A powerful quote was once said by Heidi Wills. “We can choose to be affected by the world or we can choose to affect the world.” In the novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo has only experienced the land of Umuofia, but he decides to take action to “affect the world”, even though he’s only in a microscopic part of it. One example of him doing this was Ikemefuna, a boy that he got from another tribe, looked up to Okonkwo like a father figure. However, when the tribe agreed to kill Ikemefuna, and the boy was crying out for his father to help him, Okonkwo helped join in the killing, making him affect the killing instead of just watching the killing. Also, when he decides to affect the world, violence is used, a major change occurs in the book for the …show more content…
Nwoye, the actual son of Okonkwo, was very damaged by the killing of Ikemefuna. Nwoye would've been upset over the incident, whether his father was involved with it or not, but because his father was apart of it, Nwoye used all of his frustration on his father, even though he wasn’t the only one guilty for doing the crime. Because of the death of Ikemefuna, Nwoye will never be the same emotionally because he had never had a brother like figure in his life and that was taken away. Due to his father being apart of the killing of him, the connection between Okonkwo and Nwoye has been impaired (and may lead to what Nwoye does in the next significant change). Okonkwo also was afflicted by the killing of Ikemefuna. Ogbuefi Ezeudu, an elder of the tribe highly advises him to not before he went on the walk with his son. When he made the choice of helping kill his son, it was because he wanted to fit in and didn’t want the other guys in the tribe to think less of him. “He was afraid of being thought weak,” Because of him murdering Ikemefuna, his heart becomes harder by trying to become more manly even though an elder of tribe advised against it. However, he is being more like Okonkwo’s father. Okonkwo is a role model in the tribe because of where he came from and is work ethic. He even beat the top wrestler and got more famous. The tribe also thinks that Okonkwo is becoming tougher. …show more content…
This event affected Nwoye very significantly. Nwoye was trying his best to keep the secret that he was interested in the activities the missionary's were involved in, but when his father found out he was outraged and strangled his son. It was for so long that one of Okonkwo's wives was forced to stop him. After this he never wanted see his father again. “[Nwoye] walked away [after being strangled] and never returned,” This event affected Nwoye because he wasn't going to be welcome at home ever again because of what he believed in. Also his father would pretty much disown him as a son, so now he is fatherless. This also affected Okonkwo. Okonkwo in his life is having a hard time balancing love and anger. His anger right now is taking control of him by not thinking of Nwoye as a son but only a trader. On one side Okonkwo is thinking that it is his actual son and he will always love him. However, Okonkwo is thinking that he is completely evil and that he should never be forgiving. “[Okonkwo] cried in his heart should he Okonkwo be cursed with such a son,” This event affected Okonkwo because he will always have to deal with him disowning him. Also Okonkwo will never be thought of as the same throughout his tribe. This event affected the whole Ibo tribe. The Ibo tribe is now kind of in shock because one of the supposed leaders son is going against what they are going with. It starts making
Nwoye’s behavior also got to Okonkwo because he couldn't stand his first born son betraying him to go to the new faith, he was also a reason why Okonkwo killed himself because he felt lonely. “ They came to the tree from which Okonkwo’s body was dangling, and they stopped
I come to you, egwugwu to show you that there are a lot of things that aren’t fair about Unifoma but one of them is that it is legal and everyone thinks it’s normal to beat their children and wives.
The last big rains of the year had not come yet. Okonkwo became anxious as soon it would be time to return to his fatherland. He began to dream about all wrestling matches he had won and the bravery of his kinsmen. Suddenly there was a loud noise coming from outside his compound. Okonkwo jumped to his feet to see what it was. Obierika, his good friend was coming to pay him a visit and tell about the change that was taking place within Umuofia.
In the book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, I learned that Okonkwo, Nwoye, and Ikemefuna were similar and different from one another. Okonkwo was very strict and loyal to his lifestyle while Nwoye was lazy and acted oppositely of him. On the other hand, Ikemefuna wasn’t Okonkwo’s son, although Okonkwo preferred him because he wasn’t lazy. Okonkwo, Nwoye, and Ikemefuna had many different and similar characteristics.
Chinua Achebe explains African culture through storytelling to provide a different perspective. Achebe does this by using a lot of proverbs throughout the book. These proverbs are an important part of the Ibo culture, most of the stories told by the ibo are spoken rather than read. An example of a proverb can be found in chapter one, "If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings." this quote is saying that if you are able to get away from the shadow of your ancestors then you could do anything. This helps explain African culture because it shows that if someone works hard, no matter what background that person is from, they can achieve great things. another example of this could be one of the stories in chapter nine about a mosquito
When analyzing the different relationships Okonkwo has with his family and acquaintance such as Ikemefuna. You can than see how both Nwoye and Ikemefuna have a different perspective on how they get treated by okonkwo. Such as how Nwoye thinks his dad is kind because he treats him good. Okonkwo cared about nwoye however he did not much show it. As for ikemefuna “ he treated ikemefuna as he treated everybody else- with a heavy hand.” He was set out to be more like property of the family however ikemefuna looked up to him as if he were his dad. And so on okonkwo treated him kindly because of the admiration. However showed it in a much simple way still treating him with a heavy hand.Within these relations you can than on see how he is a unsympathetic character he cares for certain members of his family but he doesn’t really identify himself with anyone. He may care for you but he keeps those feelings to himself not letting others see how he really feels. Either he shows a slight bit of mercy or he beats you like how he beats his wife and almost shot her. He thinks showing affection is for cowards basically.
Nwoye struggled with meeting the expectations of his father and clan. He was viewed as lazy by his father which was not an acceptable attribute for a man. Okonkwo, his father, believed he could beat his inadequacies out of him however it only made Nwoye more sad and troubled. He preferred listening to his mom’s bed time stories rather than his father’s war stories. He struggled becoming the man his father wished him to be. Then came along Imf, an older brother figure for him as well as motivator. Imf encouraged Nwoye to be more masculine and to work hard. They challenged one another. In the end, Imf was killed, a direct result of the clan’s
Okonkwo despises his father to an extent that Okonkwo strives to be nothing like Unoka. Okonkwo lives his life and his goal is to be one of the high lords of the clan (Achebe 131). Okonkwo’s life goal is to be the opposite of his father, who is seen as a failure in the Ibo society. Unlike his father who did not fulfill the community's ideals of success Okonkwo did, and strives to achieve his whole life to prove that he was not similar to his father, because he does not want to be like someone who he despises. Similarly to Okonkwo, Nwoye does not have a good relationship with his father, because Nwoye does not act like him. Nwoye Knew that he should act violent like his father, but he preferred to be with his mother and listen to stories (Achebe 53). From a young age Nwoye knew he did not want to be like his father, because he did not approve of the way Okonkwo acts thus he rebelled by being like his mother and preferring kindness and stories over violence. Besides not wanting to be violent like his father, Nwoye rebels by converting to christianity. Nwoye converts, changes his name to Isaac and goes to college to become a teacher (Achebe 182). Nwoye converting and changing his name is the ultimate rebellion because he literally changes everything Okonkwo tried to make Nwoye. Okonkwo attempted to make Nwoye a strong man in the eyes of Ibo society just it in turn made Nwoye rebel and turn
Okonkwo has set views on what a boy should act like. In his mind a man should be strong, a fighter, and fearless; this description of Okonkwo’s version of a man is everything his son is not. Nwoye is affectionate, creative, emotional, and likes women’s stories. Okonkwo considers Nwoye’s strengths to be weaknesses saying, “to show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was
When we fear failure and weakness, it drives us to act without thought which leads to regret and self-blame. In Things Fall Apart, the death of an adoptive son named Ikemefuna affects a relationship between a father and his son. Okonkwo and Nwoye find themselves in a difficult relationship which may lead to the downfall of Okonkwo and the failure of Nwoye to be the son his father wants him to be. Ikemefuna was a young man that came from a different tribe and affected the lives of Okonkwo and Nwoye. Nwoye and Ikemefuna were close friends who saw each other as brothers.
In the story of Thing’s Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo, the main protagonist, decides to participate in the killing of his adoptive son, Ikemefuma, who has been sentenced to death by the tribe’s oracle. He does this despite a respected elder warning him against doing so. The elder tells him that ‘“The boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in is death,’” which is saying that killing Ikemefuma would have the same effect as killing his own son (Achebe 57). The elder is correct and Okonkwo begins to feel uneasy and remorseful after the murder. He doesn’t eat or sleep well after the day of the murder and felt very weak. He wishes that “he could find some work to do he would be able to forget [about Ikemefuma]” and act if his murder never
The novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe is a story about personal beliefs, customs and also about conflict. There is struggle between family and within culture and it also deals with the concept of culture and the notion of the values and traditions within a culture. The word culture is Latin and means to cultivate. To cultivate has several meanings; it can mean to plow, fertilize, raise and plant, to win someone’s friendship, woo and take favor with, to ingratiate oneself with, to better, refine, elevate, educate, develop and enrich. In Things Fall Apart all these words are accurate in describing the culture of Umuofia. A culture is an
The theme of the book Things Fall Apart, which focuses on the breakdown of a society as well as the main character’s personal breakdown, stems from many conflicts of interests and misunderstandings throughout the book. There is not one single moment in the book where everything falls apart, but many times throughout. In the beginning a lot of problems arise from Okonkwo’s anger problems, and his inability to see other’s views. His ignorance is what ultimately leads to his exile from his clan. It’s not just the fact that he accidently killed a fellow clan member, but many other events that had angered the village. One of the first problems was when he disregarded the week of peace by savagely beating his wife. Wife
Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart is a narrative story that follows the life of an African man called Okonkwo. The setting of the book is in eastern Nigeria, on the eve of British colonialism in Africa. The novel illustrates Okonkwo?s struggles, triumphs, and his eventual downfall, all of which basically coincide with the Igbo?s society?s struggle with the Christian religion and British government. In this essay I will give a biographical account of Okonwo, which will serve to help understand that social, political, and economic institutions of the Igbos.
He has always been set in his way of life, and he does not react well to the changes around him. The intrusion of colonists alters the traditions of the tribe. Even amidst the disgrace of exile and after each of his various earlier crimes, he retains his pride and determination, and recognizes that his punishments are just and sensible, grounded in the clan’s legal system. However, the alterations brought about by the colonists don’t adhere to his customs and are far less comprehensible. When he loses his son, Nwoye, to the church, he reacts by denying that he has a son and takes the whole incident as a failure on his part. Despite his attempts, throughout the book, to prevent Nwoye from becoming weak and lazy, the boy has become a proponent of the very thing which is destroying Okonkwo’s way of life. In retaliation, he “seized a heavy stick that lay on the dwarf wall and hit him two or three savage blows” (Achebe, 152). His anger expanded past his son to all of the Christians; “The spirit of war” (Achebe 158) was upon him. Okonkwo "recognized that accepting the invitation [of Christianity] is done at the expense of the things that comprised his identity and defined his values" (Nnoromele 147). He, therefore, refuses. Put another way, "there is the traditional way of life pulling on the Umuofia people and one man's struggle to maintain that cultural integrity against an overwhelming force of the