Things Fall Apart

1. Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe 1958 Shanika Harris

2. ThingsFallApart • Setting : Nigeria • The significance in the book is the colonization of Africa; a clash of cultures

3. Subjects/Theme Statement • Change • Pride • Tradition • Assimilation • Power • Colonization • Some humans would do anything to appear from being weak.

4. MAJOR Characters: Roles & Descriptions • Okonkwois the protagonist. He’s a hero and he holds a position of power. His actions leads himself to his fall. Okonkwo’s most fear failure and fear of weakness. Okonkwo is a proud, ambitious man who runs his family with anger. • Unoka is Okonkwo'sfather. He died when Okonkwo was very young, and he was a failure. Since his dad was a failure Okonkwoworks tirelessly to prevent himself from being one. Unoka died in humiliation. The memory of his dad’s death gives Okonkwo a terrible fear of failure. • Nwoyeis Okonkwo'sson. Nwoye is sensitive and thoughtful, but he is also somewhat lazy. Okonkwo is harsh with his son, fearing that he will become like Unoka. Later, he converts to Christianity, to escape his father. His betrayal turn off and outrages Okonkwo. • Ekwefi is Okonkwo'ssecond wife. She has had ten children, but only one has survived. She is a tough and brave woman, devoted to her only surviving daughter, Ezinma.

5. MINOR Characters: Roles & Descriptions • District Commissioner Protagonist is the head of British government in Umofia. He distributes justice in total ignorance of local circumstances. He has an attitude that is arrogant and hypocritical. He is a determined and willing man. • Mr. Brown is awhite man and missionary. He strives to compromise with the clan. He restrains the excessive and violence of some of the converts, but he eventually dies ill to overwork.. • Mr. Smith is Mr. Brown's replacement. Mr. Smith is not wise. His foolishness brings the Christians of Umuofia into direct conflict with the clan.

6. Major Symbols and Motifs • Motifs: • Fear; Okonkwois haunted by fear. He is greatly afraid of failure, and he is afraid of being considered weak. This fear drives him to thoughtlessness, and in the end concludes to his death. • Masculinity; Masculinity is one of Okonkwo'sobsessions. For him, any kind of sensitivity is a sign of weakness. Male power lies in authority and physical force. Okonkwo's harshness drives Nwoye away from the family and into anew religion. • Symbols: Fire; Okonkwois associated with burning, fire, and flame throughout the novel because of his intensity and dangerous anger which is the only emotion that he allows himself to display.

7. Protagonist’s Dilemma, Decision,& Significance • Okonkwo’s dilemma is trying to avoid to appear like his father, which is being weak, so in doing so he would express his rage by physically beating people. • He is deeply dedicated to the traditions and social hierarchies of his people, and he is determined that his sons and daughters follow his demanding example. • Significance; The thematic significance is that change will cause self-destruction. The protagonists decision is that in the end he commits suicide simply because he didn’t want to convert over to change.

8. Significance of beginning and ending • Significance of the beginning of the novel is that Achebe is describing the cultural of Umofia. The unsympathetic attitudes towards women and their babies are disrespected and the men abuses the power that’s given to them. • Significance of the ending of the novel is that in the end change is not what everybody wants such as Okonkwo. To avoid the appearance of being weak and converting change is that he kills himself

9. Quotes with context and significance • Okoye“Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly and proverbs are the palm oil w/ which words are eaten” ; context Okoye states the next half a dozen sentences in proverbs; significance I think this is important b/c proverbs are words of wisdom about life and the “oil” is slick. In saying so this is stating the people swallow “words” with pride. • Narrator “The elders or ndichie, met to hear a report of Okonkwo’s mission.” ; context The elders gather to hear a report of Okonkwo’s mission; significance The ndichie are important throughout this book b/c they are a symbol of wisdom. They been around longer to know the history of the culture. • Narrator If ever a man deserved his success, that a man was Oknowko. At an early age ha had achieved fame as the greatest wrestler in all the land. At the most one could say his chi was gold” context Recognizing Okonkwo for his success and its not by luck; significance I think this symbolizes the tribe’s religion by believing in a personal god • Narrator “None of them was a man of title. They were mostly the kind of people that were called, efulefa, worthless, empty men”; context Obierika pays a visit to his friend in exile; significance The significance is important b/c this is the opposite of now how men are expected to be in Umofia.