Things Fall Apart I

ashley8 said...
While reading “Things Fall Apart,” I too noticed that there are numerous animalistic references and many of these references are geared towards Okonkwo and the importance of putting on the façade of a strong and physically capable man. I agree with Marrisa because there are many animalistic and environmental references on pages 3 and 4 where Achebe comments on how Okonkwo’s “fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan” (3), he “pounce(s) on people quite often” (4) and also, “when he walked, his heels hardly touched the ground.” I feel that all of these qualities describe one of the most powerful and dominate animals in many African safaris- the cheetah. Okonkwo moves quickly and “pounces” on his prey or anyone he becomes angry with in order to obtain power and to not be viewed as a weak individual. Achebe makes these connections amongst humans and animals to express how the strongest will prevail and the weak usually fail. I also feel that Okonkwo fears being seen as weak because it connects him to his father, Unoka. Okonkwo, a strong and wealthy man has three wives, many kids, a huge and prosperous farm, and he is well-known and greatly feared by many other tribes. Where as his father, Unoka, was a lazy, poor, debtor, who never made a name for himself and eventually was left to die in the Evil Forest. I believe that Achebe makes Unoka and Okonkwo two very different characters because it shows how strongly Okonkwo wanted to make a better life for himself and to become a fierce competitor in his tribe.
Although Okonkwo has a great desire to be seen as the dominate force in many aspects of his life such as “throwing Amalinze the Cat” (3) and ruling “his household with a heavy hand” (13), I think that his unpredictable temper could lead to his biggest downfall. Okonkwo’s tough mentality caused him to constantly nag and beat his son, Nwoye, because he thought his son was very lazy. I think Achebe uses these elements as a way to foreshadow Okonwo’s relationship with Nwoye as one that will eventually turn out to be like the relationship Okonkwo had with his father. I predict that Nwoye will ultimately resent his father for the violent ways in which he treats him and especially the methods he uses against many of his wives. For instance, Okonkwo shot a loaded gun at his second wife because she “murmured something about guns that never shot” (38-39). Okonkwo resented his father for his lack of strength, however, I predict that Okonkwo’s family, especially Nwoye will ultimately resent him for his desire to have too much of a strong hold in their lives.

July 8, 2008 3:08 PM