Essay on Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart"

No situation can be confined within the stringent boundaries of simple black and white, of simple right or wrong. Paradoxically, it may be black yet white; right yet wrong. The Ibo have an adage that gracefully captures this. It goes as follows, "Wherever one thing stands, another thing will stand beside it." Through the controversial character Okonkwo Chinua Achebe portrays in his novel "Things Fall Apart", a presentation of culture that may prompt us to consider our own.

Okonkwo, as described by Achebe, holds many sentiments that appall Western readers. He has no qualms, about engaging in harsh treatment of his wives and children. In one instance, as punishment for forgetting to cook, Okonkwo "beat[s] [his youngest wife] very heavily" (30). However in this special case, as it is the Week of Peace, Okonkwo is forced towards atonement. One must realize however, that this act was not premeditated, and probably came from his honed reflexes. Since he beats his wives often, he instinctively uses violence to solve his problems at the cost of rational thought. Perhaps had it not been the Week of Peace, this outburst would have gone mostly unnoticed and forgotten. The frightening truth is that the uproar is only caused because the beating took place on a religious holiday that suggests that it is accepted on any other week. In western society, it is frowned upon to beat one's spouse and elicits far more drastic consequences. Okonkwo's hand does not discriminate between his wives and children either. He goes far as to threaten his first son Nwoye "'Answer me... before I kill you!" (151). The grotesque thought of a father murdering his own son in cold blood is chilling, but to Okonkwo, it is as mundane and reflex based as breathing. Had Okonkwo opted to kill Nwoye though, it would not be the first time he has taken the life of his son. Ikemefuna, the boy who saw Okonkwo as a father, was "cut... down" mercilessly merely to save Okonkwo's face (61). The practices and beliefs of Okonkwo seem not to affect his conscience greatly and are audacious enough to threaten his other children that, "if any of you prefers to be a woman, let him follow Nwoye now while I am alive so that I can curse him" (172). He does not mourn the loss of a son, but a discarded tool no longer useful. Nwoye, who realized this, left and never forgave his father's flippant attitude towards Ikemefuna's death. Okonkwo, as seen in the novel, avoids displays of weakness like the plague. As a child, Okonkwo "suffered when a playmate had told him his father was agbala" (13). Shamed by his father's lack of titles and recognition, Okonkwo begins "to hate everything his father Unoka had loved" (13). Instead of words, "He would often use his fists" (4). He staunchly believes that "to show affection [is] a sign of weakness" (28). Where one scorns expressing emotions, the other embraces it openly. He deeply resents his father for having no achievements of which to speak of and developed a phobia for everything his father stood for. Okonkwo's father who loved "making music and feasting," "tried Okonkwo's patience beyond words" (14 & 25). Okonkwo "could never become as enthusiastic over feasts as most people" (37). All of the gentle aspects of the world are lost to Okonkwo who seems to posses a fear of failure so strong that he is obsessed with refuting his father's every belief. In western culture, the family is tied together not through fear but of mutual trust. Also, a feast and a good time is a cause of merriment and celebration, but Okonkwo openly detests idleness and would rather labor in the fields. In western cultures, a feast or social gathering would cause many to abandon their work and previous engagements. It is obvious that Okonkwo's set of beliefs is completely opposite to those of western cultures.

Despite his unsavory actions, one cannot help but admire some of Okonkwo's traits too. He "did not have the start in life which many young men usually had" and yet, he rose to greatness through his determination and willpower. He does not shy away from the daunting task of becoming affluent and instead, actively pursues and "[works] to earn his first seed yams" (19). He steadily works his way up the chain of power in this way and becomes "a wealthy farmer and had two barns full of yams" (8). Not only do we respect him, but the men of status in his society also respect him. The second most powerful man in his clan says, "'I can trust you'" (22). They have a proverb that seems to apply to Okonkwo exclusively which goes: "Age [is] respected among his people, but achievement [is] revered" (8). The achievements Okonkwo has done are not unlike those of the American Dream in which one starts with little to nothing and makes a thriving enterprise. He has also "shown incredible prowess in two inter-tribal wars" (8). In Western culture, those who demonstrate great ability in battle are respected like the war heroes.

Achebe, in his description of Okonkwo, does include some elements that disgusts Western readers but also demonstrates that despite the distance, he shares some of the same values the Western readers do. The reader can make a connection to the culture and values of the Ibo people that correspond to his/her values and learn not to judge but to understand. The two "things" that stand together in harmony allow the reader to see that Okonkwo is doing his best to stand by his beliefs. The two stand together to tell that despite how different we may seem to be outwardly, everyone has some similar values and beliefs.