Things Fall Apart

Many white people came later, and found the armored horse tied to the tree.

They later came back to the market with many men with guns and slaughtered everyone at the market that day. Only the old, the sick, and women, whose chi were awake and told them not to go to the market that day, were spared slaughter.

The character Okonkwo can be considered a static character in "Things Fall Apart" because his personality and beliefs remain relatively unchanged throughout the novel. He clings to traditional values and is resistant to change, which ultimately leads to his downfall in the face of colonial influence.

One unusual event in Umuofia is when Okonkwo accidentally kills a clansman during the funeral of Ezeudu, an event that violates the sacred peace of the earth and leads to Okonkwo and his family being exiled from the village for seven years. This incident disrupts the traditional order and causes conflict within the community.

It is Okonkwo who says that it is not bravery when a man fights with a woman in "Things Fall Apart." He believes that combat between a man and a woman is unequal and dishonorable, not displaying true courage.

The egwugwu are ancestral spirits of the clan. It is not known how many there are specifically. In tribal courts of Umuofia, there are 9 egwugwu, one representing each village.

A notable egwugwu is the Mother of Spirits, who makes an appearance after one of her sons is killed. Another is Ajofia, the leading egwugwu of Umuofia.

It is not specifically mentioned in the book.

Okonkwo puts most of his focus on Nwoye, since he is the eldest son, but Nwoye does not really meet his standards for being a man.

Okonkwo seems to respect and like his adopted son Ikemefuna more, even though Ikemefuna is not truly his son. Later, his focus is mostly on his daughter Ezinma, whom he continually wishes had been born a boy.

"Things Fall Apart" directly addresses the impact of colonialism on traditional African societies, particularly the Igbo culture in Nigeria. It explores the clash between traditional values and colonial influences, as well as the consequences of cultural imperialism on individual identities and community structures.

In Things Fall Apart, the men are haggling over the bride price for the marriage of Ikemefuna's sister to Obierika's son. They are negotiating the amount of yams and livestock that will be exchanged as part of the bride price, which is an important custom in Igbo culture to symbolize the union of two families.

They began to shoot and everybody was killed, except for those who had not been in the market that day. The Abame kill the white man because their Oracle said he would destroy their clan. ... “Never kill a man who says nothing,” he says. Okonkwo agrees that they were fools and should have armed themselves in preparation.

Okonkwo is at first depressed. His plans have gone astray. His hard work seems to have been for naught. His farms and property have been destroyed, and he must wait seven years before he can ascend the ranks in his village again.

There were many notable quotes in Things Fall Apart. Some quotes include:

"She gave the dish to her father's eldest brother and then shook hands, very shyly, with her suitor and his relatives."

"He was a flaming fire."

"He heaved a heavy sigh and went away with the gun."

"'Is it true that Okonkwo nearly killed you with his gun?'"

"'They have indeed soiled the name of ozo.'"

Nwoye becomes more independent and confident during Ikemefuna's stay, as he develops a close bond with him and enjoys his companionship. Ikemefuna's presence also exposes Nwoye to a different perspective on masculinity and inner strength, which influences him in a positive way. However, Nwoye is deeply affected by Ikemefuna's tragic fate, which leads to his further emotional and psychological growth.

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe shares similarities with typical European novels in terms of its narrative structure, character development, and exploration of universal themes like power, tradition, and change. However, it also distinctly features African culture, oral tradition, and colonial experience, setting it apart and enriching the global literary landscape.

Women were treated as possessions of males. They took care of the home, and were not invited to town meetings. Their responsibilities were to their husband and then to their children. They did the cleaning, cooking, and minor farming. The first wife would be in charge of the household, and would be able to direct the other wives as well be the only other person to wear the titles of her husband.

Ekwefi recoils from Chielo because Chielo embodies the spirit of Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and Caves. Agbala is a powerful and feared deity that commands respect and obedience from the villagers. Ekwefi, like others, is in awe of Agbala's spiritual and mystical presence.

Okonkwo's criticism of Osugo for being lazy demonstrates his strict adherence to traditional Igbo values of hard work and diligence. It also reveals Okonkwo's high standards for himself and others, as well as his tendency to judge harshly those who do not meet his expectations. Overall, this criticism underscores Okonkwo's rigid and inflexible personality.

Umuofia demands that Mbaino recompensate them for the murder of Udo's wife by giving them a virgin woman and a young man, or Umuofia would wage war upon them.

The chief egwugwu is called Evil Forest.

One example of this occurs when Okonkwo says to a fellow clansman, "This meeting is for men," implying that the man with no titles is thus a woman or otherwise not entitled to be in the meeting and express his opinion.

When Nwoye decides that Nnadi lives in the land of Ikemefuna's favorite story, he is suggesting that Nnadi is living in a world where he prefers to ignore or dismiss the harsh realities of life, much like a story that provides comfort or escapism. Nwoye sees Nnadi as detached from the real world and unwilling to acknowledge the pain and suffering that exist within their society.

Okonkwo wishes that they could kill the white men and their messengers, driving them from the land. However, Okonkwo initially agrees to talk to the Commissioner when he summons the leaders of Umuofia to talk. After being tricked, Okonkwo resumes his position of wanting to kill the white men.

Okonkwo farms yams, the King of crops. He takes care of his farm and estate, doing tasks such as clearing fields, repairing and building buildings.

When wartime comes, he is also a warrior for his village; he has killed 5 other warriors.

Okonkwo has taken 2 titles, the first of which is ozo. The second title is not explicitly mentioned, although the third title is the Idemili title.