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Things Fall Apart Summary: Essay Writing Tips & Expert Help

Things Fall Apart Summary: Essay Writing Tips & Expert Help

Written by

Melanie Jane

Updated: August 29, 2024

58 mins read

Things Fall Apart is Chinua Achebe's debut novel, published in 1958 by William Heineman Ltd. It is the first of three books, followed by “Arrow of God” and “No Longer at Ease.” It's recognized as one of the first novels to receive global attention.

Our Things Fall Apart summary will help you understand the book better as you get the right points for your literature assignment. We have the summary, plot, setting, themes, and other important information revolving around the book's summary.

So, keep reading the summary of a book that made a massive milestone in Anglophone African literature.

Things Fall Apart Overview

Things Fall Apart is Chinua Achebe's first novel, published in 1958. It is a fictional history novel about pre-colonial events in Igboland, present-day Southeastern Nigeria. It also falls under the tragedy category. The book also shows the effect of European settlement in the 19th century.

According to enthusiasts, it is one of the first novels to be critically hailed globally. It's well known in Africa (especially Nigeria) and widely studied in English-speaking countries. When William Heinemann Ltd published the book, it became the company's first work under Heinemann's African writer's series.

The book revolves around Okonkwo, who rises to become a leader of the Igbo people in Umuofia. It's divided into three parts.

The first part sheds light on Okonkwo's family, personal history, violent exterior, and tortured soul. It also introduces Igbo customs and society. The second and third parts introduce readers to European influence, colonialism, and Christian missionaries and their effect on Okonkwo, his family, and the wider community.

The book summary will consist of the main summary and chapter summaries. After that, you will learn more about the characters, themes, and literary devices used in the novel.

General Summary: Things Fall Apart

Part 1

The novel's protagonist, Okonkwo, is a famous man in Umuofia after winning a heavily contested match in the village. He becomes the village champion. He is entirely different from his father, who owed all his neighbors debt. The father preferred to play his flute over being a warrior. When he died, he left Okonkwo with nothing but debts.

To become the opposite of his father, Okonkwo engages in hard work. He is also strong and strives to show his strength at all times. He builds his wealth from a young age, and due to his obsession with masculinity, he hides all his emotions apart from anger.

He is used to beating his wives and kids and is also very unkind towards his neighbors. His greater drive to become wealthy and powerful enables him to escape his father's legacy. He became a leader in Umuofia, a position he had wanted his whole life.

Later, the clan leaders choose Okonkwo to be Ikemefuna's guardian. Ikemefuna is a young boy used as a peace settlement between Umuofia and a neighboring clan. The father of the boy had killed an Umuofian woman.

The boy lives with Okonkwo's family, and Okonkwo becomes fond of him. He, however, hides such feelings so that he doesn't appear weak. The boy sees Okonkwo as his second father. The oracle of Umuofia later tells Okonkwo that Ikemefuna should be killed.

Ogbuefi Ezeudu (the oracle and the oldest man in Umuofia) also instructs Okonkwo not to get involved since that would be like killing his son. He, however, ignores the warning and engages in the killing, striking the boy himself to death. After the incident, he feels sad and guilty for many days.

After the boy's death, things start going south for Okonkwo. He is constantly depressed and suffers from nightmares. Ezeudu dies, and the clan members give a gun salute in his honor. Okonkwo's gun explodes accidentally and kills Ezeudu's son.

As a result, Okonkwo and his family are sent to exile for seven years. That is the punishment given to those with the murder crime to appease the gods he offended.

Part 2

While Okonkwo is in exile, he learns that white men have arrived in Umuofia and intend to introduce a new religion—Christianity. Many from the tribe converted to the new religion, enabling the whites to establish themselves and a new government.

The village is forced to either collaborate or resist the imposition. Nwoye, Okonkwo's son, starts to become interested in missionaries and the new religion in the town. His father severely beats him. After beating him for the last time, Nwoye decides to leave the family and live independently. He wants to join the missionaries after Mr. Brown introduces him to Christianity.

In the seventh year of Okonkwo's exile, he instructs his friend Obierika to sell his yams and hire two men to build two huts for him. That way, he will find a place to settle his family once he returns. He also holds a feast for his mother's relatives. In that ceremony, the elders in attendance lament about the current state of affairs in the tribe and the future.

Okonkwo is also informed about the problems in his home village due to the white man's settlement. The villagers who have already converted to Christianity disregard the rules of their tradition. They also tell those who haven't joined to stop speaking to non-Christian gods like Chukwu and their ancestors.

Part 3

Okonkwo returns home after the exile sentence is complete. He finds out that the village has changed due to the white man's settlement and their influence. A Christian convert later unmasks an elder embodying an ancestral spirit of the clan. The village retaliates by destroying the local church.

That captured the attention of the colonial administration. Gregory Irwin, the acting district commissioner, arrested Okonkwo and the accompanying native leaders and took them into custody. They were locked up pending a fine payment of 200 bags of cowries.

The commissioner instructs that the men should be treated with respect. The court messengers, on the other hand, decide to humiliate them by shaving and whipping them. After their release, the villagers called for a meeting in Umuofia to discuss what could be a major uprising.

Okonkwo detests any cowardice as a warrior and a true believer in the traditions. He advocates for war against the white man. Messengers from the colonial government arrive at the meeting and try to stop it. Okonkwo beheads one of them, and the rest escape since the crowd allows it.

That is when Okonkwo notices that the tribe's response to battle is changing. The people of Umuofia will not fight to protect their community, rights, and traditions. The commissioner goes to Okonkwo's house to arrest him. He then realizes that Okonkwo has committed suicide.

After Okonkwo commits suicide, the community realizes the action will tarnish his image since it's against Igbo's teachings to do so. Grief chocks Obierika as he laments his friend's death.

Gregory and his men prepare to bury Okonkwo. As the commissioner is contemplating Okonkwo's death, he says it will make an exciting contribution to his book, 'The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.'

Other Summaries Similar to Things Fall Apart Summary

Things Fall Apart is a book that falls under the fiction category, specifically historical fiction. We have discussed that in detail towards the end of this article, under the genre section.

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Chapter Summaries for Things Fall Apart

Part 1 Chapter 1 Summary

Okonkwo is a feared and respected leader in Umuofia's Igbo (formerly Ibo) community in eastern Nigeria.
About twenty years ago, he won honor, fame, and glory in all nine villages of Umuofia after defeating Amalinze the Cat, who had been undefeated for seven years.
Okonkwo is known to be quick to anger, and he is constantly disappointed by his father's failure, who died ten years ago, full of debts.
Unoka, Okonkwo's father, is lazy and wasteful. Before his death, he was considered the village's laughingstock. He spent his resources on palm wine and merrymaking, leaving his family impoverished.
In the chapter, Unoka refuses to pay Okoye's debt, claiming he must pay the more enormous debts before the small ones, as tradition requires.
Okonkwo earns power and respect in Umuofia by striving to become a wealthy yams farmer. He also marries three wives, another indicator of wealth and masculinity.
His prowess is also witnessed in war after successfully participating in two intertribal clashes, earning him two titles.
Because of his greatness, the clan asks him to look after Ikemefuna, a young boy used as a gift to settle a murder dispute between Umuofia and Mbaino.

Part 1 Chapter 2 Summary

As Okonkwo settles in bed, he hears the town crier calling for a meeting. He wonders whether it involves war, which does not frighten him. In the last recent war, he brought his fifth human head.
Okonkwo joins the people the following day to hear the news. The orator informs them about the killing of a Umuofian woman in Mbaino, a neighboring clan.
The crowd gives Mbaino two choices: either go to war with Umuofia or give a young man and a young virgin girl to Umuofia as compensation for the killed woman.
Umuofia is a powerful clan feared by its neighbors. However, it cannot choose war without first seeking negotiation and compensation. It also has to ask the Oracle for acceptance before going to war.
The Umuofian clan sends Okonkwo to negotiate with Mbaino on behalf of the clan. He returns two days later with a virgin girl and a young boy.
The clan decides that the girl should live with the man who lost his wife. The boy, Ikemefuna, who was 14 years old at the time, belongs to the clan as a whole.
The elders instruct Okonkwo to take care of the boy. He then transfers the care to his senior wife, Nwoye's mother. Nwoye, is Okonkwo's oldest son.
The elders decide that Ikemefuna will live in Okonkwo's household for three years. The boy is frightened now since he doesn't know why he is being separated from his family.
So that people don't consider him weak, Okonkwo rules his house with an iron fist. As a young man, he hated what his father loved, including being gentle and idle. He also sees signs of laziness in Nwoye, his eldest son.
Okonkwo worries that Nwoye will be like his father. To counter that, he severely beats him every day.
Okonkwo's household is full of life and wealth. He has four huts, one for himself and the rest for each of his three wives and their kids. The household also has stacks of yams, animal sheds, and a medicine house.
He uses the medicine house to pray to his god and the ancestral spirits. It's also where he keeps his sacred symbols.
He also works hard, spending long hours on the farm, and expects everyone to do the same.

Part 1 Chapter 3 Summary

Chapter three focuses on Okonkwo's life, from childhood to becoming a young man.
His father, Unoka, consulted the Oracle of the Hills and Caves about why he always gets a bad harvest. Chika, the Oracle's priestess, interrupted him and blamed his laziness instead. She told him to go home and 'work like a man.'
Unoka dies of swelling in the stomach and limbs. That is considered part of his bad fortune, something Ani, the earth goddess, cannot accept.
Instead of a proper burial, Unoka is taken to rot in the Evil Forest. That makes Okonkwo more ashamed of his dad.
In another story, Okonkwo decides to plant yams on his first farm. Since he did not inherit anything from his father, he chose to do sharecropping.
He gets help from Nwakibie, a man known for his three barns, nine wives, and thirty children. Nwakibie grants him the seed yams. Okonkwo, in return, will give the man two-thirds of the harvested yams.
That year's growth season was hit by drought before unending rain, and floods ruined the harvest for all farmers. Okonkwo is discouraged, but his determination to succeed is greater.

Part 1 Chapter 4 Summary

While Okonkwo begins from poverty, his efforts allow him to rise to one of the most respected elders in Umuofia. Others see his harshness, especially when dealing with less successful men than him.
Osugo, a man without titles, contradicts Okonkwo in a meeting, which causes him to suffer insults from Okonkwo. When the rest of the group sides with him, Okonkwo apologizes.
Okonkwo's success becomes evident when the clan chooses him to take the war ultimatum to the enemy. The enemy respects him as they negotiate. Ultimately, he gets the price and the duty to care for Ikemefuna until the clan decides what to do with him.
At first, Ikemefuna is unhappy and becomes homesick. He also refuses to eat. After Okonkwo threatens him, he agrees to eat and then becomes ill for 12 days.
He later recovers and becomes popular in Okonkwo's household. He becomes close to Nwoye as he seems helpful to him and other kids. Okonkwo grows fond of him but doesn't show affection for fear of being seen as weak.
Okonkwo, however, allows Ikemefuna to accompany him to meetings and feasts, carrying his bag and stool. Ikemefuna calls him 'father' while Okonkwo views him like a son.
Okonkwo severely beats his youngest wife during the Week of Peace before the planting time begins. The wife, Ojiugo, had gone to a friend's house to braid her hair and forgot to prepare the afternoon meal.
Since Okonkwo violates the peace, which can ruin the village's crops, the earth goddess priest orders Okonkwo to make an offering at his shrine. He never admits to the error, although he profoundly regrets it.
After the peace week, farmers begin planting, and Nwoye and Ikemefuna help Okonkwo collect, count, and prepare the seed yams. While he finds mistakes in their preparation, he believes he is helping them learn the problematic yam-planting job, which is also considered manly.
The rain pours, followed by intense care for the young plants. During resting time, Nwoye and Ikemefuna's friendship grows.

Part 1 Chapter 5 Summary

Umuofia prepares for the Feast of the New Yam, which happens just before the harvesting. Okonkwo invites his wives' relatives.
Everyone is waiting for the big festival, but Okonkwo knows he will get tired of it, which lasts for days. He would rather spend time working on his farm.
As the end of the feast preparation nears, Okonkwo's anger and resentment for the feast explode when he sees one of his banana trees damaged.
When Ekwefi, his second wife, admits to cutting some leaves to wrap food, he beats her to vent his anger.
He then sends for his gun to go hunting, but he is not a hunter. He nearly shoots Ekwefi when she mumbles that the weapon has never been shot.
Even after Okonkwo displays his rage, the festival continues, and everyone is cheerful, including the beaten Ekwefi. She, just like everyone, is waiting for the second day of the inter-village wrestling matches. In such a contest years earlier, Okonkwo won a fight and Ekwefi's heart.
Okwonkwo's wives and daughters prepare the yams for the feast. In the evening, the daughters of each wife bring him the evening meal.
That is when he admits how fond he is of his daughter Ezinma. He, however, shows such feelings by scolding her.

Part 1 Chapter 6 Summary

On the festival's second day, people gather at the village's playing field for the wrestling matches. The first match between two boys' teams kicks off the event.
One of the winners in that match is Maduka, Obierika's son. Obierika is Okonkwo's friend.
As the matches begin and proceed, Chielo, the Oracle's priestess, casually talks with Ekwefi. They talk about how Okonkwo beat her the previous day and Ezinma, Ekwefi's daughter.
Chielo is fond of Ezinma. The drums continue to roar as two teams of men challenge each other.
People expect the final match to be boring since the two great wrestlers have the same styles. The thrill, however, arises when Okafo, a local fighter, beats the opponent by taking advantage of his moves.

Part 1 Chapter 7 Summary

Nwoye and Ikemefuna spend time together. They join their father in his hut in the evening to listen to his manly stories. Nwoye likes his mother's folk tales but pretends to enjoy his father's stories more to please him.
Okonkwo is pleased with how Nwoye is turning to become more masculine. Although he doesn't show such feelings, he credits the change to Ikemefuna.
One day, as Okonkwo and his sons work on the compound walls, a vast black cloud covers the town. The villagers are happy since they know what the coming of locusts looks like. It's a rare delicacy in Umuofia that makes everyone go out to catch them for drying, roasting, and eating.
As Ikemefuna, Nwoye, and Okonkwo enjoy the locusts, the oldest man in the village, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, approaches Okonkwo.
He informs Okonkwo that the Oracle has decreed the death of Ikemefuna as a penalty for the woman in Mbaino three years ago. He also warns Okonkwo against participating in the killing since the boy views him as his father.
Later, Okonkwo tells Ikemefuna that he is returning to his home in Mbaino. He does not believe it, and Nwoye bursts into tears when he hears that. His father beats him in return.
Men accompany Ikemefuna and Okonkwo to the village's outskirts. When they got to the forest, Okonkwo distanced himself from Ikemefuna, who is now thinking about his home in Mbaino.
As the boy turns back, one of the men strikes him with a machete. As he runs to Okonkwo for help, Okonkwo strikes him since he does not want to appear weak in front of his village men.
Nwoye learns about Ikemefuna's death, and that changes something in him. He gets a feeling he experienced when he heard a baby crying in the forest. It tragically reminds him about the custom of abandoning twins in the forest to die.

Part 1 Chapter 8 Summary

Okonkwo is depressed for two days over the death of Ikemefuna. After not eating and sleeping for two days, he eats the food brought to him by Ezinma, as per his request. It's at this point he wishes Enizma was a boy.
He visits his friend Obierika to see if the boy's death will escape his mind. He praises Maduka, Obierika's son, for winning the wrestling match and complains about his son, Nwoye. He sees him as weak, reminding him of his father, Unoka.
To counter the intruding thoughts, Okonkwo asks Obierika why he didn't accompany them during Ikemefuna's sacrifice. Obierika replies that he has something better to do. He also tells Okonkwo that his role in killing Ikemefuna will upset the earth, and the earth goddess will seek revenge.
A man interrupts their meeting to announce the death of an elder in a neighboring village. The elder's wife also confirms but complicates the announcement.
Okonkwo and Obierika disapprove of the lack of manly action since the people knew that the elder and wife had one mind. That meant he could not do anything without telling the wife first.
After the conversation lightens up Okonkwo, he goes home and later discusses the bride price for Obierika's daughter.
The men enjoy eating and drinking in the evening, ridiculing the neighboring village customs. They also scornfully compare the white men's skin to the lepers' white skin.

Part 1 Chapter 9 Summary

Okonkwo is finally at peace and has slept well for the first time since Ikemefuna's death.
Ekwefi suddenly awakens him with a loud bang on his door. She informs him that Ezinma is dying.
Enizma is Ekwefi's only child. She has lost nine other children in infancy. Enizma is Okonkwo's favorite daughter, whom he sometimes wishes was a boy.
Okonkwo gathers grasses, barks, and leaves for medicine as she lies in bed. Enizma has experienced illnesses in her life, and people have referred to her as an evil Ogbanje. That means she is a child with an evil spirit that kills her before it re-enters the mother's womb.
However, Ezinma has lived much longer, and Ekwefi believes she will live longer and happier. A year ago, a medicine man reassured her when they dug up Enizma's iyi-uwa, a pebble buried by Ogbanje children.
The unearthing of iyi-uwa means breaking Enizma's connection to the Ogbanje world, and she will never be sick again.
Later, Okonkwo comes back and prepares medicine for Ezinma. She inhales the fumes and falls asleep.

Part 1 Chapter 10 Summary

Chapter 10 focuses on the village's customs and how the Umuofians handle their matters. There is a gathering with elders seated and the people standing behind them. Also present are nine stools for the Egwugwu.
There is a dispute that needs to be settled at this gathering. As the Egwugwu arrive and settle, Okonkwo's wives notice that the second Egwugwu walks like Okonkwo. However, they say nothing about the issue.
The Egwugwu heard the case of Uzowulu, who claims that his in-laws took his wife, Mgbafo, from his house. So, he demands his bride's price back.
Odukwe, Mgbafo's brother, does not deny the charges. He, however, says that the only way Mgbafo can return to her husband is if he swears never to beat him again.
After consultation among the Egwugwu, their leader instructs Uzowulu to take wine to the in-laws and beg the wife to return. He also tells Odukwe to accept the offer and let his sister return to her husband.
A village elder later asks why such an insignificant matter is brought before Egwugwu. Another elder reminds him that Uzowulu only accepts decisions from the Egwugwu.

Part 1 Chapter 11 Summary

Okonkwo is in his hut relaxing in the evening, listening to his wives and children narrating folk stories. Ekwefi tells Ezinma the Tortoise tale and why it has a rough shell.
As Ezinma prepares to tell her mother a story in return, Chielo, the Agbala priestess, interrupts with a wail. She tells Okonkwo that Agbala needs to see Ezinma. He begs her to let her sleep and return in the morning, but she ignores him and goes to Ekwefi's hut.
Ezinma cries out of fear but is forced to go with Chielo. Ekwefi follows her in the dark. When Chielo senses someone is behind them, she curses. Ekwefi stays further behind and out of sight.
Chielo passes Agbala caves and proceeds to Umuachi, the farthest village. She then returns and heads to the caves.
Ekwefi waits outside the caves, hoping to rescue the daughter in case anything goes wrong. She is then disturbed by a noise from behind. When she turns around, she finds Okonkwo standing behind her with a machete. Anchored by his presence and concern, she clings to him, refusing to leave.
As he stays there, strong and silent, Ekwefi remembers what made her run away from the first husband to be Okonkwo's wife.

Part 1 Chapter 12 Summary

After Ezinma leaves with Chielo, Okonkwo faces a sleepless night. He goes to the cave several times before joining Ekwefi outside. Chielo finally emerges with Enizma, ignores Okonkwo and Ekwefi, and takes Ezinma home. The parents are behind her as she walks.
The next day, people gather at Obierika's home to celebrate the next event in his daughter's marriage. They prepare for Uri, a ritual where the suitor presents palm oil to family and kinsmen on the bride's side.
It's also a woman's ritual, which means the bride's mother has to cook for the whole village with some help. Ekwefi is tired from last night's events and delays until Ezinma is awake. Okonkwo and the rest of the wives go to Obierika's compound.
Obierika slaughters two goats as he admires another one bought as a gift for the in-laws.
As men in the slaughtering section are discussing the magic of medicine that drags people, the women on the other side are preparing the feast.
Everyone hears a cry that reveals a loose cow. Some women leave the cooking to find the cow. They then take it back to the owner, who is subjected to a heavy fine.
The palm wine ceremony commences in the afternoon, and the bride's family members bring 50 pots of wine. The festival proceeds until nighttime.

Part 1 Chapter 13 Summary

Ezeudu, the oldest man in the village, dies. As the sound drums announce his death, Okonkwo shivers as he remembers the man's warning against participating in Ikemefuna's death.
The village people gather for the funeral ceremony of a man with three titles. Men dance as they fire guns. Egwuguwu spirits also appear periodically, and a one-handed one delivers a message for the dead.
There is a sudden outcry and then silence. Ezeudu is found on the ground, lying in a pool of blood. Okonkwo's gun explodes accidentally, and a piece of iron pierces Ezeudu's heart.
Killing a clansman is a crime against the earth goddess. As the wives and children cry bitterly, Okonkwo's family is forced into exile for seven years.
They pack essentials and prepare to flee to Mbanta, Okonkwo's mother village, early in the morning. They also transfer the yams to Obierika's compound.
The following day, villagers gather in Okonkwo's household to destroy everything as per the earth goddess's prescriptions.
Obierika mourns his friend's departure and wonders why the village is banishing him for an accident. He then remembers the old traditions that also led to his twin children's abandonment in the forest.

Part 2 Chapter 14 Summary

Okonkwo is now in Mbanta, his mother's home village, to start the seven-year exile. His uncle, Uchendu, welcomes him. Uchendu is now a village elder who listens to Okonkwo's story and prepares him for cleansing.
He also offers him plots of land for cultivation and building while his five sons give Okonkwo 300 seed yams each as a start.
As Okonkwo and his family work on the farm, Okonkwo is not happy with the hard work as before since the vigor and motivation of his younger days are no more.
He grieves because his plan to become one of his clan's lords is interrupted. He also blames his chi for not reaching the desired greatness.
Uchendu notices that Okonkwo is depressed. He plans to talk to him later. Next, an isa-ifi ceremony happens. It's a final marriage ritual for Unchendu's youngest son's bride to determine if she has been faithful during courtship.
The next day, Uchendu addressed Okonkwo's matter in front of his children. He mentioned that it's good for a man to return to his motherland when he is facing depression and bitterness.
He also advises Okonkwo to console his family and accept the support given to him. Otherwise, he would disappoint the dead.

Part 2 Chapter 15 Summary

Obierika visits Okonkwo during his second year in exile. He is introduced to Uchendu and then relays sad news about Abame village.
He narrates how a white man riding a bicycle shocked the villagers, with some running away while others getting close enough to him to touch his skin. The villagers referred to the bike as an 'iron horse.'
After consulting their Oracle, they knew that the white man would destroy their clan. Others like him are also on the way. They are coming like locusts.
When the white man confronts the villagers, he only seems to repeat the word 'Mbaino.' The villagers assume it's the name of the village he is looking for. They attack the man, kill him, and tie the 'iron horse' to a sacred tree.
Weeks later, a group of white men and natives go to the village and find the bicycle tied to the tree. After leaving, many weeks later, they gather the whole clan at the market. In bigger numbers this time, they surround the villages and killed most of them by shooting.
Okonkwo and Unchedu agree that it was foolish for the villagers to kill a man they never knew. They have also heard rumors about white men with guns and strong drinks visiting the village, capturing slaves, and taking them away across the sea. They have, however, never believed such stories.
The men share a meal. After that, Obierika gives the money he got from selling Okonkwo's yams. He also promises to bring him the profits until he returns to Umuofia.

Part 2 Chapter 16 Summary

Two years after the first visit, Obierika goes to see Okonkwo again. He has more sad news about the white missionaries in Umuofia building a church.
The clan leaders in Umuofia are disappointed by the villagers who converted to the new religion. However, they term them worthless since they have no clan title.
Obierika is visiting Okonkwo because of Nwoye's presence in Umuofia and his interactions with the missionaries. However, Okonkwo wants to keep the real reason private.
After Obierika talks to Nwoye's mother, he learns what happened. A white man and five other men arrived in Mbanta. Everyone is curious, especially after the Abame incident.
The white man had an Igbo interpreter. He tells them about the new god who will replace the false gods the villagers worshipped.
He also tells them that more white men will join the villagers and that they will bring more iron horses for them.
The villagers had questions about this god and the new religion. When missionaries insist that the villagers' gods are false, the crowd disperses. However, they recapture their attention by singing a hymn.
Okonkwo disregards the missionaries, but Nwoye becomes interested. He sees religion as an answer to some custom questions, such as the killing of Ikemefuna and abandoning twins in the forest.

Part 2 Chapter 17 Summary

Chapter 17 focuses on how Nwoye converts to Christianity. The missionaries spend several nights and days in the Mbanta marketplace preaching every morning. They then ask the clan for land to build a church, who in return offer a plot in the Evil forest.
The clan thinks the missionaries are fools. To their surprise, they built and stayed there for 28 days without any difficulty. That's when the villagers realize the white man has magical powers.
People converted to Christianity, including a pregnant woman who had bore four sets of twins before. They were all abandoned in the forest.
Mr. Kiaga, the interpreter, assumes responsibility for the new church while the white missionary moves to Umuofia. As the church members grow, Nwoye is interested but fears joining because of his father's wrath.
Okonkwo's cousin sees Nwoye attending the church service and reports to Okonkwo. When Nwoye got back, his father beat him, but Uchendu intervened. Nwoye leaves and never returns.
Nwoye joined a missionary school for young people. Okonkwo is initially furious at his son's actions and fears his sons will abandon their traditions when he dies.
Ultimately, Okonkwo wonders how he gave life to a son like Nwoye, who reminds him of Unoka.

Part 2 Chapter 18 Summary

In Mbanta, the church and the clan remain separate. The villagers believe that the Christians will become weak and die since they are in the evil forest.
Later, three converts go to the village and say that the traditional gods are dead, and they would like to burn the shrines. The clan men beat them up.
After a long silence between Christians and the clan, rumors circulate that the church has established a government.
The Osu, outcasts in Mbanta, join the church when they witness it accepting twins. Two outcasts join the service, leading to protests among the members.
Mr. Kiaga says that the Osu are more welcome, which leads to one of the converts returning to the clan. That leads to more outcasts joining the church.
After one year, Okili, one of the Osu converts, is reported to have murdered a sacred python. The clan leaders gather to decide a befitting punishment.
Okonkwo, who is now a leader in his motherland, advocates violence against Okili as the perfect retaliation. The elders refute that and resolve to exclude the converts from the clan's life, which disgusts Okonkwo.
The exclusion makes Christians not go to the market, the chalk quarry, or the red earth pit. Okili denies killing the python, but he is too sick to speak. When he dies, the villagers see that as the gods' revenge.

Part 2 Chapter 19 Summary

Okonkwo has achieved power and status in his motherland but also feels he wasted seven years there. He could have reached the pinnacle of Umuofian society were it not for the exile.
In his last year in Mbanta village, Okonkwo seeks Obierika's hand to rebuild his home in Umuofia. He sends money to build two huts first.
As his return to Umuofia draws near, Okonkwo prepares a feast for his mother's kinsmen because of their support while he is there.
Uchendu was honored as the oldest man at the feast. He prays before the celebration starts.
One of the old clan members also thanked Okonkwo for the feast. He addressed young people about breaking family bonds and how Christianity is pulling people away from society's norms.

Part 3 Chapter 20

Okonkwo returns to Umuofia after a seven-year exile. He started planning his return in his first year in exile. He is now ready to compensate for the lost time, have a bigger compound, and build two new huts for his two new wives.
However, his comeback is a bit disrupted by Nwoye's decision to join the Christians. While that depresses him, he hopes the other sons will not make the same decision.
He is proud of Ezinma, who has grown into a beautiful woman. Many suitors in Mbanta would like to marry her. However, she refuses them to fulfill her father's wish - getting married in Umuofia. She also advises Obiageli, her half-sister, to go the same route.
Upon his return, Okonkwo notices the change in Umuofia. The church now has more converts, and the white men have also formed a government, which includes a court of law, prison, and natives employed as court messengers to do the white man's dirty work.
He wonders why the clan is not retaliating to eliminate the Europeans and their ways. Obierika tells him that the people fear a fate like Abame. He also informs Okonkwo about a villager executed because of a piece of land argument.
If a war arises, it would divide the clan members since most are already Christian converts. As the chapter ends, Obierika reflects on how the Europeans came in quietly. Later, they establish their ways and terms before beginning their harsh rule.

Part 3 Chapter 21

Some of the clan members in Umuofia liked the changes taking place due to the colonist's influence. The whites are exporting palm oil and palm nut kernels, bringing wealth to the community.
Mr. Brown, the white missionary in Umuofia, is learning about the Igbo people. He discusses his religion and the community with one of the elders. He restrains the church members who provoke those still clinging to the old ways.
Through his patience, he forms friendships with some of the clan leaders, who now listen and begin to understand. He also persuades the clan members to allow children to attend his school.
Mr. Brown's congregation becomes powerful for the church and his fellow whites. He, however, falls ill and is forced to return home.
Before heading home, he informs Okonkwo about Nwoye, who now has a new name - Isaac. He tells him Nwoye is attending a teaching college in a distant town. Okonkwo responds with harshness and orders Mr. Brown to never return.
The changes in the community are angering Okonkwo. No one notices his return, and he cannot proceed with ceremonies for his sons, which happen after every three years. The current year is not for such ceremonies.
The old ways are fading, which saddens him as he compares the people's softness to women's. He now sees things fall apart, a statement that reminds us of the book's title.

Part 3 Chapter 22 Summary

After Mr. Brown's exit, Reverend James Smith becomes the new church leader. He is the opposite of Mr. Brown and despises how he used to lead the church.
He notices that most converts do not know the religious rituals and ideas, so he vows to get the church in the proper order.
He suspends a woman from the church because her husband traditionally mutilated her Ogbanje child.
The Egwugwu perform a sacred ceremony for their earth goddess each year. Enoch, an overzealous convert, provokes the Egwugwu as they are doing so. After daring them to touch a Christian and getting struck, he takes off one of the Egwugwu's masks, which is a severe offense.
The next day, the Egwugwu burn Enoch's compound. He takes refuge in the church, but the men follow him there. Reverend Smith tries to stop them.
While the Egwugwu leader assures Mr. Smith that nobody will hurt him, they destroy the church to make the spirits happy for the moment.

Part 3 Chapter 23 Summary

Okonkwo is happy because the church was destroyed. He's glad the clan listened to him and proceeded like warriors.
The district commissioner hears about the news after returning from a trip. He asks the village leaders to meet him at his office. Okonkwo and his men agree to go but are armed.
The commissioner asked them to explain the incident in the church. As one of the leaders was narrating, they were surprised to be handcuffed and taken to a cell.
The commissioner explains to them that their government promotes peace and happiness. They are subjected to the whites' law and kept in prison until they can pay two hundred bags of cowries as a fine.
The court messengers are told to treat the men with respect. Instead, they mistreat them by beating and shaving. The prisoners do not eat or drink for two days. They finally discuss among themselves how to raise the funds.
Later, the court messengers went around the village announcing they needed two hundred fifty bags of cowries as a fine for the prisoners. The Umuofians met in town to raise the money.

Part 3 Chapter 24 Summary

After paying the fine, the district commissioner releases the village leaders. They walk home without talking. Okonkwo meets his friends and relatives waiting for him and eats the food Ezinma prepared for him.
He has scars on his back, and after everyone sees them, no one speaks. During the night, the village crier summons the clan members.
Okonkwo yearns for revenge, which keeps him awake during the night. His anger ignites the villagers who want to avoid war instead of facing the need for one.
When people gather for the meeting the following day, one of the arrested leaders addresses the crowd and calls for the villagers to act and get rid of the intruders. He also admits that they may have to fight and kill their clan members.
When court messengers try to stop the meeting, Okonkwo interrupts and beheads one of them. The crowd, however, does not prevent the rest from escaping.
That is when Okonkwo realizes that the people are not willing to fight. Disappointed by their fear and inaction, he cleans his machete and goes away.

Part 3 Chapter 25 Summary

The commissioner goes to arrest Okonkwo for killing a messenger. He finds a small crowd in Okonkwo's compound, and after some back and forth, Obierika shows the commissioner where Okonkwo is.
Obierka asks the commissioner if he and his men can help bury Okonkwo. It's against the clan's rules to touch the body of a person who has committed suicide. He also accuses the commissioner of causing Okonkwo's death.
Okonkwo commits suicide because he is disappointed in the clan's inability to fight the white man and his rules. The commissioner tells his men to take down the body.
As he leaves the compound, he thinks about the book he is writing about civilizing the Nigerian people.
He thinks Okonkwo's story will contribute a chapter or an enticing paragraph. The title of the book is The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.

The Setting of Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart has the Nigerian roots back in the 1890s, between the pre-colonial and colonial periods. It takes place in Igboland, a fictional region in the southeastern part of the country currently known as Nigeria. The larger part of the book shows us the scene before the Europeans arrived.

It displays the Geography of Igboland, guided by the social and political organization of the clans involved. The villages are bound together, ensuring their safety and protecting each other.

The action centers on the fictional Umuofia village, which houses a powerful clan and is one of nine villages that make up Igboland. Different locations in the land are shown based on where someone's parents were born. Umuofia is Okonkwo's fatherland, while Mbanta is his motherland. The identification also indicates that geography uses gender to identify places.

Time is another thing that carries meaning in the novel. It starts slightly before the British colonial administration intrudes on the land. The Europeans' new ways, pressure, and persistence threaten the people's traditional ways.

The novel shows the British entry into the land pretty dramatically. They started with white missionaries before the civil servants followed to establish a government that brought a new order to Igboland.

While the book contains some violence, its rupture is most evident towards the end. The district commissioner considers the adjustments to be made in his book as he goes to bury Okonkwo together with his men.

If you look back at the colonization of Africa, you can tell that the 'pacification' in the title of the commissioner's book means harshness, bloodshed, and loss of lives.

Plot Summary – Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo's Family and Life before Exile

The plot summary of Things Fall Apart starts with Okonkwo, a wealthy Umofia clan warrior. He has many unsettled debts inherited from his father, Unoka. So, he works hard to become a successful clan member.

He fears his son (Nwoye) will be lazy like his grandfather. However, the boy (Ikemefuna) he got from a peace deal with another clan influences Nwoye to be more hardworking and masculine. Okonkwo grows fond of him over time, but he hides such affection. The only emotion he believes a man should show is anger.

While celebrating the Week of Peace, he beats his third wife, Ojiugo, for carelessness. He offers sacrifices to repent and regrets deeply inside but refuses to admit the mistake. Later, during the Feast of the New Yam, he beats the second wife, Ekwefi, and almost shoots her for cutting banana leaves to wrap food.

Ikemefuna's Death

Three years pass, and Ikemefuna inspires Nwoye to be more masculine. They also spend most of their time together. Afterward, there is a season of locusts that the villagers collect for food and will do so for a seven-year season.

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As Okonkwo, Nwoye, and Ikemefuna enjoy the locusts, one of the elders, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, approaches Okonkwo to talk to him privately. He informs him that the Oracle has decided that Ikemefuna should be killed and Okonkwo should not participate as the boy considers him his father.

Okonkwo lies to Ikemefuna, telling him they must return to his village, Mbaino. Nwoye cries when he hears the news, but his father's caning silences him. On the way there, Ikemefuna thinks of his mother, but he is attacked by clansmen with machetes when they reach the forest.

Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo for help, but Okonkwo strikes him to prevent the village men from seeing him as weak. That is against the Oracle's instructions, but Okonkwo returns home, and Nwoye discerns that his friend is dead. Okonkwo becomes depressed, but after visiting Obierika, he feels relieved.

Okonkwo's Exile

His daughter Ezinma suffers from an illness, but she feels better after he gathers some medicine leaves for her.

After healing, Chielo, the Agbala priestess, takes Ezinma away, claiming Agbala needs to see her. After a restless night of Okonkwo and Ekwefi searching for her, Chielo emerges and takes Ezinma home. She ignores Okonkwo and his second wife, who are outside the caves.

Later, an announcement is made that Ezeudu, the village's oldest man, is dead. At the funeral, Okonkwo fires his gun, as is the custom, but it explodes and kills Ezeudu's sixteen-year-old son. That crime offends the earth goddess, so Okonkwo is sent into exile for seven years. He heads to his mother's village, Mbanta, while the clansmen burn his belongings to cleanse the village.

He receives a warm welcome from his uncle, Uchendu, who offers him plots of land while his sons give him yam seeds. Okonkwo works hard on his first farm, but his psyche is low since he is not in Umuofia. In the second year of his exile, Obeirika brings him cowrie (used as currency), which he gets from selling his yams.

During his visit, Okonkwo learns that white men have destroyed Abame village. After a short while, six missionaries arrive in Mbanta. The white missionary uses an interpreter, Mr. Kiaga, and tells the people that their religion, which worships several gods, is idolatry.

However, the villagers fail to understand how the Holy Trinity is one God. The missionaries are peaceful and avoid conflict. When the villagers begin to disperse, the missionaries lure them back with a hymn. After requesting the village leaders, they land in the Evil forest.

When the villagers realize they are not affected by the evil spirits, the church built in Evil Forest gains more converts. The new Christians, however, do not mingle with the rest of the clan. It even gets hectic in the church when Mr. Kiaga accepts the Osu, the banished people.

The Return to Umuofia, Changes and Death

After seven years of exile, Okonkwo prepares a feast for his mother's relatives before he and the family return to Umuofia. Returning to his village, he notices a massive change due to the whites' settlement. That shock combines with depression after Nwoye converts to Christianity and gets a new name, Isaac.

Mr. Brown, the white missionary in Umuofia, brought Christian influence to Nwoye and other converts in the village. He is a reasonable and likable man who builds a school for the children to learn. He, however, falls ill and is replaced by Reverend James Smith, who is very strict.

When Reverend Smith takes over, the converts experience new wrath and a change of direction. He also incites the converts to confront those still following traditional customs. That makes an overzealous convert, Enoch, unmask an Egwugwu during a sacred ceremony that the villagers consider equal to killing an ancestral spirit.

The Egwugwu burn his compound and destroy the church, too, when Enoch goes to seek refuge there. After hearing about the incident, the District Commissioner calls the clan leaders for a meeting. During the meeting, the clan leaders are arrested, abused, and fined.

Upon release, they hold a meeting where five court messengers tell them to surrender. Okonkwo kills the messenger's leader, but the clan does not help him and allows the rest to escape. Okonkwo realizes that his clan will not fight back.

The District Commissioner finds Okonkwo has committed suicide by hanging himself. Obierika shows him the body but tells him that they should bury the body since the clan's men cannot touch the body of a man who has killed himself.

Okonkwo's story interests the commissioner. He decides to mention it in his upcoming book, The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.

Things Fall Apart Characters

There are many characters in Things Fall Apart. These are the ones that stand out in the novel.

Okonkwo: The main character in Things Fall Apart. He is hardworking and thus has a high status in the clan. He has three wives and is harsh since he is afraid of failing like his father.
Nwoye: He is Okonkwo's oldest son, whom his father considers effeminate. Ikemefuna influences him to be more masculine, but his death changes his attitude toward his father and his ideals. Later, he converts to Christianity, which Okonkwo considers effeminate, but he is happy to be free from his father.
Ikemefuna: He is a young boy Okonkwo takes care of as a peace settlement offer to Umuofia. He is a close friend of Nwoye, and he influences him to be more masculine. Okonkwo is fond of him, but he does not show such affection.
Ezinma: She is Okonkwo's favorite child and Ekwefi's only surviving child. Although she is Okonkwo's favorite, he does not show it because he believes it's a sign of weakness. He also wishes she was a boy.
Ekwefi: Okonkwo's second wife and mother to Enzima, her only surviving child. She is very fond of her daughter and often fears losing her.
Unoka: He is Okonkwo's father. He is lazy and a spendthrift. He died with many debts owed to clan members, and Okonkwo strives to be nothing like him. Unlike Okonkwo, he was gentle and feared the sight of blood, so he never became a warrior.
Uchendu: He is Okonkwo's maternal uncle, who welcomes him to Mbanta after his exile. Unlike Okonkwo, he is peaceful, compromising, and grateful. He advises Okonkwo to appreciate the help he is given or the dead will be angered.
Obierika: He is Okonkwo's close friend who sells his yams while he is in exile. He is introduced early in the novel during his daughter's (Ekueke) wedding party. He is also Maduka's father. He appears as a reasonable man who sometimes questions the harshness of the traditional customs.
Ogbuefi Ezeudu: Ezeudu is the village’s oldest man and a critical Umuofia clan leader. He is the Oracle's messenger who informs Okonkwo about the killing of Ikemefuna.

Brown: He is a gentle and compromising white missionary in Umuofia. He befriends many clan members to promote Christianity and is somewhat successful.
Reverend James Smith: Reverend Smith is the strict and uncompromising missionary who replaces Mr. Brown. He does not respect local culture and even encourages his followers to attack those who follow traditional religion.
Enoch: Enoch is an overzealous Christian convert who disrespects the local religion. Reverend Smith encourages his fanaticism, which leads him to unmask an Egwugwu during a sacred ceremony.
Ojiugo: She is Okonkwo's third wife. She is the youngest wife and is Nkechi's mother.
Akunna: Akunna is an Umuofia clan leader who discusses religion with Mr. Brown, thus encouraging the missionaries to adopt a gentle approach to conversion.
Kiaga: Mr. Kiaga is a local interpreter and convert who converts many villagers in Mbanta.
The District Commissioner: The District Commissioner is a colonial authority figure with a negative view of the local culture and chooses Okonkwo's story to reflect his beliefs about the locals.
Maduka: Maduka is Obierika's son who wins a wrestling match and won. Okonkwo wishes he had such a son.
Chielo: She is Agbala priestess and a friend to Ezinma. She often refers to Ezinma as 'my daughter.'

Themes in Things Fall Apart

Tradition vs. Modernity

The book revolves around the changing Igbo culture as colonialism takes over. The idea of change visualizes before reality strikes. Whether the people embrace or resist the change rests on individual consideration. We see Okonkwo resisting the changes that come with the Europeans.

Thanks to his manly view of things, his mind and actions show that he does not settle for the change affecting Umuofia and the rest of the villages. He also cannot join the white's side since he considers that as effeminate.

Okonkwo is a major figure in his village. Joining Christianity, for example, would cause him to lose his status in society, something that he cannot endure. While Okonkwo and a few clan members in the book represent tradition, characters like Nwoye and the son represent the change to modernization.

The killing of Ikemefuna, the abandoning of twins in the Evil Forest, and his father's wrath made Nwoye shift to the other side. He even acquires a new name, Isaac. Nwoye feels that the new religion and customs can answer questions posed by such traditions.

Individuals make personal decisions about joining the European side or not. The Osu, outcasts in Mbanta village, embrace Christianity wholeheartedly since it elevates them from banishment. Other villagers in different locations are caught in the middle of the decision-making and don't know where to lie.

While some are excited by the changes the Europeans are bringing to their land, they also see the threat they pose to their culture. Traditional building, farming, and cooking methods are now on the verge of erosion.

By adopting a new language (English), Chinua Achebe shows how abandoning the native language erodes the Igbo tradition.

Religion

Religion is another central theme in the novel, and it helps display cultural similarities and differences. In both the Western and native worlds, religion portrays order; putting it into practice shows the difference. Umuofian's religion has agriculture as the baseline, while on the European side, it involves education.

In Igboland, the gods are to be feared by all the land members since natural cycles are what they depend on in their livelihoods. The white missionaries condemn such fear, but it's the same tactic they use on the natives. When the Egwugwu destroyed the church, for example, the clan members faced punishment by being locked up and tortured.

The dialogue between village leaders and the white missionaries shows the commonality in both religions. Akunna agrees with Mr. Brown that the wooden carvings representing their immortals are just wooden carvings. However, he finds the exact representation of Mr. Brown, a figure representing the Western god.

How religion is portrayed in Igboland, especially in Umuofia village, shows that primitive tribes did not occupy the land. It's a society with myths and rituals, and the myths that define the rituals are understood.

Masculinity

Masculinity is among the major themes of Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo views his father as weak due to his failures and adopts a harsh attitude to avoid following in his footsteps. He also avoids showing affection to his children and views Christianity as effeminate.

He also displays aggressive tendencies and beats his wives, as he feels these are the only emotions he should display as a man. We also see Okonkwo disrespecting men with no titles. Since they are below average, he does not consider them as men.

He appears as a man who does not think things through but acts instead. On the contrary, his friend Obierika, who is also manly, does not show such behavior. He is more thoughtful and considerate in his dealings.

For example, he chooses not to accompany men in killing Ikemefuna. For Okonkwo, not only does he join the men, but he also strikes the surrogate son to death. He feared that other clan members would view him as weak if he did not do that.

While in exile, Okonkwo dislikes the whole period. He avoids acknowledging his maternal ancestors and kin since they are not violent. He also exhibits his disappointment when the clan members in Mbanta choose negotiations over violence.

Repression

Due to Okonkwo's idea of masculinity, he represses his emotions except anger. He believes that is the only emotion a man should show. Okonkwo represses what he feels because he does not want to appear weak and feminine.

In several instances in the book, he hides his emotions, leading him to burst with anger and direct it at others. This expression of anger leads to problems with the family and his community.

Okonkwo represses his affection for Ikemefuna, and that is what leads him to join other men in killing him despite Ezeudu's warning. The brutal murder leads to disagreements with Nwoye since he caused a wound that would never heal between them.

Pride

Okonkwo's pride becomes his greatest weakness since he does not want to appear weak. It threatens everyone around him. His pride starts from his achievements, which are justifiable. He has proven himself a worthy warrior, and his hard work has borne the fruits of becoming a wealthy man.

That also makes him rank high in Umuofia. However, as we have discussed in the masculinity theme, it's a pity that his pride bruises men with no titles or a lower ranking than him. He also sees Nwoye as weak and lacking masculinity.

Okonkwo worries that his son might be like his grandfather, Unoka. That makes him to be cruel to his son, and it destroys their relationship.

While in exile, his self-esteem lowers, affecting his pride. He is eager to return to Umuofia and rebuild his status. When he returns, he wants to bring back his pride by defending his village against the white intruders.

This pride results in violence when he beheads one of the court messengers. The next thing readers witness in the novel is Okonkwo's shocking downfall.

Language

Language is a theme since it's vital in Umuofia and the rest of Igboland. Everyone recognizes orators like Ezeudu in the village, so he receives an honorable burial from the whole village. There are also clan meetings in Umuofia and other villages. That means some speakers play a crucial role in shaping, uplifting, and maintaining the native language.

The novel's storytelling occurs, whether it's a masculine or feminine fable. It shows the roles of the various clan members. The West also contributes to this theme by attracting crowds using a hymn. That is what Nwoye initially noted, and it began his transition to Christianity.

When the district commissioner interacts with Obierika, he points out the significance of language. However, he does that in an unappreciating way when he thinks of how the local people in Umuofia use superfluous words. He also suggests how white culture is going to take over and dominate the land.

The commissioner is writing a book with a very lengthy title, 'The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.' While it appears impressive, it's also wordy. What separates that from the Umuofian language is that one can write English.

The ability to read and write a language is powerful, so English seems superior in this case. The schools and churches they establish also lead to conversion from traditional ways.

Chinua Achebe is returning the power of language to his people using some Igbo words, idioms, and proverbs. The main reason is that English is insufficient to explain every African concept. He, however, uses English to write the novel since he wants to narrate to the West what African culture looked like before colonization.

Things Fall Apart - Literary Devices Used

Symbolism

Things Fall Apart uses several symbols. One of these is locusts, an allegory of the white settlers that the villagers welcome. The villagers view the locusts as innocent and a source of rare nutritious food, unaware of how destructive they will be.

These insects are also so numerous that they break some tree branches, symbolizing the breaking of local traditions due to white settlement.

Another symbol is yams, a vital food representing success and status. There are several festivals to celebrate yams, such as The New Yam festival, which symbolizes time. Also, before planting them, the Umuofians observe a Week of Peace so the gods can bless the crops.

Okonkwo also made his fortune through yams since he could grow many of them.

Another symbol we will discuss here is fire, associated with Okonkwo's rage. It's the only emotion he shows. Okonkwo is destructive, both physically and emotionally. He kills two young men and avoids showing emotion toward his children since he views it as a weakness.

Eventually, the rage is another factor that contributes to his perishing.

Motifs

Animal imagery is one of the motifs in Things Fall Apart. For example, Enoch kills and eats a scared python, which lends to the theme of religion and cultural change. His action symbolizes a shift from one religion to another, and the tribe's people consider it disrespectful. It also shows how incompatible the indigenous values are with the colonialists.

Animals signify the community's beliefs and rituals through folk tales and other storytelling forms. That makes Europeans see the Igbo people's view of the world as incomplete. For example, the story of how the tortoiseshell became bumpy is a way Africans use to explain natural phenomena.

Another motif is chi, which refers to a person's god who brings them good fortune or bad luck. The villagers also believe that one's chi responds to one's desires. It is safe to say that Okonkwo is also responsible for his successes, mistakes, and downfalls.

Oral storytelling is another motif that represents the tribe's shared identity. For example, Okonkwo tells Nwoye his versions of folk tales, which show how each generation interprets them differently or the morals they would like to pass down.

That is especially common for most traditional societies, which tell stories of past generations and aim to pass down specific values to the youth. The way the storyteller tells the story gives them more control over the narration.

Ikemefuna tells Nwoye stories as he settles into his new home, using his version and interpretation. Oral storytelling gives a story a new form of life to every generation that perceives it. Using oral storytelling as a motif shows how powerful storytelling can be in the Igbo and Western worlds.

Akunna and Mr. Brown discuss their cultures and religions and discover similarities in their approaches. Achebe uses this part of the novel to show the misconceptions that arise when evaluating the legitimacy of one's culture and tradition over the other.

While the European cultures push out the tradition in Igboland, storytelling shows how it can be an effective information passing means.

Things Fall Apart Genre

Things Fall Apart fits the description of both historical fiction and tragedy. Here is how the two genres are depicted.

Historical Fiction

The novel fits the history fiction genre since the fictional narrative takes place in the past, within a particular time range. It starts in the pre-colonial era and then transits to show the British incursion into Igboland.

While the estimated time setting starts around the 1890s, it's still unclear. However, it was between the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

Achebe wrote the book a few years before Nigeria gained independence, which made Achebe's historical vision carry significant political weight.

Tragedy

The novel also fits the category of tragedy since it shows how the main character and Igbo customs fall apart. First, Okonkwo struggles to beat his father's shameful legacy. While he earns a high status in society, he also gains pride, which causes him to conflict with others.

The main character's life becomes tougher when he is exiled for his mistakes. After the British join their land, his chance of getting clan elder honor diminishes. Since he cannot bring the clan together to fight and chase away the white intruders, he chooses to commit suicide, which is a result of his pride bruising him.

The title, 'Things Fall Apart,' comes from W.B. Yeats's poem 'The Second Coming'. Chinua Achebe quotes a line from the poem in his book: 'Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.' The line is reflected in the instance where Ekwefi follows the Agbala priestess, disobeying her command.

The line also reflects on the moments before Okonkwo goes into exile for his manslaughter crime. In both scenes, the line from the poem shows the tragedy that arrives and becomes inevitable.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the summary of Things Fall Apart?

Things Fall Apart is about Okonkwo, who struggles to beat his father's reputation. While chasing success, he shows his masculine standards and strives to preserve cultural practices. In the end, the hardships lead to the clan's destruction and his downfall.

2. What is the main theme of Things Fall Apart?

The main theme in Things Fall Apart is the struggle between tradition and modernity, which is well portrayed after the British intrusion into Igboland. Other themes in the book include masculinity, religion, pride, repression, and language.

3. What does Okonkwo symbolize in Things Fall Apart?

Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart represents masculinity in African tradition. His identity is reflected in his fight for the values and culture of the Igbo people. His downfall and suicide symbolize the death of African culture.

4. Who can help me write a Things Fall Apart summary?

We can help you write a compelling summary for Things Fall Apart. Our homework helpers have worked with students at various education levels and have met their strict requirements. Submit your summary requirements and then wait for A-grade results.

Wrapping Up

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart tells the story of Okonkwo, an Umuofia clan warrior of the Igbo tribe who is afraid of ending up like his father. He avoids showing emotion, and his anger often leads him to trouble. At a funeral, his gun explodes, killing a sixteen-year-old boy. He is exiled for seven years in his mother's village, where he struggles to rebuild his life and fortune.

Over time, he hears about the white settlers slowly approaching their village. He eventually returns to his village but refuses to convert along with others and ends up killing himself. The story contains themes such as religion and tradition versus modernity and symbols like locusts and yams.

The above summary reflects everything you need to know about the novel. If you want an in-depth analysis, let our summary writing experts know and get the best academic help online.

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