Okonkwo is a recognized warrior of the Umuofia clan, a tribe part of a consortium of nine villages. Okonkwo became a clansman and warrior. He is haunted by the actions of Unkoa, his father, who died in disgrace. He has a twelve-year-old son named Nwoye. Okonkwo worries that Nwoye will fail as his father did. Okonkwo wins a young boy in a settlement, Ikemefuna. Unkoa created a bond with Ikemefuna. Come to find out, he must die, but Okonkwo feels wrong killing Ikemefuna because he sees him as his father. Okonkwo refuses to look weak, and when Ikemefuna gets attacked, he does not protect the boy. This then causes tremendous sadness for Okonkwo.
Fast forward, Okonkwo kills Ezeudu’s son, which causes him to exile him and his family. In the second year of exile, Obierika, his friend, brings the bad news that the white man has destroyed another village. Mr.Brown, the leader, redirects all old beliefs and considers them false; the people do not like this statement and do not understand how it is true. Reverend James Smith replaces Mr.Brown once he becomes ill. The egwugwu then burn Enoch’s compound and Reverend Smith’s church to the ground. District Commissioner is upset and throws leaders of Umuofia in jail where they are abused. Once they are released, Okonkwo kills their leader and then realizes his clan is not ready for war which is what the killing with cause. Okonkwo is found dead from suicide Obierika explains that suicide is a sin meaning none of Okonkwo’s clansmen may touch his body.
To me, this story can be related to the story of “The danger of a Single Story” by Adichie. Aiming towards the stereotypes of African culture. “I come from a conventional, middle-class Nigerian family. My father was a professor. My mother was an administrator…” says Adichie in her TED talk. She continues to explain how her life in Africa was nothing like what people imagined it was. People often treated her differently. The book “Things Fall Apart” explains life in the village; Okonkwo was wealthy and known in his village. In Adichie TED talk, she describes how people often saw Africa as “…. people fighting senseless wars…” this is shown in the book of Okonkwo in his village and his clan. The single-story Adichie spoke about can be related to the book “Things Fall Apart” in many other ways by showing Africa in a way people may not understand or that is not true.
Sources:
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Alcorn, Marshall.
This is a great analysis, awesome job! You did a well job at making it clear has to what the main context of the book was and clear straight forward summary. I liked how you incorporated the stereotypes that were present throughout the book, and made a great point as to what is believed for the African culture and what their communities a believed to be. I found it interesting what had happened with the suicide, and how the body was not able to be touched, I was not aware of this ritual and that this was considered to be a sin within this culture until after reading this book. I also liked that you discussed what the village was, that it was a wealthy village, I believe often people are unaware of this, and will continue to believe that the negative stereotypes that have been put into place for the way people live in Africa.
Your explanation and interpretation are very good, which makes me have a clear understanding of the main events of the protagonist. Your comparison with “the danger of a single story” by Adichie is very good. At the same time, you have joined the stereotypes of African culture, showing Africa in a way that people may not understand or untrue, so that we have a new understanding of African culture. There is no doubt that Okonkwo is a tragic hero. He wants to get rid of the shadow brought to him by his father all his life, and thinks that comparing men to women is naturally the biggest personal attack on him. Okonkwo finally chose to hang himself. This behavior is also despised by the tribe. However, this is also his last resistance to the collapsing tribe.
Great job on your analysis! Your explanation provides us a thorough understanding of the novel. I especially like the part of how you describe the experience of Okonkwo. To me, Okonkwo was a hero since all he did was for the good of his clan, even though he died piteously in the end. I also like how you illustrate the danger of a single story. This provided me a clear understanding of how people using their stereotypes to evaluate the conditions that happen in Africa. People may put their thoughts prior to the truth when reading the literature about African cultures. For example, people may see African as “…. people fighting senseless wars…”, but the truth is there are also wealthy villages in Africa like the one Okonkwo lived.
I thought your post was written very well and loved how you connected it to Adichie’s “Danger of a Single Story” by recognizing the similarities in aiming for an African American stereotype. In her TED Talk Adichie explains that her life was nothing like people imagined it. She explained that people often believe that Africa as just people fighting senseless wars. This did not cross my mind when reading “Things Fall Apart” because I feel like I have learned a significant amount about the country of Africa, but I remember reading short stories about wars in Africa when I was younger and thinking like the very people Adichie is describing. It just goes to show how important educating yourself is because even in the case of “Things Fall Apart” a novel like that can help one to understand or question things that are true or not.