Things Fall Apart

Reverend James Smith is Mr. Brown's successor to the church of Umuofia, after Mr. Brown is forced to leave for Europe due to ill health. Mr. Smith is a much more zealous preacher of Christianity, and is much more of a punishment/reward type of preacher. He openly dismisses the Igbo culture as barbaric.

Eventually he tries to protect Enoch in the church after Enoch kills an egwugwu. As a result, the tribe comes to the church. Despite Mr. Smith's protestations, the tribe burns the church down.

The story "Things Fall Apart" takes place in the late 19th century in Nigeria, during the period of British colonization and missionary work in the region. It explores the clash of cultures between the Igbo people and the colonial forces, highlighting the impact of colonization on traditional African society.

In "Things Fall Apart," an iyi-uwa is a sacred stone that is used to determine whether a person is innocent or guilty of a crime. It is believed that if someone swears falsely by the stone, they will die. It plays a significant role in the traditional justice system of the Igbo people.

Ezinma is the daughter of Okonkwo and his second wife Ekwefi. She is the closest daughter to her father, especially after Ikemefuna dies. Okonkwo often wishes she had been born a boy.

Ezinma, like all children of her mother, initially suffers from a weak constitution and almost dies. She is thought to be an ogbanje, a child who dies then re-enters her mother's womb to be reborn.

She is high-spirited, and is treated as an equal by her mother, who she maintains more of a sister-sister relationship with. She maintains a large influence over her half-sister Obiageli. She is moderately rebellious, but understands her father the best, and generally acts as a good daughter.

The protagonist of Things Fall Apart is Okonkwo. He is a strong and proud warrior whose life is dominated by a desire to uphold his clan's traditions and avoid his father's perceived weaknesses. His tragic downfall is the focus of the novel.

Many reactions happened.

The missionaries reacted to the discovery of new territory by going there and building a church

The locals reacted to the church by a few of them converting.

One reaction to the conversions was that they could send evangelists to surrounding towns and villages.

Another reaction to the conversions was one of sorrow by the leaders of the clan.

Another of some of their reactions was that the faith and the white man's god would not last, as no man of title had converted.

Chielo's reaction was to call these converts the excretement of the clan, whereas the new faith was a mad dog which would eat them up.

Nwoye's appeareance in Umuofia prompted Obierika to visit Okonkwo. It had also prompted Obierika to ask Nwoye several questions including "What are you doing here?" and "How is your father?"

Nwoye reacted to the first question by responding that he was a missionary. He reacted to the second question by declaring ignorance, and further stating that Okonkwo was not his father.

Getting to Nwoye was also a task. The missionaries are implied to have reacted so as to hinder Obierika from initially speaking to Nwoye when Obierika first tried to talk to them. Obierika reacted to this hinderance with determination in the face of difficulties.

Okonkwo reacted to Obierika's questions by refusing to speak about Nwoye. Obierika reacted by asking Nwoye's mother about it. She reacted by telling Obierika the story that she knew.

The arrival of the missionaries caused the men of Mbanta to react in a stir. They reacted to both this and the story of Mbanta by having everyone see the white man. Stories had grown in reaction to the events of Abame. The white man began to speak in reaction to having the whole village gathered before him. The interpreter reacted to the words by translating them to the villages in Ibo. The villagers reacted to the interpreter by laughing at his dialect, particularly the way he said "my buttocks" instead of "myself". However, the villagers reacted to his commanding presence by listening to him. He reacted to the crowd by telling them that he was one of them.

The villagers reacted to the white man's speech of a true god and their false gods with a murmur of reaction and discussion. A random person responds to the talk by making fun of the interpreters use of "my buttocks," causing the crowd to respond with laughter. This causes the white man to respond by asking his interpreter what was said. This lull in the speech causes a man to react by asking where the white man's horse is. This question causes the villagers to react with consultation, and finally an answer pointing them to where the bicycle is.

Their answer causes the missionary to react by telling them of bringing many iron horses and settling upon them in the land. This causes the villagers to react with surprise and thought at such a new idea, making them talk excitedly among themselves.

The white man's speech causes an old man to ask which of the gods the white man was talking about. The white man responds that it is none of their gods, but the one true god.

This prompts another question from a villager asking how they would be protected from their gods if they followed the white man's gods. The white man responds that the other gods are false and harmless. This causes the villagers to laugh derisively, with some of them going away.

This bad reaction causes the missionaries to try another tack, one of song. The interpreter reacts by telling the people what each verse means. Some reacted with enthrallment, while had no such reaction. Other villagers continue to react with questions while the white man responds with his best answers, though some villagers mock the religion openly.

Okonkwo responds with disdain for the mad religion, while Nwoye responds with an open heart and is captivated by it.

The wrestling matches show another form of how the villages and clans simultaneously come together as well as compete. They are where Ekwefi fell in love with Okonkwo. They are where men are elevated to higher status due to their wrestling prowess.

In "Things Fall Apart," the dead child, Enoch's son, is treated with a mix of sorrow and superstition. The community believes that the child's death is a sign of misfortune, reflecting the deep connection between life, death, and ancestral spirits in Igbo culture. The child's body is buried with care, and rituals are performed to appease the spirits, illustrating the significance of proper burial practices in their beliefs. This event underscores the themes of fate and the impact of colonial influences on traditional customs.

After killing Ikemefuna, Okonkwo is profoundly affected. He is troubled by the guilt and remorse, and he is haunted by the memory of the boy's death. The text describes how Okonkwo is unable to sleep or eat, indicating his mental and emotional turmoil.

Nwoye likes the story of the Earth and the Sky because it introduces him to a different perspective on the world and allows him to explore ideas beyond what his father's strict beliefs allow. He feels a sense of liberation and connection to a greater source of knowledge and understanding.

During the court proceedings, Okonkwo accidentally kills Ezeudu's son, which is a crime against the earth goddess and considered a grave offense in Igbo culture. Okonkwo's act of violence ultimately leads to his exile from the village.

Okonkwo's disapproval and harsh treatment towards Nwoye, due to Nwoye's perceived weakness and differences in character, cause Nwoye to feel alienated, resentful, and eventually lead him to distance himself from his father and embrace Christianity when introduced to it by the missionaries. Okonkwo's rejection and lack of understanding of Nwoye's emotions and needs ultimately drive a wedge between them.

It is ironic because Okonkwo doesn't actually believe in the power of his ancestors. He has rejected their ways in pursuit of success in the white man's world, so praying to them in a time of need indicates his desperation and hypocrisy. Additionally, his actions go against his strong belief in his own strength and self-reliance.

The one who counseled the women not to abandon their cooking pots all together was Chielo, the priestess of Agbala.

Mr. Kiaga's encouragement for Nwoye to forget about his parents may be seen as a cultural expectation rather than a matter of rights. Nwoye had already begun to distance himself from his parents due to their rejection of his beliefs and values, so Mr. Kiaga's guidance may have aligned with Nwoye's feelings and decisions. Ultimately, Nwoye's choice to embrace a new faith and community was influenced by both external factors and his own personal convictions.

In "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, the phrase "iron horse" is used by the character Okonkwo to refer to a bicycle, a new mode of transportation that arrived with the missionaries and colonizers. The term symbolizes the clash between traditional Igbo culture and the encroaching influence of Western technology and beliefs.

It is ironic that Ikemefuna, who was taken in by Okonkwo's family and formed a close bond with him, ends up fearing Okonkwo the most. This shows the complex dynamics and contradictions within their relationship, as well as the unpredictable nature of human emotions.

Okonkwo resents taking care of his mother and sisters because in his society, it is seen as a woman's responsibility. He views his mother's inability to provide for herself as a sign of weakness, which goes against his beliefs in masculinity and strength. Additionally, Okonkwo fears being perceived as weak or feminine if he fulfills these caregiving duties.

The tribesmen make palm tree sap to make palm wine.

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe is written in descriptive language that vividly portrays the setting, culture, and characters of a Nigerian village. Achebe's detailed descriptions of traditional practices, rituals, and beliefs provide a rich and immersive reading experience that brings the story to life. The language is evocative and helps the reader understand and appreciate the complexities of Igbo society.

It's likely due to a combination of factors such as poor communication, lack of planning, inadequate resources, or external events beyond control. Identifying the root cause and addressing it proactively can help prevent things from further falling apart.

This quote is said by Mr. Brown, a missionary in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart." He is trying to challenge Okonkwo's traditional beliefs and customs by posing a question that questions their validity and purpose in a changing society.

Uchendu gives the missionaries a portion of the evil forest to build their church because he believes it is a suitable punishment for the missionaries who have desecrated their customs and offended their gods. By giving them land in the evil forest, Uchendu hopes to isolate them from the community and protect their culture and beliefs.