Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Yes, the white man came down to Ala Igbo, Umuofia. The missionaries converted people to Christianity, and churches were established.
All the unimportant people quickly joined the church, including Nwoye, Okonkwo's lazy son, whom he disowned.
Okonkwo was an important personality in Umuofia. He was a wrestler; a successful farmer; a warrior, and a titled man.
The overzealous newly converted Christians vehemently opposed the traditions of the people. Conflict arose.
Anarchy prevailed until a masquerader was unmasked in public, because he flogged a Christian. It is an abomination to unmask a masquerade in Igboland.
The traditional people reacted; the church was burnt down in retaliation; another sacrilege.
The people are no longer one. They can no longer act with one voice. The newly converted Christians now oppose the other villagers, on account of their new faith. The people are now divided.
Some elders were arrested, including Okonkwo. They were beaten and detained by the Whiteman.
The arrest and detention of some elders in Umuofia was an invitation to violence.
A meeting was quickly summoned to discuss the way forward. Real trouble was formenting. There was going to be war.
The Whiteman quickly sent his messengers to stop the meeting.
Okonkwo arose in anger
and with his matchet slew a court messenger.
He expected other men to join him in retaliation,
but they did not. Rather they questioned his action: " why did he do that?"
Okonkwo was disappointed that he was alone in the fight. He arose; wiped his blood-stained matchet on the sand and walked home; Okonkwo went behind his house and committed suicide.
He committed an abomination by killing himself: he will now be buried like a dog.
The tragedy of Okonkwo.
About this poem
The disintegration of communal life in an African village of Umuofia,due to the arrival of white missionaries, whose religion conflicted with the life of the community, and brought about disunity and lack of cohesion, hence the title of the book:"Things Fall Apart."
Written on May 17, 2023
Submitted by Chinonyeisraeluche on May 17, 2023
- 1:32 min read
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Quick analysis:
Scheme | AX X XA X XB XX XCCBX X XX |
---|---|
Characters | 1,745 |
Words | 308 |
Stanzas | 9 |
Stanza Lengths | 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 5, 1, 2 |
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"Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/159605/things-fall-apart-by-chinua-achebe>.
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