If you are interested in books about old cultures transformations through time due to an event that caused them to question their customs, than Things Fall Apart is the perfect book for you. Things Fall Apart is the story of an African Clan’s unraveling. The story revolves around one man in particular, Okonkwo. Unoka, Okonkwo’s father, was a debtor with no titles. Despite the fact that Unoka never repaid a single debt, he was always able to acquire new debts. Okonkwo grew up in humility. He despised his father’s laziness. Okonkwo worked harder than ever to establish a farm and simple things that were taken for granted by all other sons in his village of Umofia. Eventually, events turned in the favor of Okonkwo. He was able to become the powerful man of his dreams. “Every nerve and every muscle stood out on their arms, on their backs and their thighs, and one almost heard them stretching to breaking point. In the end Okonkwo threw the Cat.” (Achebe 7) Okonkwo had won a wrestling tournament gaining fame and title in Umofia. The pieces were beginning to come together. But it wouldn’t be long until the system, in which he was able to advance, would soon fall apart. Due to the clan’s violent nature and distaste towards women and effeminate traits, Okonkwo was cold to his wives and children. Though Okonkwo feels emotions he pushes them down. His outlet for stress is most often beating one of his three wives. Okonkwo is blind to the world, he only sees the glory of war. His definition of strength is misconstrued and twisted, because of his past he refuses to be weak or allow any of his family members to be weak. As the story progresses a series of events lead to Okonkwo not having a strong voice in his society. The clan of Umofia begins to question their own ways, when the white men bring Christianity. The clans’ sacrifices and traditions of and mutilation were now in question. “The hymm about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed 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.” (Achebe 137) Overall, the story was exhilarating. It questioned the base of religion and culture, whether customs were right or wrong is in the eye of the beholder.
Source:
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Ballantine Books, 1983. Print.
Wow, this seems like a really intense story about trying to be sucessful in your situations and trying to hold everything together. A lot of people believe that being weak is the worst thing, and that emotions lead one to be weak. I couldn’t disagree more but I can’t deny that many people follow this misquided view. Okonkwo seems like someone who lost his way after achieving so much, as if the thought of losing everything brings up emotions he doesn’t want to face. He believes it will make him weak and he constantly tries to over power, show strength, and control the situation by hurting others around him to keep them strong. This book seems very interesting, as far as a development of culture is concerned, but I am much more interested on Okonkwo’s personal, inner, emotional stuggle and how his changing environment effects him. I get hooked on heart wrenching stories about love and loss and challenge and this seems very interesting.
This seems like a very unique story. Generally, I do try avoiding books based on religion and culture, but this seems interesting. This book has good lessons to offer. I have always believed that working hard will help a person succeed. I find it sad how Okonkwo’s new found success also leads to his downfall. The writing is very descriptive and helps a person visualize what is going on. Most importantly, I like how this book questions the base of religion because I have often wondered why certain practices happen in the name of religion. This seems like a great book.