Some Cannons and A Sudden Death: Chapters 8 to 13, "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe

It is after Ikemefuna’s death that we have an insight into Nwoye’s and Okonkwo’s inner-selves. Nwoye, feels devastated about the event, he was going through very strange feelings in which he could sense death, he “felt like a solitary walker who passes an evil spirit on the way”. On the other hand, Okonkwo goes through a contradictory process, first he can’t stop himself drinking and can’t eat nor sleep, then, he starts thinking of himself a woman since he’s not able to stop thinking about it. Finally, he becomes feeling normal again, expelling all thought of Ikemefuna and he even wonders why such a thing uneased him. Later on, he feels Nwoye is not a good boy, constantly mentioning how he’d wish for Ezinma to be a boy.

Umuofia’s superiority is shown through a comparison between villages, in which they explain how in Abame and Aninta, titles are easier and cheaper, or how men gather food for their wives too and how they bargain the bride-price. Two important traditions are explained as well: trials¹ and wedding² processes. Through ironic suggestions, we are shown Okonkwo’s secret identity; he embraces the form of an egwugwu (ancestor’s spirit) when trials take place during the day, to the sound of the flute and gong. Meanwhile, we learn the procedure of the Igbo’s wedding through Akueke (Obierika’s daughter), who is 16 years old and is being sold to a suitor. The paying process (through cowries and broomsticks) is described, among the uri ceremony, in which the neighbourhood gathers to presence the suitor bringing palm-wine, (the more they bring, the more manly they’ll be thought of).

Past events are explained, allowing us to understand Ezinma and Ekwefi’s relationship. Ekwefi (Okonkwo’s wife), had been through many tragedies in her life, she had born nine children and eight died before the age of three. Medicine men had suggested that she was dealing with an ojbange (evil child) and tried several procedures which none of them worked. But, when Ezinma turned four years old, things became different, Ekwefi started loving her and became determined to keep her healthy. Both, Okonwko and Ekwefi, show how important Ezinma is to them when she becomes ill. They help her healing and also, when Chielo (Agbala’s priestess), “kidnaps” Ezinma, they follow her, defying all fear and pain as well as the gods.

Later on, the ekwe warns all nine villages about Ezeudu’s death (an important old warrior). The ceremony is accompanied with cannon and gun shooting, when suddenly, Okonkwo’s gun accidentally explodes killing Ezeudu’s son. As a punishment, he must abandon Umuofia for seven years. As if not enough, his house and barns are destroyed. Throughout the chapters, Obierika (Okonkwo’s friend), acts as a conscience, such as when he disagrees with Okonkwo having had to do with Ikemefuna’s death, reflecting about having killed his twin children only because their tribe believes they’re wicked, or considering that a man (Okonkwo) shouldn’t suffer so much for committing an accident. If we analyse it, it is the first time that Okonkwo can bear no more and has no choice left but to flee. He indeed has tried his best to be a strong man who can protect his family, but this “bubble” that he’s trying so restlessly to build, is destroyed for the first time, meaning that things begin falling apart.

Achebe, Ch. (1994), Things Fall Apart, 1st edition, Anchor Books, New York.

¹In this image, the Egwugwus  (masquerades who impersonates ancestral spirits of the village), sit on stools facing the elders, ready to make a decision for the current trial. Children and men surround them, keeping their distance. Image obtained from: http://thingsfallapart11.wikispaces.com/Superstitions

²A wedding ceremony being held in which Igbo women dance while wearing traditional Igbo clothes. Image obtained from:  http://www.datingfriend.net/articles/fabulous_wedding_rituals_and_customs_of_people_of_the_world.htm

From Debts To A Bloody Machete: Chapters 1 to 7, “Things Fall Apart” By Chinua Achebe

“He’d washed his hands and eaten with the kings”, Chinua Achebe wrote about one of Umuofia’s most respected and fiercest man, Okonkwo. Out of all nine villages, Umuofia was the feared one. Filled with legends, folktales, proverbs, gods, feasts and traditions, Umuofia’s people maximum pride was the amount of crops (specifically yams) and wives (the more wives, the more power a man had). Ruled by the oracle Agbala, their most important god is, ironically, a woman (they mocked women), Ani, goddess of mother Earth, source of fertility and judge of morality. Wrestling and dancing also formed part of their culture, especially during New Yam’s Feast.

Since young, Okonkwo had no choice other than to support his entire family economically, due to his irresponsible father, Unoka. Him, being lazy, improvident, coward and a debtor, was the cause for Okonkwo to borrow yam seeds from Nwakibie (a neighbour). Although he messed up twice, he eventually became an expert, learning from his mistakes. Ten years went by and Unoka died, leaving his body in the forest: a miserable death, for a miserable man. As all men, indeed, Unoka had a “good side”, he played the flute with village musicians and loved the good fellowship.

But now, Okonkwo had grown to be everything, avoiding his father’s resemblance in all ways. Without inheriting anything, he’d obtained three wives, two barns and currently had eight children. His hate for his father was so immense that he’d learned to hate gentleness, women, laziness, weakness, feasts, patience, and passivity. He’d learned to be a man of action, war, violence, anger, of achievements and masculinity. There are some moments in which Okonkwo shows tenderness such as his affliction for his family and wives, or his favouritism towards Ezinma, but still, anger is his only effusive feeling, such as when he beats his wife during Week of Peace.

This monstrous and resentful attitude is disturbed with the arrival of Ikemefuna, a young man who was offered (along a virgin woman) by the village of Mbaino. Having only 15 years, Ikemefuna was taken care of by Nwoye’s mother (one of Okonkwo’s wives), while the elders decided what they’d do with him. Days turned into months and months turned into a three-year decision, being the source of a special bond built between Ikemefuna, Nowye and Okonkwo. Unlike Nwoye (Okonkwo’s oldest son) who’d grown to be lazy, (earning himself beating and rejection from his father) Ikemefuna was a hard-worker and an agile apprentice, becoming Okonkwo’s dream boy. Unfortunately, when the elders finally decide what Ikemefuna’s destiny shall be, Okonkwo does not echo, due to his fear of being thought less manly. And that is how Ikemefuna comes to a tragic end in the forest, a machete concluding with his life.