THINGS FALL APART by Chinua Achebe

A Fall From Grace

Ben K.

Things Fall Apart is an eye opening account of the lives of those living in the culturally secluded tribes of Nigeria. As the book indulged in the culture and customs of the people in the simple village, I grew a sympathy for their value in tradition, something that resonated greatly with me growing up under traditional Jewish parents. However, the book is also a tragedy, ending with the destruction of their lives with the introduction of western missionaries and armies. The dramatic resistance of the tribes makes for a fantastically exciting story of blood and tragedy that keeps any reader interested.

Centered on a great man called Okonkwo, two stories are told. One recounting Okonkwo's rise and fall in status in his tribe, and the second of the destruction of both himself and his way of life and that of all of his tribesmen as western influence creeps into their lives. Okonkwo a man who grew up with no future, fed his determination for greatness and loathing of his father's nothingness, and pushed himself to become one of the most prominent members of the clan. This determination inspires self-reflection, yet reveals that such conviction can corrupt, as he obsessed with honor and valor. So much so, that it eventually forces him to take his own life. A book on tradition and culture such as this one really allows the reader to connect themselves with the characters, and emerge themselves into their worlds. As the white man is introduced, this connection that was established morphs into a form of guilt, as the “superior” path of western Christianity destroys the traditional way of life. It really makes you think, that had these people been left alone, in ignorance, they would have been allowed the ultimate unknown bliss.

Things Falling Together in Things Fall Apart

Rhea S.

I picked up Things Fall Apart at a point in my life where I assumed that the author had used “Things,” as a metaphor for my social, academic, and athletic life. I assumed it would be something I could relate to on a personal level, and hopefully would be able to apply to my own life, in order to deal with its very chaotic nature. To my surprisingly-pleasant surprise: I was very, very wrong. A prospective reader should be warned: the actual plot is a nuisance. The ending will leave you wanting to throw the book at the wall. And you might just read the first 10 chapters and think you’re actually reading “Guide to African Tribal Life 101.” Lots of character development, little stuff actually happening. But rest assured, Achebe’s beautiful ability of harmonizing two parallel stories is not one to evade. He ingeniously encompasses themes such as good versus evil, tradition versus change, and the mysterious impulses of one’s soul by pondering the very way of mankind. The first tale tells the story of Okonkwo, a strong warrior of the Ibo tribe who continually rejects emotion for the sake of maintaining masculinity. Okonkwo’s disconnect with who he is, and who society wants him to be, is Achebe’s greatest achievement. By giving us a flawed hero, he gives us someone we can easily identify with, and be able to find ourselves within. The second story, “as modern as the first is ancient,” skips ahead to the falling of Okonkwo’s tribe due to the undergoing “colonization,” of the area thanks to invasive missionaries. No prior knowledge of African tribal life being needed, you may need a phonetic guide to pronounce some of the names; however, thanks to a glossary of Ibo words and phrases in the back of the book, an ancient African translator won’t be necessary, but a box of tissues might be. Things Fall Apart embodies Achebe’s powerful, almost magical, ability to leave the reader in a sense of awe for his breath-taking interweaving of two seemingly polar-opposite tales, into one, captivating narrative.

Things Really Do Fall Apart: A Review of Things Fall Apart

Ben S.

I recently read Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, and I must say, I was thoroughly underwhelmed. My disappointment stems partially from the fountain of praise that showers this book and also from the author’s failure to further explain several interesting plot points. Overall, the plot of the book seems disjointed and random. The main character, Okonkwo, frustratingly suffers at the hands of randomness. The lack of a clear antagonist throughout much of the book leaves one wondering where it could possibly be going. The book is divided into 3 parts, and the main plot points of the first part fail to reappear in the later two portions. It just feels as though the book should be so much more interesting than it is. Although I am dissatisfied with the plot of the book, the Achebe’s writing style is enjoyable and different. The incorporation of many native Ibo words and phrases is fun and interesting, to a certain extent. At some point, all the information about tribal life feels auxiliary and unnecessary. The major themes of the book seem to be gender, family and misfortune. Gender and familial roles are clear from the very start, with Okonkwo routinely beating his wives and children. Although so much of the story is based around misfortune (just look at the title, for example), it feels odd calling misfortune a theme because of how disconnected all of the troubles seem. The bible has a similar theme of familial situations with an all powerful father. For example, in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah when Lot offers up his daughters to an angry crowd instead of his guests. By no means is this a bad book, I just feel like it has so much potential to be better. This book is interesting if nothing else though, and worth reading if you take an interest in foreign cultures.

Ethan K.

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart was a surprisingly pleasant read that I would

recommend to anyone who wants a thought-provoking book. The beginning of the novel

seemed very slow and I didn’t really understand what the plot was. Achebe uses the first

hundred pages to describe the tribal life of Okonkwo and his clan. Although at the time I

thought it was unnecessary and boring, I now realize how imperative this section was. It

allowed the reader to develop a relationship with the characters and truly understand what

tribal life was like in Nigeria during the 1890s. Having grown up in a safe protected

residential community, I was not aware of the struggles of village life in Africa. And I

think that aspect of the book makes it fascinating. My eyes were opened to so many

different cultural traditions and I truly felt connected to the characters. When Enzima,

Okonkwo’s favorite daughter, becomes sick, I desperately prayed and worried about her

well-being. And when Okonkwo gets banished from his village, I anxiously wondered

what would come of him and his family. Achebe has such a great way of connecting the

characters, whom I having little in common with, to the reader. I think that the ending

excellently drives home Achebe’s message of European indifference to African culture

and heritage. The villagers lose everything to white missionaries, and their culture and

society really does fall apart (putting it in the words of Achebe). The part that really hit it

home for me was when the missionary thought that Okonkwo’s suicide would be great

material for his book. Rather than mourn the loss of a brave hero, the missionary is

delighted with the addition of a new story to his book. Overall this was an amazing read that

really expanded my knowledge on African society. I never really understood the

hardships of European imperialism and this book really put things in perspective for me.

It was like a first hand account of what happened from the Nigerians perspective.

Therefore, I would give this book a 5/5. Although it may not be the most exciting book, or

have you on the edge of your chair, it will certainly enlighten you about the struggles of

European imperialism from a new perspective.