Things Fall Apart Speech

English 10

January 2017

Things Fall Apart Speech

        Okonkwo is a structured member of the Umuofia clan in the novel Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe and has little patience for what he believes is wrong. I have read and analyzed the life and logic of Okonkwo and believe that he is a man with some faults caused by an unpleasing childhood, but does prove himself to be a sympathetic man as he progresses.

        Unoka was a terrible role model for an ambitious and eager boy, such as Okonkwo. “He was clearly cut out for great things.” While growing up he saw his father as the disappointment he was, unable to support his family nor gain respect for himself. “...he had resented his father’s failure and weakness, and even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father was agbala,” another word for a women. Okonkwo used this lack of a good father figure to motivate himself to become a successful, well respected man when he grew up. Being as intelligent as he was Okonkwo started young knowing he wasn’t as well off as some other boys. In a small amount of time he had become a wealthy farmer with two barns full of yams and had married three wives. He also was the greatest wrestler in all of the nine villages. Okonkwo was the most respected throughout his own village, he was even selected to look after Ikemefuna who was sacrificed to avoid war. Okonkwo had made a life for himself all thanks to the resentment towards his lowlife father. Throughout Okonkwo’s experiences within the book he has come across as a very blunt and harsh character. I believe that he feels the need to have that harder shell on the outside to stay up in society and keep his village alive and thriving. Although, inside like some villagers know Okonkwo does mean well and wants the best for the people around him.

Later in the book, Okonkwo was exiled for seven years after the accidental gun fire during an elders funeral that killed the deceased’s son. There was no talk of a trial or hearing to confirm that this exile was just. Therefore I’m of the opinion that the village overlooked all Okonkwo has achieved and the pride that he brought to the clan members.  Although, this was shortly after his disturbance during the week of peace which perhaps caused some distrust between the villagers. This is a prime example of how Okonkwo’s temper and fear of femininity is negatively overpowering the use of words.