Name: Will Satcher
Date: 7-24-06
Teacher: Mrs. Bosch
Class: English 10 Honors
Things Fall Apart
Some people like change while others do not prefer it. As newer generations become adults they decide to go their own way and choose their own way of life. Whether one likes it or not, change comes, but through it all one must have pride in their family, heritage, religion, and know where they stand. Okonkwo is the main character of this story, and is forced to choose between fighting and killing those who go against the traditional Umuofian religion-his own people or making peace and going his own way. Some of his people, the elders, choose to keep the Umuofian religion the way it is, which is ultimately the choice that Okonkwo makes. Others, such as Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, choose to join the Europeans and convert to Christians. Things Fall Apart is Chinua Achebe’s inspiring tale of an African man who must deal with the hardships of new times and changing people shows how Achebe takes pride in family, heritage, memory, language, and life by showing how quickly Okonkwo makes up for his mistakes, by showing how Okonkwo loves his children, even though he does not show it, and how Okonkwo and others, such as Obierika, react to the Europeans and Christianity.
Okonkwo is a simple man who believes a senseless beating can solve almost any problem. A good example is when, during peace week, Okonkwo beats his wife because she had not prepared his meal yet. Not only is beating one’s wife a crime to the Earth Goddess, but this was during peace week, a time when “a man does not say a harsh word to his neighbor,” (30). Because of his error, Okonkwo must make a sacrifice to the gods of one she-goat, one hen, a length of cloth and a hundred cowries. He does this as quickly as possible, and not only does he bring these sacrifices to give to the Earth Goddess, but he also takes with him a pot of palm-wine. This shows that he respects his gods and is willing to give a little extra to be forgiven. Although he is inwardly repentant, he “was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error,” (31). In addition, although Christianity has many more positive reasons to convert than there are positive reasons to keep the traditional Igbo religion, Okonkwo and many other men choose to stay loyal to their heritage.
Family is important to every person. Without family, one would be all alone. A man must treat his family members according to their value to him, such as children, whom he would not treat the same way as his brother. Okonkwo is rough with all people, including his children, although “inwardly Okonkwo knew that the boys were still too young to understand fully the difficult art of preparing seed-yams. But he thought that one could not begin too early… Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man,” (33). Achebe shows his love for family by showing that even the roughest men in the world still love their family, though they may not show it. He also shows how family is of great importance to him by showing how significant Okonkwo’s clansmen are to him in his life. There are many feasts and Okonkwo is respectful to every one of his clansmen at each feast. There are even some times when Okonkwo insults a clansman, but he always apologizes. One such incident was when a man had “contradicted him at a kindred meeting… Without looking at the man Okonkwo had said ‘This meeting is for men.’ The man who had contradicted him had no titles. That was why he had called him a woman… The oldest man present said sternly that those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble. Okonkwo said he was sorry for what he had said and the meeting continued,” (26). This is an Umuofian proverb, and also shows how Achebe takes pride in his language, although it may seem hidden. He gives examples of how his people speak and the sayings that they have, each containing a valuable lesson, sometimes in the form of a story or song. Although clansmen are not necessarily related by blood, most could still consider them family, as they are always there beside a man, whether at war or at his deathbed. Okonkwo would never go against any of his clansmen, as long as they stay true to the culture and traditions of Umuofia.
Which presents how the author takes pride in heritage and religion: by showing it is right to stay true to what one believes in. Toward the end of the book, the Europeans were brought in to show how things did indeed fall apart in the Igbo tribes. Because of the Christians, many people disregarded their former gods and went their own way, except for some of the Umuofians, including Okonkwo. Several people chose to convert to Christianity, such as Okonkwo’s son Nwoye. Because of this, the people have been torn apart and do not believe in the same Gods, creating great disruption among the people. When Nwoye converted to Christianity Okonkwo was so angry with him that “[he] did not wish to speak about Nwoye,” (144). The people of Umuofia could not go to war, because it was “already too late… [Their] own men and sons have joined the ranks of the stranger,” (176). If they were to fight the Christians, they would be fighting their own people, and destroying their own families. Achebe shows that’s these people care too much about their family and their heritage to destroy it all. Okonkwo eventually kills himself to remind the people of where they stand. He wants them to remember their heritage and their traditions.
Chinua Achebe dignifies his respect for family, heritage, memory, language, and life by showing how each of them are important not only to him, but to every human being, African, European, and all else. He shows that they are strong when together, and that they do not want to fight each other. He places proverbs and other examples of the African language in his writing, and shows how important it is to remember where you come from and your family’s heritage.
Works Cited
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart: Anchor Books; New York
Date: 7-24-06
Teacher: Mrs. Bosch
Class: English 10 Honors
Things Fall Apart
Some people like change while others do not prefer it. As newer generations become adults they decide to go their own way and choose their own way of life. Whether one likes it or not, change comes, but through it all one must have pride in their family, heritage, religion, and know where they stand. Okonkwo is the main character of this story, and is forced to choose between fighting and killing those who go against the traditional Umuofian religion-his own people or making peace and going his own way. Some of his people, the elders, choose to keep the Umuofian religion the way it is, which is ultimately the choice that Okonkwo makes. Others, such as Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, choose to join the Europeans and convert to Christians. Things Fall Apart is Chinua Achebe’s inspiring tale of an African man who must deal with the hardships of new times and changing people shows how Achebe takes pride in family, heritage, memory, language, and life by showing how quickly Okonkwo makes up for his mistakes, by showing how Okonkwo loves his children, even though he does not show it, and how Okonkwo and others, such as Obierika, react to the Europeans and Christianity.
Okonkwo is a simple man who believes a senseless beating can solve almost any problem. A good example is when, during peace week, Okonkwo beats his wife because she had not prepared his meal yet. Not only is beating one’s wife a crime to the Earth Goddess, but this was during peace week, a time when “a man does not say a harsh word to his neighbor,” (30). Because of his error, Okonkwo must make a sacrifice to the gods of one she-goat, one hen, a length of cloth and a hundred cowries. He does this as quickly as possible, and not only does he bring these sacrifices to give to the Earth Goddess, but he also takes with him a pot of palm-wine. This shows that he respects his gods and is willing to give a little extra to be forgiven. Although he is inwardly repentant, he “was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error,” (31). In addition, although Christianity has many more positive reasons to convert than there are positive reasons to keep the traditional Igbo religion, Okonkwo and many other men choose to stay loyal to their heritage.
Family is important to every person. Without family, one would be all alone. A man must treat his family members according to their value to him, such as children, whom he would not treat the same way as his brother. Okonkwo is rough with all people, including his children, although “inwardly Okonkwo knew that the boys were still too young to understand fully the difficult art of preparing seed-yams. But he thought that one could not begin too early… Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man,” (33). Achebe shows his love for family by showing that even the roughest men in the world still love their family, though they may not show it. He also shows how family is of great importance to him by showing how significant Okonkwo’s clansmen are to him in his life. There are many feasts and Okonkwo is respectful to every one of his clansmen at each feast. There are even some times when Okonkwo insults a clansman, but he always apologizes. One such incident was when a man had “contradicted him at a kindred meeting… Without looking at the man Okonkwo had said ‘This meeting is for men.’ The man who had contradicted him had no titles. That was why he had called him a woman… The oldest man present said sternly that those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble. Okonkwo said he was sorry for what he had said and the meeting continued,” (26). This is an Umuofian proverb, and also shows how Achebe takes pride in his language, although it may seem hidden. He gives examples of how his people speak and the sayings that they have, each containing a valuable lesson, sometimes in the form of a story or song. Although clansmen are not necessarily related by blood, most could still consider them family, as they are always there beside a man, whether at war or at his deathbed. Okonkwo would never go against any of his clansmen, as long as they stay true to the culture and traditions of Umuofia.
Which presents how the author takes pride in heritage and religion: by showing it is right to stay true to what one believes in. Toward the end of the book, the Europeans were brought in to show how things did indeed fall apart in the Igbo tribes. Because of the Christians, many people disregarded their former gods and went their own way, except for some of the Umuofians, including Okonkwo. Several people chose to convert to Christianity, such as Okonkwo’s son Nwoye. Because of this, the people have been torn apart and do not believe in the same Gods, creating great disruption among the people. When Nwoye converted to Christianity Okonkwo was so angry with him that “[he] did not wish to speak about Nwoye,” (144). The people of Umuofia could not go to war, because it was “already too late… [Their] own men and sons have joined the ranks of the stranger,” (176). If they were to fight the Christians, they would be fighting their own people, and destroying their own families. Achebe shows that’s these people care too much about their family and their heritage to destroy it all. Okonkwo eventually kills himself to remind the people of where they stand. He wants them to remember their heritage and their traditions.
Chinua Achebe dignifies his respect for family, heritage, memory, language, and life by showing how each of them are important not only to him, but to every human being, African, European, and all else. He shows that they are strong when together, and that they do not want to fight each other. He places proverbs and other examples of the African language in his writing, and shows how important it is to remember where you come from and your family’s heritage.
Works Cited
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart: Anchor Books; New York
posted by Will Satcher at 11:34 PM
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