Things Fall Apart Novel Analysis and Plot

Categories: Novel Plot Things Fall Apart

Analysis, Pages 3 (744 words)

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Things Fall Apart is story chronicles of pre-colonial life in Nigeria's south-eastern part and the arrival of Europeans in the late 19th century. The novel follows Okonkwo's life in Umuofia's fictional Nigerian tribe, an Igbo man and a local wrestling champion. Okonkwo is a revered and powerful figure in Eastern Nigeria's Umuofia Igbo community. He got fame when he defeats Amalinze the Cat, and in spite of the weaknesses of his father, he seeks to gain personal success and titles and to become a very wealthy and powerful man.

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Throughout the novel analysis, there are many themes, but one of the most important ones is the theme of choice and consequence that is demonstrated from the early life of Okonkwo. His driving force is his father, who had a reputation of being poor and lazy. Unoka, Okonkwo’s father, was a coward and a character that had no appetite for self-accomplishments and Okonkwo was the total opposite. He achieves fame of being a great wrestler and a warrior when he was very young, and every accomplishment that he had achieved, was all done by himself because his father didn’t leave him nothing.

Okonkwo’s decision to reject his early inner nature leads to the result that his son Nwoye is isolated and mistreated, and his wives are demanding and unkind. His decision to participate in Ikemenfuna’s ritualistic sacrificial death, contrary to reason and wise advice, leads to the consequences of a completely broken relationship with his son. There are many other Okonkwo’s choices that led to potent consequences but one of the most important and final consequences is his choice to fight against the British officials.

His decision to behead official results in a double side effect. The first one is that when he was exiled, he learned that his tribe has changed so profoundly that now they don’t agree with his act of vengeance. The second consequence is that he sees that since his tribe stood against him, he ironically has no choice but to enact a dishonorable end to himself, which therefore led to him taking his own life.

In this novel, many characters play a big role in the story. The most important character is Okonkwo, who is a stubborn, impatient and fear-driven character who represents power. He is embarrassed by his father Unoka because he was continually in debt to others and lived a financially unsuccessful life. This guilt determines the actions and fear of failure of Okonkwo. He wants to be as different as possible from his father. Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, is a gentleman that likes music and likes to tell stories. He is the opposite of his son Okonkwo who doesn’t like music and likes telling only war stories. Another character important for the story is Nwoye, who is the son of Okonkwo’s first wife. Note, being the firstborn, has the highest position and ranking among Okonkwo’s children. He is more similar to Unoka, likes music, and stories, and it is troubled by some Umuofian practices. Nwoye is drawn to hope and the poetry of Christianity, the new religion brought by British people. Another important character is Obierika, who is Okonkwo’s closest friend. He knew Okonkwo’s father and that is why he understands Okonkwo’s background and way of thinking. He is thoughtful and provides commentary on Okonkwo’s actions, which he understands but doesn’t always support. He is less driven than Okonkwo and that is why he thinks more clearly in certain situations. Even though he is Okonkwo’s good friend, he doesn’t get the attention when he is advising Okonkwo.

The meaning behind “Things fall apart” analysis is in two ways: first in the individual story of Okonkwo and the second one is the story of the village. Under colonial rule, Achebe applied the meaning of “things falling apart” to the situation in Nigeria. The British colonial rule undermines traditional Igbo culture, faith, and civil society. While some people continue to follow traditional religion and others are converted to Christianity, many are trapped between traditional Igbo culture and the new British society without strong bonds. Cynicism and individualism substitute the spirit of the culture, and people caught between the world of tradition (which is weakening) and capitalism (in which they are marginalized and subordinated) become alienated, self-centered and purposeless. People start to have fame, wealth, or power as overarching goals instead of traditional values.