Things Fall Apart 4 Essay - 985 Words

Things Fall Apart nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart describes the flaws and struggles of one proud mans tragic life. The main character Okonkwo is a strong and proud warrior with great reputation in the village of Umofia. However, he is a man that struggles with the fear of failure and uncontrollable anger. Okonkwos motivations, ways of acting and behavior in crisis prevent him from achieving what he wants, leading to his self-destruction. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Okonkwo is motivated for his desire of wealth and recognition. The wealth of a man in Umofia is measure by yams, size of the farm and number of wives. Okonkwo did not inherit any land or yams to start building up a farm. Okonkwo needs so†¦show more content†¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Okonkwos habitual ways of acting is dominated by violence and anger. He rules his compound with heavy hand; his wives and children feared his fiery temper. Most villagers have great respect for him, but they are annoyed by his brusqueness in dealing with less successful people. His suppressed uncontrollable anger most often finds outlets; it is very common for him to beat heavily his wives for any motive. For instance, during the week of peace, his youngest wife, who did not cook the afternoon meal on time, provoked Okonkwos justifiable anger. He beats her very heavily; in his anger, he had forgotten that it was the sacred week. As a result, Okonkwo is punished, as is the custom by Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess. People in the village said his good fortune had gone to his head and he had no respect for the gods of the clan. His lack of patience toward his son Nwoye made their relationship based on fear instead of love and respect. Okonkwo wants his son to be a successful farmer and a great man, therefore he encourages him by telling masculine stories and by letting him know that was right to be masculine and to be violent. However, Nwoye preferred his mothers stories, so, Okonkwo saw too much of his father in him. Okonkwo assigns mans tasks to Nwoye, but always finds faults in his efforts to do them right, therefore,Show MoreRelatedThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe1324 Words   |  6 Pagesthat response understood to people all over the world. Things Fall Apart was written in English to teach people worldwide of the struggles he faced and the people of Nigeria faced growing up. Many authors and critics have written about Achebe’s à ¢â‚¬ËœThings fall apart’ adding their valued opinion on what he was trying to say and his decision to write in English. In the following essay I will be discussing why Achebe wrote the novel Things Fall apart in English and what messages he was trying to reveal,Read MoreStudy And Investigation Questions On Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart 871 Words   |  4 PagesGeography 101 Name _______________________ Spring 2016 Things Fall Apart Study and Investigation Questions (post to the D2L page, turn in one copy at the beginning of class, save one copy for yourself) What are the farthest northern, western, eastern, and southern points in Nigeria as described in absolute terms? (4 absolute locations [estimate to nearest degree], 2 coordinates each) Find and note the same for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Estimate to the nearest degree usingRead MoreA Study on the Author, Chinua Achebe 1467 Words   |  6 Pagesconverted from their religion to Christianity and he also founded the first church in Ogidi. Achebe enthusiasm for knowing about the west and east part of the world led to him mentioning it in most of his novels. Some of these novels include things fall apart, no longer at ease and arrow of god respectively. When Achebe was young, he surpassed at the government’s college in umuahia and the same time at Ibadan University where he begin to study medicine. He didn’t continue because during hisRead MoreConflicts And Struggles Of Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart990 Words   |  4 PagesThings Fall Apart Essay Conflicts and struggles in a book help capture the reader s attention. A reader is always has his or her eye out for the struggles a character throughout a book because that is the part of the book that captures the reader s attention. Although, it is not always about the struggle and conflict, but the optimism the character feels whenever something goes wrong. A reader also wants to be assured that the character will look for the bright side in the situations and theRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1702 Words   |  7 Pages Title: Things Fall Apart Biographical information about the author: Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. He had an early career as a radio host, and later became the Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nigeria. After moving to America, he became an English professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Achebe has won numerous awards for his poetry and fiction, including the Man Booker prize and Commonwealth Poetry Price. He currently teaches at Bard College. Author: ChinuaRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1129 Words   |  5 Pagessomeone can say is to â€Å"Be a Man.† As Carlos Gomez once stated, â€Å"So many men in this world (are) living in this sort of quiet desperation, confined in this box of toxic masculinity.† In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, some characters are the epitome of this toxic masculinity. Things Fall Apart shows the dimension of both Igbo people and culture, while highlighting the tale of a tragic hero, Okonkwo. Okonkwo’s rise to glory was demonstrated by his humble beginnings and eye for prosperityRead MoreThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 735 Words   |  3 PagesThings fall apart. Achebe. Ernest Gaines once said, â€Å"I write to try to find out who I am. One of my main themes is manliness. I think Im trying to figure out what manliness really is.† Indeed, every society or culture has its own understanding of an ideal man. Even though these characteristics are different in various parts of the world, the significance of masculinity can never be overestimated. â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe is considered as one of the best examples of a riseRead MoreChanging the Tradition: The Influence of Colonization on Umuofia885 Words   |  4 Pages Changing the Tradition: The Influence of Colonization on Umuofia In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe exercises the importance of traditions in an Ibo village of Nigeria. Africa is very well known for their long history, dating back to two million years ago, and their ancient ethnic customs have lived on since (â€Å"African History†). Unlike families from a rich white society, African families are usually required to live the traditions that have been survived through many generations, even if theyRead MoreAn Exploration of Proverbs in Things Fall Apart by Achebe Essay974 Words   |  4 Pagesexpresses a truth or belief (Proverb). â€Å"Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten (Achebe 7), and they enhance the meaning of all the conversations. â€Å"A proverb is [basically] a short sentence based on long experience† (. In Things Fall Apart, proverbs are mainly used in the development of the important characters. Through proverbs used in character development, Achebe shows the distinct similarities and differences between the protagonist, Okonkwo, and two other important charactersRead MoreMasculinity: Slavery in the United States and Douglass Pg1239 Words   |  5 PagesGloria Kissiedu World Literature 207 29 November 2011 Masculinity Things Fall Apart was written in the 1890s, when whites went to Nigeria. The novel shows the clash between the white s and the culture of the Igbo people. The novel is about a man named Okonkwo, and his growth for respect, fortune and power which in the end leads to his expected death. His great power did not come to an end because of colonization, but rather his downfall was his obsession with masculinity. The narrative of Frederick