Things Fall Apart is arguably one of the best written novels from this part of the world. It was written and published by Chinua Achebe in 1958. Things Fall Apart later became precedence in the literary world for other writers and young wordsmiths. The famous Things Fall Apart has translations in other languages including German. Things Fall Apart centered on the Ibo society; the tribe of the author. The literature thereby consists of several words written in Igbo language. Words like Obi (the large living quarters of the head of the family), kwenu (a shout of approval and greeting), inyanga (bragging) and agadi-nwayi (old woman) were used consistently.
Things Fall Apart
It has twenty five chapters which were divided into three parts. Part one introduced the hero; Okonkwo, unlike his father Unoka was a strong man. He became popular in his hometown of Umuofia at the age of eighteen when he took an undefeated champion’s back down. Okonkwo was a renowned wrestler and wealthy farmer who had three wives that bore him son and daughters. Apart from his children, he also raised a stranger; Ikemefuna whom he loved like a son. According to the clan’s law and tradition, Ikemefuna was eventually killed by Okonkwo. Part one discussed vividly all aspect of the land’s culture and tradition.
Part two
This resumed with Okonkwo who was banished out of Umuofia for seven years because he had mistakenly killed a sixteen-year-old boy. There was an accidental discharge from his gun during the funeral of the boy’s father. He settled in Mbanta among his mother’s people where he was also a success.
This part also introduced the white men/missionaries. They conquered the land as they brought a new religion. They entered forbidden areas like the evil forest which brought them followers. Nwoye; Okonkwo’s eldest son was also captured by the new religion as he goes to Umuofia with the missionaries.
This humiliated Okonkwo who has always seen Nwoye as a weakling.The concluding part discussed Okonkwo’s return to his homeland. The missionaries have taken over the land with even titled man; Ogbuefi Ugonnu has joined the Christians. The missionaries have also brought a government and a system of running it.
They built schools, churches under the leadership of Mr. Brown. There was an attack on the mission as the egwugwu (masquerade) fired by Okonkwo demolish the red-earth church built by Mr. Brown.
Things became worse when Enoch; a member of the clan who has become an assistant to the missionaries dared to unmask an egwugwu in public. This led to Okonkwo and six other Umuofia elders been imprisoned. Okonkwo revenged after he was released by beheading the leader of five court messengers with his matchet. He committed suicide afterwards, escaping the wrath of the white men who came to his compound with soldiers.
Things Fall Apart is arguably one of the best written novels from this part of the world. It was written and published by Chinua Achebe in 1958. Things Fall Apart later became precedence in the literary world for other writers and young wordsmiths. The famous Things Fall Apart has translations in other languages including German. Things Fall Apart centered on the Ibo society; the tribe of the author. The literature thereby consists of several words written in Igbo language. Words like Obi (the large living quarters of the head of the family), kwenu (a shout of approval and greeting), inyanga (bragging) and agadi-nwayi (old woman) were used consistently.
