A Nigerian classic set in a heated chapter of Africa’s history, “Things Fall Apart” is a great pick for readers seeking a powerful story the expounds on complex themes such as pride and honor.
“Things Fall Apart” is a work of fiction set in the pre-colonial era of Nigeria, and was published in 1958 by African novelist Chinua Achebe.
Achebe was born in 1930, a time when missionaries had made their presence strongly felt in the region. His father had been one of the first converted to Christianity. Achebe was raised by his grandfather, who bore no ill will to his son’s conversion. Achebe was placed in an ideal position to juxtapose Ibo tradition to the transformation in culture due to Christianity. Like many of his works, “Things Fall Apart” sought to illustrate the African tradition of the Ibo tribe, and wove into a delicate narrative the Ibo language, folklore and proverbs.
The protagonist in this story, Okonkwo, is driven by the common fear of “becoming just like his father,” and seeks to become a courageous and highly esteemed member of his tribe. His fear of being regarded as weak drives him to deliver the killing blow to a prisoner, who regarded Okonkwo as a father due to three years of his guardianship.
Okonkwo’s world continues to crumble, when, years later, upon this elder’s death, his gun goes off and inadvertently kills the elder’s 16-year old son. He is exiled for seven years, and upon his return to his village, is surprised by the metamorphosis caused by the “white man” and his Christianity.
Okonkwo’s burning pride for the culture he grew up in causes him to work with elders of the village against this change, with acts of subversion against the missionaries. As a result, Okonkwo and other villagers are taken hostage, and upon their release, the Umofia people form an uprising.
A messenger of the colonial government comes to intervene at this meeting and is killed by Okonkwo, who upon seeing weakness in his people realizes that this acculturation is permanent and would prefer to end his life than fall under the laws of a foreign hand for which he has no respect. This suicide is against the laws of his people, and a noble life has ended as an abomination to the earth.
Fear and pride are the novel’s driving passions. Okonkwo’s one and only fear is that which later destroys him. It is a testament to the fact that the things we run from in life are the things that later destroy us. Okonkwo’s fear builds up his attachment to the things of his culture. It is these things that attest to his strength of character. The losses of meaning of his people’s gods and reverence for a man’s chi leave him lost and dissonant. As these things fall away, so does Okonkwo fall apart. His failure is a personal one and destroys him.
Achebe encourages readers to appreciate the rich culture from which the Ibo people were born. It is a culture that was not assimilated into the colonization of the country, but has been stripped away. Still, there are people like Achebe who hold close to the folklore. He brings attention to people who doubt their own teachings and leave themselves open to having their beliefs discredited. Achebe pulls readers into a history that is awe-inspiring, despite its morbid tendencies.
