a representative for each of their goddess such as the Oracle of the Hills. The main god that they worshipped was Chukwu, who was believed had created heaven and Earth. For some people who

Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe tries to bring back up cultural, social, and spiritual basics of traditional Igbo (Ibo) existence from the year 1850 and 1900. The novel cannot be fixed like other societal and political old times of Ibo society since it is a fictional novel. However, the novel describes disagreements and anxiety that occurred in Igbo society. It also shows changes initiated by colonial ruling and Christianity. Colonialism affected the people in the Ibo society by destroying of their family’s relationships, friendships, their religion or even created fights between the tribes. Additionally, Christianity attracted the people of the Igbo society. Igbo and other societies were changed considerably due to this variety of

Specified quotes from "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe. Categories are mood, silence, and father/son conflict.

-After Nwoye is lured into the Christian religion and abandons his culture and family, Okonkwo is ashamed and states, "you have all see the great abomination of your brother. Now he is no longer my son or your brother. I will only have a son who is a man, who will hold his head up among my people" (172). Nwoye's father disowns him only because he chooses a path untraditional to his culture. The serious, frustrated, and unhappy mood that is created in Okonkwo's statement gives the reader an idea of how much the Ibo culture values tradition, choice, and family.

Things Fall Apart Essay

Chinua Achebe 's Things Fall Apart portrays Africa, especially the Igbo society, during the pre- and post-European imperial era. This novel is about the tragic fall of Okonkwo, the protagonist, and the Igbo culture. Okonkwo is a strong and highly respected leader in the Igbo community of Umuofia. Things Fall Apart examines the demolition of African culture by the appearance of the white man in terms of the destruction of the connections between individuals and their society. Achebe also explains the role of women in this pre-colonial Nigerian community. The position of women in the novel is not respected or honored because they are not treated equally to men; they are overlooked, beat, and oppressed.

Things Fall Apart: Gender Roles

Things Fall Apart is a literary novel written and published by Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, or Chinua Achebe, in the 1959. Chinua was born on November 16, 1930 into a Nigerian village named Ogidi. Things Fall Apart is based in Nigeria around the year 1890. The book addresses topics including, “Nigeria’s white colonial government and the traditional culture of the indigenous Igbo people” (SparkNotes Editors). The book also contains several controversial topics involving, Christian missionaries being labeled, “foolish”, the subject matter of death and suicide, and the physical and verbal abuse that the women received. Chinua well portrays the “macho” and chiefly attitude of the African men in the Ibo society. But the question is, how exactly are women treated within the society? The well respected Okonkwo is a prime example on exactly how men treated women during this time period.

How Did Nwoye Influence The Igbo Religion

Chinua Achebe wrote the book Things Fall Apart in the year 1958, a time when Africa was undergoing drastic changes, and experiencing new things. Achebe wrote his first book, Things Fall Apart in a way that reflected what he had experienced and what he believed in. This is evident in the many parts of the book, Including Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity, Igbo storytelling and folklore, and with the tribal leaders of Umofia and their thoughts on the missionaries.

Things Fall Apart Quote Analysis

A big theme of Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe is Okonkwo’s resist to change. Being a story about culture this affects this characters in multiple ways. The tension between change and tradition often comes down to who the characters are in the community. These changes come in various forms and areas.

Igbo Culture

Since the customs play such a big role in the Igbo culture, the Igbo people try to follow the celebrations more seriously. Even though the customs are important, they are generally more simple. Achebe uses Okonkwo as a metaphor for how simple the Igbo culture is when Ezeani says, ”You know as well as as I do that our forefathers ordained that before we plant any crops in the earth whose blessing our crops will not grow. Your wife was at fault, but even if you came into your obi and found her lover on top of her, you would still have committed a great evil to beat her” (Achebe 30). This evidence shows that it is hard for some to follow simple rules.

Things Fall Apart Gender Roles

103082 Introduction: "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe is a masterpiece and a good representation of Africa. It shows Africans conflict with white colonizers through Okonkwo's eyes who is the protagonist of the narration that represents resistance. The novel, also, shows the nature of Igbo culture as the reader gets an insight of religious values, Justice system, tradition and customs. In addition, Gender plays a significant role in "things fall apart as everything appears to be gendered such as yam seeds which is associated with masculinity. Also, there are gender stereotypes that men and women are expected to fit in.

Stereotypes In Things Fall Apart

In the novel Things Fall Apart, the author, Chinua Achebe disproves the demeaning stereotypes pushed onto Africans by works like Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Achebe does this by honestly showing the Igbo people as complex, civilized people with language and religion. Stereotypes are quite dangerous and are often taught from a young age and are reinforced by others. Joseph Conrad seeks to reinforce these stereotypes this his novel. Throughout Heart of Darkness, Conrad’s protagonist, named Marlow, describes the native Africans as creatures and shadows, often comparing them to animals or the wilderness itself, thus successfully dehumanizing them.

Argument Essay: Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Many situations given do not directly affect the story itself, but serve a purpose in providing examples to enlighten the reader on the background of the heritage. An example pertaining to the development of Ibo culture comes from its system of laws and justice. Achebe dedicates a chapter of this novel to describing the rituals of the egwugwu (important clansmen who dress as village ancestors), as they determine the verdict in a wife-beating case during Peace Week (87). The villagers of Umuofia do not believe the costumed clansmen are the village ancestors, although, “Okonkwo’s wives...might have noticed that the second egwugwu had the springy walk of Okonkwo. They noticed that Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the row of egwugwu."

Things Fall Apart Imperialism

During the 19th century, European colonization and imperialism swept the face of African societies. The voices of these entrapped societies were highly suppressed throughout the time period resulting in a narrow westernized perspective of the event. However, this changed when Chinua Achebe-- the first African to have a novel published-- created his masterpiece Things Fall Apart. Through this spectacular novel, Achebe depicts the clash of cultures between the British colonists and the Igbo tribe as well as the mixed emotions in regards to western influence among tribal members through the lenses of Okonkwo and his son Nwoye. Through the cultural interactions between the British and the Igbo people, Achebe is able to artfully and elaborately

Igbo Society: Human Dignity Of Human Life

There is a belief that ancestors protect their living descendents and are responsible for rain, harvest , health and children. Shrines called Mbari, are made in honor of the earth spirits. The inhabitants of igboland were close to one another and were very good at adapting, which helped them maintain a secured society. One of the most valued traditions followed by the people of Igbo society is the sense of human dignity and sanctity of human life. It was a heinous crime to kill a clansman. The perpetrator is condemned if it is done on purpose, or goes into exile if it is unconsciously done. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man or women who committed it must flee from the land.

How Does Achebe Present Okonkwo's Death In Things Fall Apart

In things fall apart, Chinua Achebe uses the death of Ikemefuna, the mistreating of women, and a strict religion to convey the theme of life in Nigeria. Chinua Achebe reveals the theme of Nigerian life through flashback and characterization in his novel things fall apart. Showing people bowing down to egwugwu and worshipping iron-fisted gods, Chinua Achebe is telling about Nigerian life in things fall apart.

Essay on themes in Things Fall Apart and Second Coming

The novel "Things Fall Apart" examines African culture before the colonial infiltration. Achebe's novel forces us to examine the customs and traditions that make up an informal culture. At times we may find some their practices appalling, but Achebe makes us realize that the traditions and customs are what essentially hold the Ibo together. Achebe wrote 'Things Fall Apart" with the intention of changing the common view of African culture. He wrote the novel from an insider's perspective, revealing that African culture was not solely based on barbaric and mindless rituals. Achebe reveals the affects of the colonial infiltration on African societies. Through his

Critical Analysis Of Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe published the fictional account Things Fall Apart in 1958. It was written to provide a new perspective on the African culture and the societies of the pre - colonial villages in Africa. He tried to dispel stereotypes and overshadow the writers who previously persuaded the world to shun Africa and its culture. Things Fall Apart told the story of the village of Umuofia over a period of many years and how they behaved and what happened with white foreign missionaries entered their lives and started the village of Umuofia on the path to falling apart.

Related Topics

• Role of women
• Important factor

• Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe

• Literature Notes
• Major Themes in Things Fall Apart
• Book Summary
• About Things Fall Apart
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Part 1: Chapter 1
• Part 1: Chapter 2
• Part 1: Chapter 3
• Part 1: Chapter 4
• Part 1: Chapter 5
• Part 1: Chapter 6
• Part 1: Chapter 7
• Part 1: Chapter 8
• Part 1: Chapter 9
• Part 1: Chapter 10
• Part 1: Chapter 11
• Part 1: Chapter 12
• Part 1: Chapter 13
• Part 2: Chapter 14
• Part 2: Chapter 15
• Part 2: Chapter 16
• Part 2: Chapter 17
• Part 2: Chapter 18
• Part 2: Chapter 19
• Part 3: Chapter 20
• Part 3: Chapter 21
• Part 3: Chapter 22
• Part 3: Chapter 23
• Part 3: Chapter 24
• Part 3: Chapter 25
• Character Analysis
• Reverend James Smith
• Character Map
• Chinua Achebe Biography
• Critical Essays
• Use of Language in Things Fall Apart
• Full Glossary for Things Fall Apart
• Essay Questions
• Cite this Literature Note

Critical Essays Major Themes in Things Fall Apart

Introduction

For many writers, the theme of a novel is the driving force of the book during its creation. Even if the author doesn't consciously identify an intended theme, the creative process is directed by at least one controlling idea — a concept or principle or belief or purpose significant to the author. The theme — often several themes — guides the author by controlling where the story goes, what the characters do, what mood is portrayed, what style evolves, and what emotional effects the story will create in the reader.

Igbo Society Complexity

From Achebe's own statements, we know that one of his themes is the complexity of Igbo society before the arrival of the Europeans. To support this theme, he includes detailed descriptions of the justice codes and the trial process, the social and family rituals, the marriage customs, food production and preparation processes, the process of shared leadership for the community, religious beliefs and practices, and the opportunities for virtually every man to climb the clan's ladder of success through his own efforts. The book may have been written more simply as a study of Okonkwo's deterioration in character in an increasingly unsympathetic and incompatible environment, but consider what would have been lost had Achebe not emphasized the theme of the complex and dynamic qualities of the Igbo in Umuofia.

Clash of Cultures

Against Achebe's theme of Igbo cultural complexity is his theme of the clash of cultures. This collision of cultures occurs at the individual and societal levels, and the cultural misunderstanding cuts both ways: Just as the uncompromising Reverend Smith views Africans as "heathens," the Igbo initially criticize the Christians and the missionaries as "foolish." For Achebe, the Africans' misperceptions of themselves and of Europeans need realignment as much as do the misperceptions of Africans by the West. Writing as an African who had been "Europeanized," Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart as "an act of atonement with [his] past, the ritual return and homage of a prodigal son." By his own act, he encourages other Africans, especially ones with Western educations, to realize that they may misperceive their native culture.

Related to the theme of cultural clash is the issue of how much the flexibility or the rigidity of the characters (and by implication, of the British and Igbo) contribute to their destiny. Because of Okonkwo's inflexible nature, he seems destined for self-destruction, even before the arrival of the European colonizers. The arrival of a new culture only hastens Okonkwo's tragic fate.

Two other characters contrast with Okonkwo in this regard: Mr. Brown, the first missionary, and Obierika, Okonkwo's good friend. Whereas Okonkwo is an unyielding man of action, the other two are more open and adaptable men of thought. Mr. Brown wins converts by first respecting the traditions and beliefs of the Igbo and subsequently allowing some accommodation in the conversion process. Like Brown, Obierika is also a reasonable and thinking person. He does not advocate the use of force to counter the colonizers and the opposition. Rather, he has an open mind about changing values and foreign culture: "Who knows what may happen tomorrow?" he comments about the arrival of foreigners. Obierika's receptive and adaptable nature may be more representative of the spirit of Umuofia than Okonkwo's unquestioning rigidity.

For example, consider Umuofia's initial lack of resistance to the establishment of a new religion in its midst. With all its deep roots in tribal heritage, the community hardly takes a stand against the intruders — against new laws as well as new religion. What accounts for this lack of community opposition? Was Igbo society more receptive and adaptable than it appeared to be? The lack of strong initial resistance may also come from the fact that the Igbo society does not foster strong central leadership. This quality encourages individual initiative toward recognition and achievement but also limits timely decision-making and the authority-backed actions needed on short notice to maintain its integrity and welfare. Whatever the reason — perhaps a combination of these reasons — the British culture and its code of behavior, ambitious for its goals of native "enlightenment" as well as of British self-enrichment, begin to encroach upon the existing Igbo culture and its corresponding code of behavior.

A factor that hastens the decline of the traditional Igbo society is their custom of marginalizing some of their people — allowing the existence of an outcast group and keeping women subservient in their household and community involvement, treating them as property, and accepting physical abuse of them somewhat lightly. When representatives of a foreign culture (beginning with Christian missionaries) enter Igbo territory and accept these marginalized people — including the twins — at their full human value, the Igbo's traditional shared leadership finds itself unable to control its whole population. The lack of a clear, sustaining center of authority in Igbo society may be the quality that decided Achebe to draw his title from the Yeats poem, "The Second Coming." The key phrase of the poems reads, "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold."

Underlying the aforementioned cultural themes is a theme of fate , or destiny. This theme is also played at the individual and societal levels. In the story, readers are frequently reminded about this theme in references to chi , the individual's personal god as well as his ultimate capability and destiny. Okonkwo, at his best, feels that his chi supports his ambition: "When a man says yes, his chi says yes also" (Chapter 4). At his worst, Okonkwo feels that his chi has let him down: His chi "was not made for great things. A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi. . . . Here was a man whose chi said nay despite his own affirmation" (Chapter 14).

At the societal level, the Igbos' lack of a unifying self-image and centralized leadership as well as their weakness in the treatment of some of their own people — both previously discussed — suggest the inevitable fate of becoming victim to colonization by a power eager to exploit its resources.

In addition to the three themes discussed in this essay, the thoughtful reader will probably be able to identify other themes in the novel: for example, the universality of human motives and emotions across cultures and time, and the need for balance between individual needs and community needs.

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Identity in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe Essay

Interaction with other human beings is the crucial element of life, as it directly affects the emotional and psychological development of the person and the formation of his/her worldview. Therefore, the society surrounding the person can be considered the most important factor influencing the formation of one’s views and opinions.

Though modern people often claim that the most important thing is to be faithful to one’s personal values, the fulfillment of values regarded as essential by the people surrounding the person remains much more influential. Cultural history is one of the vital factors that have an impact on the attitudes and beliefs prevailing in the society.

Therefore, cultural history often shapes the person’s sense of identity, as people regard their cultural background as the essential constituent of their personality. If the person loses the ability to distinguish between cultural history and his/her identity, the consequences can be rather destructive, as in the case of Okonkwo from Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart.”

The example of Okonkwo illustrates how cultural history can be connected to the sense of one’s identity. Okonkwo considers being devoted to the traditions originating from the history of his tribe, the most important duty in his life. His personality is inseparable from the culture of the environment where he grew up, as all of his actions are guided by the strong willing to be a respectful member of his community.

Okonkwo’s obsession with trying to demonstrate masculine traits is directly related to the cultural history of his tribe. One of the brightest episodes revealing the dominance of cultural history over Okonkwo’s personality is the scene of the murder of Ikemefuna. Though Okonkwo loves the boy and treats him as a part of his family, he ignores his personal feelings and attitudes in order to demonstrate his devotion to the traditions of his tribe and avoid being considered effeminate.

Okonkwo suppresses his personal wishes in favor of the traditions and beliefs of the tribe. Such an example demonstrates that cultural history can be not only an influential factor but a dominating one. Some people lose the ability to distinguish their personal beliefs and opinions from the attitudes of cultural history. In such cases, the identity of a person becomes inseparable from his/her cultural history.

The destructive nature of excessive devotion to cultural history is also expressed it the person’s inability to exist outside his/her culture. In such a case, a person can lose the motivation to live and experience severe psychological problems if certain events modify the cultural environment or force him/her to move to another environment.

For example, Okonkwo fails to adjust to the new conditions after the culture of his tribe experiences the influence of white Christians. Okonkwo’s sense of identity is that much inseparable from the cultural history that the changes in the culture of his tribe put a serious threat to his ability to lead a normal life.

Many people in the real world experience similar difficulties related to the significant stress caused by the impact of modern tendencies at the culture they feel indivisible with. Such a situation can have significant negative effects on the life of a person as the loss of the sense of identity makes the person disorientated in life goals and vulnerable.

The phenomenon of the deep connection between cultural history and the sense of identity has its roots in the history of mankind and the specifics of the human psyche. Most developed societies have put a strong emphasis on promoting the traditions and culture prevailing in them. Being devoted to the values dominating the culture of the society has always been one of the main requirements for achieving success in the community.

Therefore, people have always been forced to consider cultural history as an essential element of their sense of identity. The human psyche is another factor contributing to the significant role of cultural history. The human psyche can function well if the person fulfills the needs of a social creature. Existing outside of society causes severe negative psychological consequences.

The feeling of belonging to some community and the willingness to be respected and praised by the members of society is one of the essential needs of any human. Any action the person does has value only if other people witness and appreciate it. That is why the factors influencing the dominating views of society, such as cultural history, have a strong influence on the personality and shapes his/her sense of identity.

There is no doubt that humans are highly social creatures. The cultural history as an important heritage of the society plays a crucial role in forming a person’s sense of identity. The excessive influence of cultural history can lead to the situation when the person’s identity is inseparable from the traditions of its society. When the connection between cultural history and one’s sense of identity becomes too strong, the person can experience significant difficulties, as in the case of Okonkwo from “Things Fall Apart.”

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IvyPanda. (2020, May 9). Identity in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe. https://ivypanda.com/essays/identity-in-things-fall-apart-by-chinua-achebe/

"Identity in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe." IvyPanda , 9 May 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/identity-in-things-fall-apart-by-chinua-achebe/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Identity in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe'. 9 May.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Identity in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe." May 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/identity-in-things-fall-apart-by-chinua-achebe/.

1. IvyPanda . "Identity in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe." May 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/identity-in-things-fall-apart-by-chinua-achebe/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Identity in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe." May 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/identity-in-things-fall-apart-by-chinua-achebe/.

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Okonkwo ‘s Suicide : a Coward ‘s Way out

This essay about Okonkwo’s suicide in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart examines the complexities of his character and the broader implications of his actions. It discusses how Okonkwo’s fear of failure and adherence to traditional values conflict with the transformative influences of European colonialism. The essay argues that Okonkwo’s suicide can be seen as both an act of defiance against a changing society and a perceived act of cowardice that abandons tribal and familial obligations. It highlights the cultural, personal, and symbolic layers of Okonkwo’s final decision, suggesting that his suicide represents not only his personal tragedy but also the broader theme of cultural dissolution under colonial pressure. The analysis invites readers to consider the nuanced interplay between individual agency and overwhelming cultural shifts.

How it works

In Chinua Achebe’s seminal work, Things Fall Apart , Okonkwo’s suicide serves as a poignant climax to his tragic story, provoking intense debate among scholars and readers alike. Rather than viewing his final act solely through the lens of cowardice, it’s essential to delve deeper into the complex tapestry of cultural conflict and personal turmoil that defines Okonkwo’s life.

Okonkwo, a man of great pride and status within the Umuofia tribe, navigates his existence with an overwhelming fear of failure and weakness, a theme that is deeply rooted in his father’s perceived effeminacy and incompetence.

This fear drives Okonkwo to extremes, manifesting in his rigid adherence to the old ways of his ancestors, his violent temper, and ultimately, his resistance to change.

The arrival of European colonizers and their new religion marks the beginning of an irreversible transformation in Umuofian society, a change that Okonkwo cannot reconcile with. His desperate cling to the past culminates in an act of defiance—killing a colonial messenger—which isolates him from his community as they move towards adaptation rather than confrontation. This isolation can be seen as the final blow to Okonkwo’s sense of identity and his place in the world.

Okonkwo’s decision to end his life, traditionally a profound taboo in his culture, is a complex decision layered with multiple dimensions of despair and defiance. It could be argued that his suicide is an act of ultimate defiance against the forces that have usurped his way of life and eroded the values he cherished. In this light, Okonkwo’s death is not a surrender, but a final stand against a world he no longer recognizes or belongs in.

Conversely, from the perspective of his tribe, Okonkwo’s suicide represents the ultimate act of cowardice. It is a rejection of the communal values that emphasize endurance and collective resilience in the face of adversity. By choosing to escape through death, Okonkwo abandons his familial and societal responsibilities, leaving his family to face the stigma of his action alone, which could suggest a selfish, albeit desperate, escape from a situation he sees as insurmountable.

Moreover, Okonkwo’s suicide symbolically reflects the suicide of the old ways, unable to survive in the new world order brought by colonization. It underscores the broader themes of loss, change, and the inevitability of cultural evolution, regardless of the individual will to resist such changes.

In assessing Okonkwo’s action, it’s crucial to understand the profound internal conflict he experiences, caught between his unyielding will and an evolving world. His death might be seen as an acknowledgment that his values and methods have no place in a rapidly changing society, representing a tragic recognition of his obsolescence.

Through Okonkwo’s narrative, Achebe not only critiques the destructive impact of colonialism but also invites a reflection on the complexities of human behavior when confronted with existential threats to identity and cultural heritage. Okonkwo’s life and death encapsulate a poignant message about the challenges of navigating life in a world where the rules have changed irrevocably.

In conclusion, while it’s tempting to label Okonkwo’s suicide as a coward’s way out, a closer examination reveals a much more intricate interplay of cultural disintegration, personal valor, and tragic inevitability. This act, steeped in traditional taboos yet driven by profoundly personal motivations, invites readers to reflect deeply on the themes of courage, despair, and the human condition exposed in Achebe’s narrative.

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Okonkwo 's Suicide : A Coward 's Way Out. (2024, Apr 14). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/okonkwo-s-suicide-a-coward-s-way-out/

"Okonkwo 's Suicide : A Coward 's Way Out." PapersOwl.com , 14 Apr 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/okonkwo-s-suicide-a-coward-s-way-out/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Okonkwo 's Suicide : A Coward 's Way Out . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/okonkwo-s-suicide-a-coward-s-way-out/ [Accessed: 15 Apr. 2024]

"Okonkwo 's Suicide : A Coward 's Way Out." PapersOwl.com, Apr 14, 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/okonkwo-s-suicide-a-coward-s-way-out/

"Okonkwo 's Suicide : A Coward 's Way Out," PapersOwl.com , 14-Apr-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/okonkwo-s-suicide-a-coward-s-way-out/. [Accessed: 15-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Okonkwo 's Suicide : A Coward 's Way Out . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/okonkwo-s-suicide-a-coward-s-way-out/ [Accessed: 15-Apr-2024]

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