Introduction
Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, a novel that was published in 1958, presents events that took place in the late 19th Century and early the 20th Century, before and during the initial days of the British colonial dominance in Nigeria. Chinua Achebe presents the Igbo culture, whereby various aspects have been revealed. The aspects of the Igbo culture presented in the novel include legends and traditions, marriage customs, symbols of honor, music, entertainment, food, and drink, indicators of wealth (cowries, yams), and symbols of honor (Achebe 15). Achebe succeeds in demonstrating the intricacy and sophistication of Igbo society. The turn of events, as highlighted in the first chapters of the book, illustrates how the aspects of the complexity of Igbo society and culture positively changed the way of life of the Igbo people.
Legends and Traditions
Achebe describes in the first chapter, the key achievements of Okonkwo, which define his essential role in Igbo society. Such descriptions alone provide insight into the character and inspiration of Okonkwo. He seeks to hide the relentless guilt that he feels over his late father’s mistakes and shortcomings, Unoka, pushing himself toward shared prosperity and acceptance. In Igbo culture, Okonkwo displays manhood characteristics (Achebe 42). Acquainted with Western work of fiction and its traditional methods, Achebe bases “Things Fall Apart” in the custom of a Greek catastrophe, with the narrative oriented all over Okonkwo, the tragic hero.
The reason why I feel that Okonkwo’s accomplishments will change the Igbo way of life is great courage and perseverance demonstrated in these events. Okonkwo was described as the tragic hero who is superior and noble. He always wanted to change how his people lived. For instance, he felt that he needed to change how he faced certain situations, unlike his weak father (Achebe 98). Okonkwo is known as a man well treasured for his impressive accomplishments and essential values — the core attributes of a tragic hero. His fascination with masculinity is Okonkwo’s fatal flaw; his fear of appearing vulnerable like his father causes him to obligate unreasonable acts of fierceness that compromise his dignity. The values and actions in the preceding chapters that start to expose the devastating weakness in Okonkwo’s otherwise exemplary conduct, words, thoughts, and interactions with others.
Symbols of Honor (Titles)
The system of honorary title names is one of the major social indicators of the Igbo culture that has been introduced in these thirteen chapters. Titles are points of reference in the first half of the book from which Igbo society’s members often associate with each other (particularly Okonkwo) (Achebe 34). Higher authorities do not grant such titles, but the person who can pay for them acquires them. As a man piles up riches, he may earn special acknowledgment and reputation by “taking a title.”
The reason why I feel that the symbols of honor could change the Igbo’s way of life is that men were motivated to work hard to live up to those titles. These titles encouraged men to work hard and become courageous, which promoted heroism in society. Any person was allowed to buy any titles for his male members of his family as a way of encouraging them to be courageous members of the community (Achebe 98). In the process, the man paid substantial membership fees to the males who already claim the title. Okonkwo is entirely different from his late father, Unoka, who hated blood sight and often borrowed and lost money, which implied that his spouse and family sometimes went hungry. However, Okonkwo’s father was a talented clarinet player who had a gift for and love for various languages.
Indicators of Wealth (cowries, yams)
Besides being a professional fighter, Okonkwo is a reasonably wealthy man who has yearned to accumulate riches for his family. He has established his home and his credibility as a rambunctious wrestler and hard-working farmer from a young age. Okonkwo’s sacrifices pay off big time, and through his crops, he becomes rich, earning three spouses. He was responsible for raising his three spouses, and eight children and all spouses had a house of their own (Achebe 76). Okonkwo also has a gallery full of yams which he used to feed his family with. He also had a chapel of his descendants and a hut of his own (obi). Okonkwo feels pain and failure, a quality he shares with his father and his wives (Achebe 54). When Okonkwo was a teen, a boy by the name Unoka is used to identify women and people who did not want the word. Okonkwo’s culture is extremely competitive, and he rejects disappointment.
The reason why I feel that the indicators of wealth (cowries, yams) could change the Igbo’s way of life is that a man was in a position to have many wives and children as he could easily feed them. The Igbo society was in dire need of such men who were working hard to acquire wealth, which benefitted society as a whole. Okonkwo, for example, is considered a community star, since he retains titles and plays an essential role as an egwugwu. And yet other people in the society looked upon his fierce muscular appearance and wrath. They see him as being overcompensated, struggling against his fear of ending up like his father.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the event that I think is the most compelling as to its indication of the Igbo way of life-changing is the Okonkwo’s achievements that were aimed at accumulating wealth. Okonkwo is ready, within the Igbo’s dynamic oral tradition, to be a leader of his tribe. He rises from modest beginnings to a leading position, and he becomes a wealthy man. He is motivated and willing to strengthen the shortcomings of his father, which has made him considered a coward in the culture of Igbo. In his life, Okonkwo seeks to be the exact opposite of his father. These reasons explain why the lives of Igbo people could change for the better in the future. The Igbo society wanted members who could strive and work hard and fight for its territories. The events in the book could positively change the Igbo culture.
