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Nattakorn Masaya-anon

Mr. David Gallagher

Unit 2 Summative Assessment, English 12

December 4th, 2019

Literature Analysis: Things Fall Apart

“Culture is an essential part of conflict and conflict resolution,” (Michelle LeBaron).

Revealed throughout history, numbers of cultures emerged and sustained, but finally collapsed. In

‘Things Fall Apart’, Chinua Achebe utilizes irony in the outcomes of the actions of the main

character (Okonkwo) and the clan (Umofia) in order to attest that the extreme values of the Ibo

culture are the driving force towards its destruction.

As for Okonkwo, his absolute values in masculinity which is meant to bring success and

reputation to his life always produce opposite results. Okonkwo is a man whose personal values

largely resemble the typical Ibo values: strength, diligence, etiquette, and respect to the superior

i.e. elders and gods. Nonetheless, Okonkwo never heeds gentleness and conversation which are,

in fact, important values of the clan, too. His virtually the only goal in life is to be successful,

unlike his shameful father. When he is warned not to take part in the death of Ikemefuna—the

young captive who has become an important member of his family, he still decides to join the

group and even kills the boy himself for fear of looking weak. Okonkwo knows that Ikemefuna is

significant to his oldest son Nowye, and he also likes him; however, by claiming “But someone

had to do it. If we were all afraid of blood, it would not be done. And what do you think the Oracle

would do then?” (page 67), Okonkwo reveals that he substantially believes in violence and would

rather cling to the gods’ verdicts even if it is against humanity so as not to encounter their wrath.
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He justifies his action by regarding only partial principles of the clan, viewing audacity and

obedience to the custom as the right. But then, despite such actions aligning with the clan’s values,

he happens to lose his status and get banished because of a ‘female crime’ he unintentionally and

ungracefully commits. He is even more agonized as his son, whose heart is broken since

Ikemefuna’s death, abandons the clan’s faith and join the Christian. His statement “Living fire

begets cold, impotent ash” (page 153) illustrates his instant realization that his harshness and his

fear of being weak are the things that burn his relationship, destructing his own son. Yet, Okonkwo

neglects that fact and continues heeding in the same values during the time of missionaries and the

westerns’ arrival. Eventually, it just leads him to a shameful death no different from his hated

father, as he cannot stop himself from killing a western court messenger and commits a suicide to

flee from his guilt. Ostensibly, Okonkwo’s life manifests that an extreme belief in manliness

results in more tragedy than success.

Likewise, the extreme and violent parts of the Ibo culture are what break Umofia apart.

Although some of the native customs are beautiful and amicable, the other are credulous and

ruthless. A large part of Ibo tradition and governance are dominated by the faith in the gods of

nature whose divine commands are conversed by the Oracle. No matter how unreasonable the its

messages seem, the clan is going to obey—as shown when Ikemefuna is designated to be killed

just because of the Oracle says so. Besides, the clan regards certain occurrences, for example,

twins and swelling in the stomach and the limbs, as the gods’ abomination which cannot be

tolerated. Those who fall into the categories are to be leave to death in the Evil Forest, and this

violent custom has long afflicted numbers of people who have never questioned it because it is

their sole belief. But once the new religion arrives, the perception change. “All the god you have

named are not gods at all. They are gods of deceit who tell you to kill your fellows and destroy
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innocent children.” (page 146). Instead, the westerners introduce Christianity which values the

love of God for everyone. “There is no slave or free, we are all children of God and we must

receive these our brothers” (page 156). This new belief serves as an escape for the miserable people

who lose their loved ones to the cruel values of the Ibo culture. Those efulefu—the lower-class

men—and ozu—the outcasts consequently become the first group of converts. Later on, more and

more people of young generations and of titles join this novel faith. As the inhumane values of the

culture which is supposed to unite the clan oppress the people, they turn away from the clan and

Umofia falls apart.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe has clearly demonstrated that one of the main factors

in the collapse of Ibo culture is nothing but its own extreme values which ironically bring about

tragic results to both the main character and the clan, instead of the expected success. Therefore,

having absolute beliefs in particular things and rigidly force them upon the others will never benefit

both the individuals and their society.