Things Fall Apart Study Guide

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart, a novel, follows the life of African man Okonkwo, who lives in the village of Umuofia. As a young man, Okonkwo seeks to distinguish himself, and through hard work becomes a leader in his village. When white men invade his village, Okonkwo wants to fight and drive them out. He soon realizes that the old values and customs he has lived by are disappearing, driving him to despair in this classic exploration of masculinity and the conflict between tradition and change.

Okonkwo hides in his hat, he doesn’t eat and sleep for two days. Ezinma tries to look after him and they talk with each other everyday. With all of Ezinma's help, Okonkwo can't help but wish that she were a boy. Frustrated with himself, Okonkwo reprimands himself for not being able to put up with the death of one boy, and visits his friend Obierka. There, Obierka states that he would not have killed his son.

Later another man arrives and tells them that a great man has died and his wife died after hearing the news. They will put off the burial of the man until his wife is buried.

Obierka invites Okonkwo to be present when he and another man deal with his daughter's bride price. Once there, Achebe walks the reader through the ritual of dealing for a bride price: what the men do, what the women do, etc.

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