People believe fate controls life or death; we look at fate as a guideline for our life’s path or as a scapegoat for our wrongdoings. In Things Fall Apart, Ikemefuna’s death does not shock society due to his ill fate. Similarly, Unoka’s bad chi and misfortune inevitably lead to financial issues and failure. However, Ekwefi’s relationship with fate is quite different. As soon as Ekwefi thinks she finally understands her fate, it takes another toll on her life, pulling her in the opposite direction. Constantly battling, Ekwefi struggles with the belief that her destiny will overpower her hopes. Ekwefi begins to question her fate when nine out of ten of her children die during infancy. After each one of her children are born, the names Ekwefi gives them are deeper in despair than the one proceeding. The first child being named Onwumbiko, meaning, “Death, I implore you” (77), suggests Ekwefi’s grief and shows her hope that maybe fate will …show more content…
Although Ezinma is often sick, Ekwefi nurses her back to health each time. “Ekwefi believed... that Ezinma had come to stay...because it was that faith alone that gave her own life any kind of meaning” (80). Despite fate, Ekwefi believes Ezinma is meant to live and her duty is to do care for her, using any means possible to keep her daughter alive. Each time Ezinma is struck with sickness, her severe illness forces Ekwefi to assume that the sickness is in Ezinma’s destiny, resulting in a constant grapple with her own beliefs. In the middle of chapter nine, the narrator states, “Everyone knew then that she would live... Ekwefi was reassured. But such was her anxiety for her daughter that she could not rid herself completely of her fear” (80). Ekwefi struggles with anxiety over Ezinma’s destiny, wondering whether or not she was meant to die, and does not know if nursing her back to health each time is contradicting fate’s
In the end however, fate has a way of getting involved with present people, and stories of a distant past. They can help tell great stories of people who performed great deeds as part of their fated life, however when it comes to the world we truly live in, perhaps something that tells a good story isn’t always the best way to have one’s entire future determined.
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart the life of a man named Okonkwo and the tribe of Umuofia is depicted in three chapters which each represent a significant era in the tribe. In the first chapter, Achebe describes the life of the native African tribe before the coming of the white man. This chapter enables the reader to understand and respect the life of the Igbo. The second chapter describes the beginnings of colonialism and introduction of the white man. Suddenly, the Igbo way is questioned. The natives lives are turned upside down as they search for a way to understand the new religion and laws of the Europeans. The third chapter describes the effect of colonialism on the Igbo tribe. This section explores the many ways which the Igbo people try to adapt to the new society. From the suicide of Okonkwo to the abandonment by other tribe members, it becomes apparent how difficult it was for the African’s to adjust to the change. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness tells of an English man named Marlow and his journey into the Congo and interest in a colonist named Kurtz. Marlow is the narrator of the novel. He describes the natives and the Europeans from a somewhat objective view. He finds colonialism questionable, but also cannot relate to the Africans. Kurtz is the antagonist who exploits the Africans to make money by selling ivory and subsequently goes insane. Both novels depict the colonization of Africa, but each has a markedly different perspective on the African’s lives which were irreparably altered when Europeans came to conquer their land and convert them to Christianity.
Looking into different cultures makes us all believe that our own is the right one no matter what. I feel as if we think our own culture is the right one because of the fact that it’s how we grew up and what we became to know. In the book “Things Fall Apart” the writer wants everyone who reads the book to view a different culture or social group. Wanting everyone to look into a foreign society and increase in value for what it is without anyone judging their practices from a different social groups view. You have to really look into this book to find the ethnocentrism in it because it’s difficult for us to spot it out since it’s not the same as what we would normally see and pick out.
In life people are very rarely, if ever, purely good or evil. In novels authors tend not to create characters with an obvious moral standing not only to make their novel more applicable to the reader, but also to make the characters more complex and dynamic. Chinua Achebe uses this technique to develop the characters in his novel, Things Fall Apart. The main character, and protagonist in the novel, Okonkwo, is very morally dynamic showing some sensitivity to his family and friends, but in an attempting to rebel against his father, Okonkwo also exhibits the tendency to lash out violently.
Things Fall Apart is by the widely acclaimed African author Chinua Achebe. The story told is a tragic one of a person by the name of Okonkwo who's own stubborn views about what it is to be a man leads to his own demise. Okonkwo is often compared by people to the tragic hero like those in Greek tragedies. This is probably the primary way in which the text is interpreted but I feel Achebe is trying to make another point as well through the story. Achebe received inspiration to write the novel from a poem written by an Englishman by the name of William Butler Yeats. The title of the poem is The Second Coming. The poem talks about anarchy that is upon the world during the present time and how things will change with the 'second coming." During this 'second coming'; the chaos that is prevalent will end finally after two thousand years. Achebe uses this poems basic idea by creating the story of Okonkwo who lives in a chaotic and barbaric world. To outsiders who are observing Okonkwo's people, they may certainly seem uncivilized in many ways. Achebe symbolizes the end of this anarchy in Okonkwo's society by the introduction of Christian missionaries who pacify the Ibo people and ultimately cause the death of Okonkwo. I believe Okonkwo is the last and final source of chaos that is finally muted to bring civility to the people.
Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart is a narrative story that follows the life of an African man called Okonkwo. The setting of the book is in eastern Nigeria, on the eve of British colonialism in Africa. The novel illustrates Okonkwo?s struggles, triumphs, and his eventual downfall, all of which basically coincide with the Igbo?s society?s struggle with the Christian religion and British government. In this essay I will give a biographical account of Okonwo, which will serve to help understand that social, political, and economic institutions of the Igbos.
Fate is non-existent as one's future is based upon their own personal decisions. It is believing
The Egwugwu from Things Fall Apart act like the chorus in a Greek Tragedy, such as Antigone. These figures, the elders of society who speak in behalf of the spirits, are present to provide background information and extra news It is imperative for the audience to know of this information for them to follow plot development. In both situations, these groups are the elders of the culture. A member of the Egwugwu tells Okonkwo to not take part in the killing of Ikemefuna, but Okonkwo disobeys the order and slays Ikemefuna himself. Just as the chorus of a Greek Tragedy relays the messages of the gods to the citizens of the town, during certain rituals, the Egwugwu convey the teachings of important spirits. Their influence is displayed when they hear the case of Uzowulu, who is soon forced to beg his wife to return to him. This shows that the orders of the Egwugwu are always followed, weather the citizens want to or not. These teachings and directions are not alterable, and must always be obeyed.
In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, Ikemefuna struggles with loneliness and disorientation after being taken from his family at a young age which forced him to form closer bonds with his temporary family before his premature death. As just a teenager, Ikemefuna was extracted from his homeland as a sacrifice for an accidental murder that his father took part in. This calamity shapes Ikemefuna’s identity and eventually his death. After arriving in Umuofia, “[Ikemefuna] had moments of sadness and depression. But he and Nwoye had become so deeply attached to each other that such moments had become less frequent and less poignant” (Achebe 34). Umuofia is a completely new place full of strangers for Ikemefuna, this is frightening to
Perspective is used in Things Fall Apart to give high contrast to issues within the community, which brings out its inner complexity. When differences of opinion are highlighted, these differences show that internal pressure are causing the tribe to break down from within. Ikemefuna’s death is a point of stark disagreement among the Umuofians. Ezeudu tells Okonkwo, “I want you to have nothing to do with [Ikemefuna’s death]. He calls you his father” (57). Although Ezeudu warns Okonkwo about participating in the death of Ikemefuna, Okonkwo decides to kill Ikemefuna himself. Ezeudu’s oppinion that Okonkwo should not be involved with the boy’s death shows the reader a shade of the community that would not have been seen without highligh...
For an abundance of authors, the driving force that aids them in creation of a novel is the theme or number of themes implemented throughout the novel. Often times the author doesn’t consciously identify the theme they’re trying to present. Usually a theme is a concept, principle or belief that is significant to an author. Not only does the theme create the backbone of the story, but it also guides the author by controlling the events that happen in a story, what emotions are dispersed, what are the actions of characters, and what emotions are presented within each environment to engage the readers in many
A newborn child; innocent and unknowing. We were all once this way. But as we got older, we began to lose our innocence and become less gullible to childish things. In 1911, Josef Mengele was born into a wealthy Bavarian family with a Catholic upbringing. His life seemed pretty typical and he was successful in his studies. Shockingly, he grew up and became a physician in a concentration camp. He was known as the “Angel of Death" because in the camp, he 'd spend most of his time experimenting on twins for medical advancements. His childhood life had no indications that he would do such things. What could 've possibly driven him to do such a horrendous act of humanity? Throughout all of history, entertainment,
Fear of failure and weakness dominates Okonkwo throughout his life. At first this fear motivates him to rise to success by working diligently and doing everything his father did not do. However, even when Okonkwo establishes an honorable reputation, fear of failure continues to overwhelm him and drives him to perform acts that lead to his suffering. One example of this is when the men of Umuofia decide that Ikemefuna must be killed and Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna even though he is told not to partake in the killing of Ikemefuna. Okonkwo panics when Ikemefuna turns to him and cries for help, and without thinking, Okonkwo slays Ikemefuna with his machete. Okonkwo does this because in the split second where Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo for protection, Okonkwo is overpowered with fear of being seen as weak and kills Ikemefuna. This is an unwise act on behalf of Okonkwo, and as a result, he suffers emotionally in the next few days. He enters a stage of depression and cannot eat or sleep as all he can think about is what he has done to Ikemefuna. It is at this point that things start t...
Changing can be the biggest obstacle many student will have to face while attending a University. Students will have to learn how to be on their own, and on top of that learn around what people to associate them self with. In Alfred Lubrano essay “The Shock of Education: How College Corrupts”, he explains how many students struggle with parents and friends while attending college. However, Lubrano goes on to say that depending on cultural ethnicity will determine how the years at college will change a person. Parents have spent about 18 years to mold their children the way they want, but the moment they enter college it seems to deteriorate into pieces, because of all the new material the students are learning.
Consider the Aristotelian tragedy. It has yet to go the way of Eddie Bauer. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe devised a tragic African hero in Okonkwo, consistent with the classic stipulations of the figure. Thus, the novel--to its greatest practicable extent—inherently existed as a tragedy on all levels to accommodate Okonkwo. To illustrate this, I will dissect and analyze the many factors that make Things Fall Apart an exemplary model of Greek tragedy by Aristotle’s own towering ideals.