Things Fall Apart

by Chinua Achebe
Category: "Fiction - General"
Pages:209
Year of Publication:1959
Date Added:03/01/2018
Date Read:03/23/2018
Notes:Okonkwo is a leader in his village in Nigeria. He rose from poor beginnings to become wealthy and respected. He is very loyal to the pagan superstitions and rites and the tribal rituals. He dreams of being the head man in the village, but when his gun explodes and kills a boy, he is banished from his village for seven years. When he returns, White men have arrived with their relgion. Okonkwo's own son has converted, so Okonkwo disowns him. The first missionary is a kind man who treads softly and attempts to befriend and understand the villagers. When he dies, another comes who is a strict legalist. When passions erupt of the killing of a sacred python, Okonkwo and the other leaders burn down the church in their village. They are imprisoned, beaten, and forced to pay a fine. When they are released, the village holds a meeting. A messenger comes from the court to break up the meeting and Okonkwo kills him. Before he can be arrested, he hangs himself. The White commissioner just considers it another step in civilizing the villagers.
My Rating: 5

Reviews for Things Fall Apart

Review - Things Fall Apart

OK if taken simply as a slice of life look at village customs and the coming of colonialism. But there was no hero and no moral lesson that I could see. Okonkwo and the missionary that forced the showdown were both wrong in the moment. In addition, Okonkwo was wrong to think that the old ways—which included child sacrifice—could continue and the missionary was wrong to think that he could change people's minds by forcing his laws down their throats.

Reviewed by Roger on 2018-03-23 16:59:11

Back to the list