Things Fall Apart Summary

Things Fall Apart

By: Chinua Achebe

The book "Things Fall Apart" by: Chinua Achebe is set pre-colonial Nigeria in the 1890s. The book talks about the colonialism in the African society that the main character, Okonkwo, lives in. Okonkwo's father, Unoka lived a lazy, cowardly life. Because of this, when Unoka died, Okonkwo had to create a name for himself. Okonkwo resented his father for his lack of manliness. Okonkwo got 3 wives, and 8 children, and is the leader of his village, Umuofia.

Since Okonkwo is the leader of the village, the elders decided that he should be the guardian of a boy named Ikemefuna. This boy was taken Umuofia as a peace settlement between Umuofia and another village, after Ikemefuna's father killed an Umuofian woman. Okonkwo grows fond of Ikemefuna, and the boy starts to consider Okonkwo a father. The oracle in Umuofia later says that Ikemefuna must be killed. The oldest man in the village, Ezeudu, tells Okonkwo, "That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death. Yes, Umuofia has decided to kill him. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves has pronounced it. They will take him outside Umuofia as is the custom, and kill him there. But I want you to have nothing to do with it. He calls you his father." (85) To avoid seeming weak Okonkwo participated in the murder anyways. "As the man who had cleared his throat drew up and raised his machete, Okonkwo looked away. He heard the blow. The pot fell and broke in the sand. He heard Ikemefuna cry, ‘My father, they have killed me!' as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak." (61)

After Ikemefuna's death, things begin to go wrong for Okonkwo. During a gun salute during Ezeudu's funeral, Okonkwo's gun explodes and kills Ezeudu's son. Okonkwo's family is sent in