Lang and Lit Rainier Fourie

Introduction TFA Things Fall Apart , by Chinua Achebe is the story of Okonkwo, a proud Igbo man which represents the history of Achebe and his culture. Okonkwo represents the very extreme of values of the Igbo culture. Okonkwo’s struggle, both within his community, and with the colonial missionaries who arrive to “civilize” the people of Africa represents Achebe’s own struggle and desire to highlight and celebrate the complexities of Igbo culture but refrain readers from having a romantic nostalgia of life before colonization.   The personal history of an author has significant influence on the way meaning in constructed in his/her writing as seen by Achebe. Achebe being both a devoted Christian and an Igbo. This has created internal conflict in Achebe as this is shown through his secondary characters such as Mr. Brown, Mr. Smith, Obierika, and Nwoye. Religion in the book, Things fall apart, is an important aspect as it is the cause of all the conflicts in the book.

Blog Post – Okonkwo Characterization Okonkwo is the protagonist in the novel, Things Fall Apart , by Chinua Achebe and is the main character that drives the plot forward. Okonkwo is very significant in the novel, Things Fall Apart, not just because he is the main protagonist but also he is very important in the Umuofia the tribe the lives in. He is one of the leaders in Umuofia, and is a renowned wrestler, fierce warrior, and a successful farmer of yams. Okonkwo is very traditional and very cultural, almost to a fault. Ibo culture is all about balance in everyday life, however Okonkwo is too traditional and exudes hyper-masculinity in everything he does. Okonkwo is also very impulsive. Consequently, Okonkwo on accident offends the Ibo people and their traditions as well as the gods of his clan (ie. Beating his wife during the peace weak). Okonkwo is advised not to participate in the sacrifice of Ikefemuna, but he actually kills Ikefemuna because he is “Afraid of

Blog post – Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, is set around the year 1900; prior the arrival of the English colonial missionaries. Achebe as set the novel prior to the arrival of the colonial administration as opposed to during their colonial, is to show context and characterization of the novel’s main character, Okonkwo. Setting the book before the arrival of the missionaries gives Achebe time to fully characterize Okonkwo and fully explore and explain the social, historical and cultural context of the book. Chinua Achebe characterizes Okonkwo as a renowned wrestler, a fierce warrior, and a successful farmer of yams (a manly crop according to his culture). Achebe makes clear that throughout his life, he has a never ending battle for status. His life is dominated by the his fear of weakness and failure (both fears because he doesn’t want to become his father; who in his eyes and the eyes of the tribe is weak and a failure). He is sho