Book Summary About Things Fall Apar1

Book Summary about things fall apart
Things Fall Apart is about the tragic fall of the protagonist,

Okonkwo, and the Igbo culture. Okonkwo is a respected and
influential leader within the Igbo community of Umuofia in eastern
Nigeria. He first earns personal fame and distinction, and brings
honor to his village, when he defeats Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling
contest. Okonkwo determines to gain titles for himself and become
a powerful and wealthy man in spite of his father's weaknesses.
Okonkwo's father, Unoka, was a lazy and wasteful man. He often

borrowed money and then squandered it on palm-wine and
merrymaking with friends. Consequently, his wife and children often
went hungry. Within the community, Unoka was considered a failure
and a laughingstock. He was referred to as agbala, one who
resembles the weakness of a woman and has no property. Unoka
died a shameful death and left numerous debts.
Okonkwo despises and resents his father's gentle and idle ways. He
resolves to overcome the shame that he feels as a result of his
father's weaknesses by being what he considers to be "manly";
therefore, he dominates his wives and children by being insensitive
and controlling.
Because Okonkwo is a leader of his community, he is asked to care

for a young boy named Ikemefuna, who is given to the village as a
peace offering by neighboring Mbaino to avoid war with Umuofia.
Ikemefuna befriends Okonkwo's son, Nwoye, and Okonkwo becomes
inwardly fond of the boy.
Over the years, Okonkwo becomes an extremely volatile man; he is

apt to explode at the slightest provocation. He violates the Week of
Peace when he beats his youngest wife, Ojiugo, because she went
to braid her hair at a friend's house and forgot to prepare the
afternoon meal and feed her children. Later, he severely beats and
shoots a gun at his second wife, Ekwefi, because she took leaves
from his banana plant to wrap food for the Feast of the New Yam.
After the coming of the locusts, Ogbuefi Ezeuder, the oldest man in
the village, relays to Okonkwo a message from the Oracle. The
Oracle says that Ikemefuna must be killed as part of the retribution
for the Umuofian woman killed three years earlier in Mbaino. He
tells Okonkwo not to partake in the murder, but Okonkwo doesn't
listen. He feels that not participating would be a sign of weakness.
Consequently, Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna with his machete. Nwoye
realizes that his father has murdered Ikemefuna and begins to
distance himself from his father and the clansmen.
Okonkwo becomes depressed after killing Ikemefuna, so he visits

his best friend, Obierika, who disapproves of his role in Ikemefuna's
killing. Obierika says that Okonkwo's act will upset the Earth and
the earth goddess will seek revenge. After discussing Ikemefuna's
death with Obierika, Okonkwo is finally able to sleep restfully, but
he is awakened by his wife Ekwefi. Their daughter Ezinma, whom
Okonkwo is fond of, is dying. Okonkwo gathers grasses, barks, and
leaves to prepare medicine for Ezinma.
A public trial is held on the village commons. Nine clan leaders,

including Okonkwo, represent the spirits of their ancestors. The
nine clan leaders, or egwugwu, also represent the nine villages of
Umuofia. Okonkwo does not sit among the other eight leaders, or
elders, while they listen to a dispute between an estranged husband
and wife. The wife, Mgbafo, had been severely beaten by her
husband. Her brother took her back to their family's village, but her
husband wanted her back home. The egwugwu tell the husband to
take wine to his in-laws and beg his wife to come home. One elder
wonders why such a trivial dispute would come before the
egwugwu.
In her role as priestess, Chielo tells Ekwefi (Okonkwo's second wife)

that Agbala (the Oracle of the Hills and Caves) needs to see Ezinma.
Although Okonkwo and Ekwefi protest, Chielo takes a terrified
Ezinma on her back and forbids anyone to follow. Chielo carries
Ezinma to all nine villages and then enters the Oracle's cave. Ekwefi
follows secretly, in spite of Chielo's admonitions, and waits at the
entrance of the Oracle. Okonkwo surprises Ekwefi by arriving at the
cave, and he also waits with her. The next morning, Chielo takes
Ezinma to Ekwefi's hut and puts her to bed.
When Ogbuefi Ezeudu dies, Okonkwo worries because the last time
that Ezeudu visited him was when he warned Okonkwo against
participating in the killing of Ikemefuna. Ezeudu was an important
leader in the village and achieved three titles of the clan's four, a
rare accomplishment. During the large funeral, Okonkwo's gun goes
off, and Ezeudu's sixteen-year-old son is killed accidentally.
Because the accidental killing of a clansman is a crime against the

earth goddess, Okonkwo and his family must be exiled from Umuofia
for seven years. The family moves to Okonkwo's mother's native
village, Mbanta. After they depart Umuofia, a group of village men
destroy Okonkwo's compound and kill his animals to cleanse the
village of Okonkwo's sin. Obierika stores Okonkwo's yams in his
barn and wonders about the old traditions of the Igbo culture.
Okonkwo is welcomed to Mbanta by his maternal uncle, Uchendu, a

village elder. He gives Okonkwo a plot of land on which to farm and
build a compound for his family. But Okonkwo is depressed, and he
blames his chi (or personal spirit) for his failure to achieve lasting
greatness.
During Okonkwo's second year in exile, he receives a visit from his

best friend, Obierika, who recounts sad news about the village of
Abame: After a white man rode into the village on a bicycle, the
elders of Abame consulted their Oracle, which told them that the
white man would destroy their clan and other clans. Consequently,
the villagers killed the white man. But weeks later, a large group of
men slaughtered the villagers in retribution. The village of Abame is
now deserted.
Okonkwo and Uchendu agree that the villagers were foolish to kill a
man whom they knew nothing about. Later, Obierika gives Okonkwo
money that he received from selling Okonkwo's yams and seedyams, and he promises to do so until Okonkwo returns to Umuofia.
Six missionaries, including one white man, arrive in Mbanta. The

white man speaks to the people about Christianity. Okonkwo
believes that the man speaks nonsense, but his son, Nwoye, is
captivated and becomes a convert of Christianity.
The Christian missionaries build a church on land given to them by

the village leaders. However, the land is a part of the Evil Forest,
and according to tradition, the villagers believe that the
missionaries will die because they built their church on cursed land.
But when nothing happens to the missionaries, the people of
Mbanta conclude that the missionaries possess extraordinary power
and magic. The first recruits of the missionaries are efulefu, the
weak and worthless men of the village. Other villagers, including a
woman, soon convert to Christianity. The missionaries then go to
Umuofia and start a school. Nwoye leaves his father's hut and
moves to Umuofia so he can attend the school.
Okonkwo's exile is over, so his family arranges to return to Umuofia.

Before leaving Mbanta, they prepare a huge feast for Okonkwo's
mother's kinsmen in appreciation of their gratitude during
Okonkwo's seven years of exile.
When Okonkwo returns to Umuofia, he discovers that the village has

changed during his absence. Many men have renounced their titles
and have converted to Christianity. The white men have built a

prison; they have established a government court of law, where
people are tried for breaking the white man's laws; and they also
employ natives of Umuofia. Okonkwo wonders why the Umuofians
have not incited violence to rid the village of the white man's church
and oppressive government.
Some members of the Igbo clan like the changes in Umuofia. Mr.
Brown, the white missionary, respects the Igbo traditions. He makes
an effort to learn about the Igbo culture and becomes friendly with
some of the clan leaders. He also encourages Igbo people of all ages
to get an education. Mr. Brown tells Okonkwo that Nwoye, who has
taken the name Isaac, is attending a teaching college. Nevertheless,
Okonkwo is unhappy about the changes in Umuofia.
After Mr. Brown becomes ill and is forced to return to his homeland,
Reverend James Smith becomes the new head of the Christian
church. But Reverend Smith is nothing like Mr. Brown; he is
intolerant of clan customs and is very strict.
Violence arises after Enoch, an overzealous convert to Christianity,

unmasks an egwugwu. In retaliation, the egwugwu burn Enoch's
compound and then destroy the Christian church because the
missionaries have caused the Igbo people many problems.
When the District Commissioner returns to Umuofia, he learns about

the destruction of the church and asks six leaders of the village,
including Okonkwo, to meet with him. The men are jailed until they
pay a fine of two hundred and fifty bags of cowries. The people of
Umuofia collect the money and pay the fine, and the men are set
free.
The next day at a meeting for clansmen, five court messengers who
intend to stop the gathering approach the group. Suddenly,
Okonkwo jumps forward and beheads the man in charge of the

messengers with his machete. When none of the other clansmen
attempt to stop the messengers who escape, Okonkwo realizes that
they will never go to war and that Umuofia will surrender.
Everything has fallen apart for Okonkwo; he commits suicide by
hanging himself.
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What is Okonkwo's relationship with his father like?

What is Okonkwo's relationship with his father like?

How does Okonkwo react after killing Ikemefuna?

How does Okonkwo react after killing Ikemefuna?

Book Summary about things fall apart

Things Fall Apart is about the tragic fall of the protagonist,

Okonkwo's father, Unoka, was a lazy and wasteful man. He often

Because Okonkwo is a leader of his community, he is asked to care

Over the years, Okonkwo becomes an extremely volatile man; he is

Okonkwo becomes depressed after killing Ikemefuna, so he visits

A public trial is held on the village commons. Nine clan leaders,

In her role as priestess, Chielo tells Ekwefi (Okonkwo's second wife)

Because the accidental killing of a clansman is a crime against the

Okonkwo is welcomed to Mbanta by his maternal uncle, Uchendu, a

During Okonkwo's second year in exile, he receives a visit from his

Six missionaries, including one white man, arrive in Mbanta. The

The Christian missionaries build a church on land given to them by

Okonkwo's exile is over, so his family arranges to return to Umuofia.

When Okonkwo returns to Umuofia, he discovers that the village has

and have converted to Christianity. The white men have built a

Violence arises after Enoch, an overzealous convert to Christianity,

When the District Commissioner returns to Umuofia, he learns about

Okonkwo jumps forward and beheads the man in charge of the

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