What is a summary of Things Fall Apart?

Answer 1

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe is a novel that follows Okonkwo, a respected leader in an Igbo village in Nigeria, as he struggles with the changes brought by colonialism. It explores the clash between traditional Igbo culture and values and the influence of European missionaries, leading to Okonkwo's tragic downfall. The novel portrays the complexity of cultural identity, power dynamics, and the consequences of societal change.

Answer 2

Okonkwo is the epitome of the Ibo culture. He is a great warrior, and has many titles. In part one of the book it is giving background information about the culture, traditions, and beliefs of the people, and how Okonkwo represents that. At the end of part one he accidentally kills a young boy, and is exiled to his mothers homeland for seven years. In those seven years, the white missionaries come and try to convert people to their religion, and succeed in doing so with some people causing things to fall apart. In part three, it is apparent to the people of the clan that the white men had not only brought a religion but a government. Okonkwo and several others gather to plan a revolt, and messengers for the white men come and tell them to stop. Okonkwo kills the head messenger, and then for reasons the reader can only infer, hangs himself - an abomination to their people.

Answer 3

Though Okonkwo is a respected leader in the Umuofia tribe of the Igbo people, he lives in fear of becoming his father, a man known for his laziness and cowardice. Throughout his life, Okonkwo attempts to be his father's polar opposite. From an early age, he builds his home and reputation as a precocious wrestler and hard-working farmer. Okonkwo's efforts pay off: he becomes wealthy through his crops and attracts three wives.

Okonkwo's life is shaken up a when a murder takes place and Okonkwo ends up adopting a boy from another village. The boy is named Ikemefuna and Okonkwo comes to love him like a son. In fact, he loves him more than his natural son, Nwoye. After three years, though, the tribe decides that Ikemefuna must die. When the men of Umuofia take Ikemefuna into the forest to slaughter him, Okonkwo actually participates in the murder. Although he's just killed his adoptive son, Okonkwo tries to show no emotion because he wants to be seen as masculine and not be weak like his own father was. Inside, though, Okonkwo feels painful guilt and regret. Okonkwo's participation in the death causes his son, Nwoye, who looked at Ikemefuna as a big brother, to be alienated from him

Later on, during a funeral, Okonkwo accidentally kills a boy when his gun explodes. For his crime, the town exiles him for seven years to his mother's homeland, Mbanta. There, he learns about the coming of the white missionaries whose arrival signals the beginning of the end for the Igbo culture. They bring Christianity and win over Igbo outcasts as their first converts. As the Christian religion disproves Igbo myths, more and more Igbo people are converted. Just when Okonkwo has finished his seven-year sentence and is allowed to return home, his son Nwoye converts to Christianity. Okonkwo disowns his son.

Eventually, a conflict leads the Igbo to burn down the church. The Igbo attempt to talk to the missionaries, but the Christians capture the Igbo leaders and jail them for several days until the villagers cough up some ransom money. Contemplating revenge, the Igbo people hold a war council and Okonkwo is one of the biggest advocates for aggressive action. However, during the council, a court messenger from the missionaries arrives and tells the men to stop the meeting. Enraged, Okonkwo kills him. Realizing that his clan will not go to war against the white men, rather than being jailed and executed, the proud but devastated Okonkwo hangs himself.

Answer 4

In Chapter 21, much is described about Mr. Brown's attempts to promote the church. Initially he argues with Akunna about their respective religions, and many parallels between the two religions are drawn. Mr. Brown steadily increases the Church's presence through calm restrained reaching out. However, he is forced to leave due to ill health, after having nursed the church to a respectable size.

Okonkwo returns to Umuofia but is overshadowed by the church. Isaac (Nwoye's new name) goes back to Okonkwo to attempt to reconcile and convert the family but is threatened and turned away. Okonkwo reprieves at his failure to induct his sons into the Ibo tribe, as he will have to wait for 2 more years.