Things Fall Apart:

 The book I read is “Thing Fall Apart”, by Chinua Achebe.  This story takes place in Africa, in a village called Umofia which is an Ibo village in Nigeria.  Umofia is made up of nine separate African tribes, they are a very civilized and prosperous people.  The book as whole is about a man whose name is Okonkwo.  Okonkwo was a strong man focused on living his life better than his father did.  All of Okonkwo’s trails and tribulation on his road to being a successful man.  The book is narrated in third person form.  The type of conflict in this book is man against himself.

 Okonkwo was a very strong proud man who came from very poor and unsuccessful father.   Okonkwo looked at his father as a perfect example of what not to be.  He spent his entire life showing that he was strong despite his father’s shortcomings.  Okonkwo was a man who succeeded due to his fear of failure alone.

 Because he had to work so hard Okonkwo became very bitter and did not like to show affection.  This was shown when he interacts with his oldest son Nwoye.  He forces his son to listen to stories of war and blood shed when rather just listen to the fables his mother tells.  In the book it is also mentioned the Okonkwo is a man of his own will this is displayed when Ekwefi who is Okonkwo’s 2nd wife said when she came to him he said nothing he just grabbed her and begin to feel for the opening of her dress.  Okonkwo’s also had a fear of seeming to be weak, this is shown he says “Any show of emotion other that strength is pointless”.

 Toward the end of the book Okonkwo finally begin to change his ways.  When the begin to get rougher Okonkwo started to show his more compassionate side.  However this new side was accompanied by even more rage and anger.  I feel that Okonkwo is a very strong man whose determination is unparalleled.  The sheer strength of Okonkwo character is what brought him along so far.

 A major scene in the book is when the Christian missionaries first came to Okonkwo motherland.  One white missionary came with one interpreter, and told the umofians that every thing they had previously believed in was false.  He told them that they were heathens and that he was the one that was taking them to “a new level of existence.  In this scene Okonkwo and  the missionary first laid eyes on each other.

Another very important part in the book is when Nwoye, Okonkwo oldest son told his father that he wanted to join the Christians.  For the first time in the book the true feeling that Okonkwo had for Nwoye came out.  He told Nwoye how he felt and how Nwoye decision would effect him.  This is very important because it for shadows the new Okonkwo.  Shortly after this scene Okonkwo becomes a lot less protective about showing his feelings about the varies choices and challenges one will face in life.

 Another very important scene, perhaps the most critical scene in the book was the scene when Okonkwo accidentally shot one of the sons of the village and was put into exile for seven years.  Here you see this strong man who worked hard his whole life in a state where he is considering giving up hope.  That is a very significant point because in the end of the book hope is what somewhat lightens the load.

 The book ended with Okonkwo killing himself.  Okonkwo who before he killed himself had so many high esteems and the work of the Christians drove him to kill himself.  This book is reminiscent of a Greek tragedy in that the main character was driven to death by means which were out of his control.  Okonkwo was a very much loved man.  And to me personally this goes to show that you really cant escape your fate.  Though Okonkwo tried he did not get far.

 I really did enjoy the book.  As I stated it earlier it helped confirm ideas I had concerning life in general.  So I would definitely recommend this book to other people it is fun and fast moving, and most of all its easy to relate to.