Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe’s multi-million seller Things Fall Apart (1958) is widely considered the first major piece of African literature written in English. It dramatises the conflict between the Igbo people and their traditional way of life in a Nigerian village, and the successful incursion of Christian Missionaries who bring not only their religion, but laws and government as well. The novel is remarkable for its simple elegance of style. Achebe’s prose never over reaches itself, always finding the exact right word to describe character and situation. What’s all the more remarkable is that Things Fall Apart, which is mature in tone and outlook, was written by a young man in his twenties whose first language was not English.

Excessive Masculine Values of Okonkwo, and Their Consequences

The story centres around clansman Okonkwo, a famed wrestler who through hard work builds up his position in his village, Umuofia. Okonkwo’s most powerful motivation to succeed as a respected (and perhaps feared) member of his village is the poor example of his weak and spendthrift father, Unoka. Unoka irresponsibly borrowed too much money and never bothered about paying his creditors back in a timely fashion. He was also cowardly in battle. Overall, Okonkwo thinks his father was far too effeminate and womanish. Being too much like a woman is a common criticism in the novel, describing a prevailing attitude of the clansmen (but not necessarily of Achebe himself).

Okonkwo’s urge to define himself in distinction from his father leads to some fatal character flaws. He becomes too rigid and masculine, frequently beating his wives and showing a general intolerance for anything he perceives as weakness. His strong masculine values soon turn out not to be a sign of strength, but rather of weakness: Okonkwo worries excessively about how he is viewed by others, which leads him to conform to the clan, rather than exercise more independent judgement. His masculine values end up being more about keeping up appearances, rather than personal integrity.

The most tragic and disturbing example of this wanting to conform to majority opinion is when Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna, the boy prisoner who is taken from another clan as a peace settlement. What makes this episode doubly shocking is the fact that Ikemefuna has almost become like a family member, but when the clansmen decide Ikemefuna must be killed (they have received a message from the Oracle), Okonkwo is warned by the oldest man in the village to have nothing to do with this killing. But Okonkwo doesn’ t listen, and attends. Worse still, when Ikemefuna realizes he is in mortal danger from the clansmen he calls out to Okonkwo for help, only to receive the fatal blow from his own foster father.

This first part of the novel, which makes up for a substantial part of the story, delineates the culture, laws, religion and customs of the Umuofia. Achebe shows both the cruelties and humanity of this African village culture. His descriptions of the people also shows considerable psychological insight. The over all picture is one of a nuanced, fully functioning society.

The Coming of the Christian Missionaries

In parts two and three of Things Fall Apart, the plot moves quickly. Okonkwo finds himself exiled for seven years after accidently killing a clansman. When he returns, in part three, he finds the Umuofia undergoing massive changes. Christian missionaries have turned up on the scene and have set up a rival Church. The Church makes steady inroads into the village, its new Christian doctrine appealing to many. The Church is only the tip of the iceberg though, as Christianity is just a preamble for white government, economy and law. Once Okonwko realizes his fellow clansmen are unable to resist this steady incursion, he makes a decision that ends in tragedy.

Much of Things Fall Apart has the air of a Greek tragedy, as Okonkwo walks inexorably towards his fate. The novel gives a balanced view of both sides in this struggle between white colonialists and African villagers. The Igbo people and their way of life are not romantacised, nor are its more disturbing aspects sanitised. Achebe, it seems, has striven to give a realistic and dignified picture of indigenous culture. The Christian missionaries vary in their style and approach. Mr Brown is more culturally sensitive and careful of the villagers, while Reverend James Smith is dangerously arrogant. Things Fall Apart shows how a potent and powerful Christian theology can be used, almost unconsciously, to usher in an aggressive cultural and political take over.

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. Published by Anchor. ISBN-13: 978-0385474542