Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart, a tragedy written by Chinua Achebe, is a very intriguing novel. While the actual story is fictional, the meaning behind it is true. Things Fall Apart is set during the turn of the 19th century in Nigeria.
Okonkwo is a much respected man in Umoufia. He holds multiple tribal titles, has three wives, has many children, and is a great wrestler. Okonkwo worked tremendously hard to get to where he is. He was born into poverty. His father, Unoka, was a very lazy and unsuccessful man who died in debt. This infuriated Okonkwo and drove him to be the complete opposite of his father in every way, shape and form.
After a conflict between Umoufia and a neighboring clan, a boy from the neighboring clan, Ikemefuna, is sent to live with

Obierika, one of Okonkwo's friends from Umoufia, brings Okonkwo the money made from selling his yams. He says he will continue to do this till Okonkwo can return to Umoufia.
While in Mbanta, a group of Christian missionaries, led by Mr. Brown, comes through. They tell everyone they that their religion is false, and there is only one God who is all supreme. Their main goal is to convert the people to Christianity. The first people to concert were the outcasts. More and more Igbo people began to convert as the missionaries continued to teach and the religion gain legitimacy. Nyowe is one of those people. Okonkwo becomes furious and disowns him. Soon after, Okonkwo's seven year banishment is over. He returns to Umoufia.
After Mr. Brown grows ill and passes, he is replaced by James Smith. He allows for the Christians to act out against the Igbo people's belief unlike Mr. Brown. One Man, Enoch, takes great advantage of this. During a ceremony to praise the earth, he unmasks an egwugwu. This is very strictly forbidden and almost unheard of because it is equal to the killing of ancestral spirit. Enoch's compound and the church are burnt down by the

During the meeting five kotma come and say that the district commissioner has called for the meeting to end. Enraged, Okonkwo kills the head messenger. Okonkwo goes home. He knows that they will not go to war, because the other kotma got away. The following day when the district commissioner and his men come to look for him, the find him hung from a tree. Obierika asks them to take down Okonkwo's body because commuting suicide is an abomination. Only strangers are allowed to touch the evil corpse. Obierika even offers to pay them. After Obierika get angry at them, the district commissioner instructs his men to bury Okonkwo properly. The district commissioner thinks about adding a chapter about Okonkwo into his book, and then decides a paragraph will