Things Fall Apart Term Paper

Things Fall Apart

What falls apart and why?

The title of Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart refers mainly to the integrity of the Nigerian tribal cultures: to their customs, traditions, and ways of life, all of which fall apart as the result of internal and external conflicts. In Okonkwo's personal life, a series of unfortunate events lead to his loss of personal integrity and his eventual psychological destruction. The gradual yet dramatic falling apart of Okonkwo parallels the falling apart of his community. Okonkwo's beating his wife during the Week of Peace denoted a clear violation of sacred tradition. Okonkwo's respect for tradition diminishes further throughout the novel and culminates in his killing Ikemefuna. The murder of his foster son was not an ordinary moral transgression, but also an affront to the wisdom of the tribal elders and their spiritual oracles. Things really fall apart for Okonkwo and his family when, in a darkly ironic accident, Okonkwo accidentally kills tribal elder Ogbuefi Ezeudu's son, who was around the same age as Ikemefuna.Okonkwo's exile signifies the falling apart of the Umuofia clan, which had lost one its most respected warriors and whose traditions were being threatened by encroaching modernity.

Especially as he lives his life in exile, the personal demise of Okonkwo closely parallels that of Nigerian tribal culture in general. White missionaries deride the tribal customs and cultures of Nigeria, which leads to internal strife. When Reverend James Smith takes Mr. Brown's place, things fall apart at the seams for Mbanta. Converts take up the Christian cause, angering those committed to tradition. In a last attempt to assert his individuality and his culture, Okonkwo falls into a trap. His suicide is the ultimate symbol of things falling apart: of individual and collective demise.

2. How does fear play a part in the novel?….....