Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo was the definition of manliness and was determined to become everything his father was not. Oknonkwo’s life was filled with tradition, symbols and social changes. The story revolves around how a tribal community is faced with change and how other religion and cultures lie beyond what they know.

Throughout the story there are many references to Onkonwo’s inner conflict on what it means to a proud man. His conflict and struggle with his emotions become clear when he speaks of his daughter Ezinma and Ikemefuna. His character shows his resistance towards them since he feels that providing emotional support is a sign of weakness. The story represents the deep beliefs and religions that are passed down within their tribe.

In Things Fall Apart there is mention of agriculture’s differences that describe how the Igbo society lived and how it changes. The use of the Yam was important to their nourishment and was used throughout every meal. They were thought of as “the king of crops” within the Igbo community. They were used in their traditional celebrations and also a way showed the source of wealth based on how many they grew as farmers. Another items that were referenced being used within tradition for the clan, were the Kola nuts which was used to offer to their personal god or their “chi”. The author showed the involvement of these foods to express the characteristics of festivals or celebrations within the Igbo society.

The agriculture was not the only thing that stood out in this story but the role of women was also very important and also followed a tradition within the clan. When men wanted to marry a woman they had to pay a bride price to the family in order to be accepted as a suitor. Obierika speaks of the bride price to Okonkwo “my daughter’s suitor is coming today and I hope we will clinch the matter of the bride-price (Achebe 65).” There were multiple wives within the clan and also each wife had a different role within...