Things Fall Apart

THINGS FALLS APART

By: Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe has successfully turned into writing another rich part of the African culture. Things fall apart is not only a representation of the diverse culture of the African people. It somehow managed to touch relevant issues that until now are apparent and evident not only to the vast African continent but also to other parts of the globe.

In a world dominated by patriarchal society, the same is noticeable in the story that circled around a young boy who grew up with the kind of father that sons will not be proud of. His struggle to be different is similar to any modern teenagers who would like to be free from the shadows of their parents, specifically their father. In this era where people compete in almost every aspect, parents sometimes expect too much from their children, and because of this, children tend to become rebellious. This case is not only obvious to rich families who would like to keep their dynasty in the realm of success. Children who were born from economically challenged would end either using as poverty as a stepping stone or a challenge to work harder and escape the curse of poverty. On the contrary, others use poverty as an excuse to lure themselves more in the quicksand of paucity. In the case of Okonkwo, he struggle his way up because he don't want to be a duplicate of his father. He became triumphant in doing so and sworn himself not to experience the same fate that his father had. This emotion he has carried his whole life that it created a great impact in changing his personality. The question now is what if Okonkwo were born with a different father, would it change his behaviour or would it be the same. Or let's say if he were born out of poverty with a father who carries the highest title in the land. This is a struggle between being a son and being a father too. His expectations were too high that any weakness in the behaviour of his male children is said to be a disappointment.

In most societies as shaped by our history, there is always a high regard to the dominance of men over women. Even in the most primitive civilization in the world, son are given more importance than daughters. Let us try to picture out the similarity in the situation of Okonkwo and his father, then Okonkwo and his son Nyowe. For Okonkwo his father was a shame and his son is a disappointment. He tried so hard not to be like his father and even work harder for his son to be like him and ironically none of his traits and priorities were evident on him. His son was a mere mirror of his father. In Chinese culture, the eldest son is expected to inherit, when they reach the right age, all the responsibilities are endowed and entrusted to them. In a monarchy, youngest son with older female siblings is the heir apparent and is given priority to the crown. This may not be true to other countries like the Philippines which happens to be a democratic country. However, in the case of America, no female has ever been elected to the highest post simply because they are still bound by their belief that ruling a country as big as the United States of America requires a man which symbolizes strength or power. Unfair as it may seem but in reality that belief does exist.

The death of Ikemefuna has practically brought the changes in the life of Okonkwo. His feeling towards his considered son created a delusion so he decided to keep it to himself. Afraid that it may be a sign of weakness, he decided to let it go away and even participated in the death of Ikemefuna. However, suppressed emotion are even hard to conceal. He mourned for his death by not eating. He didn't show it for the fear of being branded weak. Okonkwo represses his emotions because he doesn't want to seem weak or effeminate, and when he does show any emotion, it is an uncontrollable rage. As a result of his flaws he makes many terrible mistakes, which ultimately leads to his tragic death. So much for pride and ego.

Ego and pride had led many men to his fall. In the case of Okonkwo, if he learned to accept his weaknesses, things might not have fallen that hard. The struggle between change and tradition is constant; however, this statement only appears to apply to Okonkwo. Change can very well be accepted, as evidenced by how the people of Umuofia refused to join Okonkwo as he struck down the white man at the end. Perhaps Okonkwo is not so much bothered by change, but the idea of losing everything he had built up - his fortune, fame, title, etc. that will be replaced by new customs. It is evidenced throughout the book that he cares for these things, especially his mentions of a lack of a "respectable" father figure from whom he could have inherited them from. A second interpretation is apparent with Okonkwo's static behaviour to cultural change. His suicide can be seen as a final attempt to show to the people of Umuofia the results of a clash between cultures and as a means for the Igbo culture to be upheld. In the same way that his father's failure motivated Okonkwo to reach a high standing within Igbo culture and society, Okonkwo's suicide leads Obierika and fellow Umuofia men to recognize the long held custom of not burying a man who commits suicide and perform the associated rituals with his death. This interpretation is further emphasized with Obierika's comment on Okonkwo as a great man driven to kill himself, likely as a result of the loss of tradition. His killing of the messenger and subsequent suicide continues the internal struggle between change and tradition. Like the very old cliché', nothing remains constant in this world except change. The question now is