Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, explores the development of the protagonist, Okonkwo, by examining his cultural heritage, prevalent themes, and symbols. The Igbo culture is traditional, hesitant about change, and differentiates itself by its language (Kenalemang). Okonkwo, prideful of his Igbo culture and Umuofia settlement in eastern Nigeria, is powerful and aims to stand apart from his father, Unoka. His father was looked down upon in the community due to his lack of masculinity, weakness, and power. As a result of this, this paved the early identification of Okonkwo, producing a dominating effect on his wives and children. Due to this power difference and lack of control, Okonkwo can become unstable. He would abuse his youngest wife, Ojiugo, and even his second wife, Ekwefi, for minor mistakes made (CliffsNotes). This example can explain the concept of subaltern and the treatment of women in an inferior way (Abu Jweid). The violent characterization of him became more consistent when the Oracle (messenger between people and God) prompts Okonkwo to kill Ikemefuna, a boy to whom he was attached. Later on in the novel, Okonkwo’s downhill continued as the accidental gun firing killed the son of an older, accomplished member, Ogbuefi Ezeudum. The death of one of his members is a direct crime and resulted in the removal of himself and his family from Umuofia for seven years. Okonkwo’s loss of power and feelings of weakness and hopelessness develop as they are accepted into Mbanta by his uncle. In the early years of his exile, the arrival of Christain missionaries and their belief system changed the religious viewpoint of villagers, causing a conversion. The idea of race portrayed between whites and aboriginal Igbo villagers is discussed (Abu Jweid). When Okonkwo returns to his home after being in exile, the village structure had changed along with traditional values. A church and prison had been built to side with the white man’s values. Okonkwo was unhappy about this transformation. This eventually led to the destruction of the church, where village leaders like Okonwo were jailed by the Direct Commissioner (CliffsNotes). When the prisoners were released, Okonkwo in a meeting with others retaliated again against messengers yet no one followed beside him. This continued loss of power and cultural change in Unoka led to his eventual suicide.
Prevalent themes expressed by the author include the struggle between change and tradition, masculinity differences, generational divide, and pride (SparkNotes). The traditional values were set in stone in Umuofia before his exile. The meaning of change in this novel is a result of other values and beliefs being introduced into the village, affecting the rooted cultural heritage. Masculinity and generational divide can apply to the differences in identification between Okonkwo and his father. Okonkwo did not want to represent what his father did. In other words, he sought wealth and power to become a fulfilled leader. Pride also comes from his identification in terms of his culture and the traditions that came with it. Symbols that relate to the themes include locusts and the significance of fire (SparkNotes). When it comes to locusts, they symbolize the white men’s arrival into the village and the imperfection of the Igbo culture (Kenalemang). Fire signifies Okonkwo’s emotional display of anger and power over others. These themes and symbols relate to Okonkwo’s identity and development throughout the novel.
Sources:
- Abu Jweid, Abdalhadi Nimer. “The Fall of National Identity in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.” Universiti Putra Malaysia Press, 2016, http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JSSH%20Vol.%2024%20(1)%20Mar.%202016/32%20JSSH-1327-2015.pdf. Accessed 24 Sept. 2021.
- Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Penguin, 2017.
- Kenalemang, Lame Maatla. “Things Fall Apart: An Analysis of Pre and Post-Colonial Igbo Society.” 11 Jan. 2013, https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:648320/FULLTEXT01.pdf. Accessed 24 Sept. 2021.
Summary Links:
- https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/things/summary/
- https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/things-fall-apart/book-sum
Based off of your presentation, it seems like Okonkwo’s identity as character represents colonization. He desires power and wealth and decides to act upon it. This makes life uneasy for those around him, and he acts out in violent ways. After he is exiled, he realizes the mistakes he has made, how his actions ended up changing the village. The loss of power he experiences also represents the village loss of power they experience because of the white men.
Okonkwo indeed is portrayed as the manifestation of strength, masculinity and patriarchy. He’s prideful for his achievements but also a caring and a dynamic character. I think there’s more to his development and background than you mentioned. We see some emotional sensitivity in that he came to love Ikemefuna like a son, he didn’t want to see him killed but allowed it due to his culture and dealt the killing blow so he didn’t seem weak. Likewise, when Ezinma became sick he rushed to aid her and her mother, he even followed Chielo to the cave like Ekwefi and stayed all night because he wanted to ensure her safety. It’s also noted that he was hard on his son, criticizing him for being “womanly” in order to ensure he could fill his shoes one day. He did so lovingly to make him strong. Though Okonkwo has questionable, and in some cases deplorable actions, we see he is human and even if we don’t condone his actions, can understand them.
I have to disagree with labeling the women as subalterns though. They are certainly “othered” and treated as second class citizens, but they do have input and some respect in the society. They are certainly treated poorly and relegated to strictly affairs dealing with motherhood and housekeeping, but they aren’t left bereft of input and impact. They are praised for their children and cooking; for the time-period this was rather normal and, unfortunately, not very different from their counterparts in the west.
Okonkwo’s character is portrayed around strength, power, and fear. He desires to be viewed a certain way by his community so badly that there is nothing else on his mind. He desires nothing else and there is nothing else that matters to him, not even his family. He will put down anyone who he believes does not work as hard as him. He resents the changes made to his village and it makes him act out even more. Deep down he feels emotions towards his children but he still will not show them or let them get in the way of any of his achievements, goals, or successes. His world revolves around being better and more masculine than his father.