THINGS FALL APART, by Chinua Achebe
-General information
“Things Fall Apart” is a novel written in 1959 by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. The
genre of the novel is the tragedy told by a third person narrator that doesn’t expresses any
judgement.
The story is set in the 1890s when the British missionaries started to colonize Nigeria.
-Characters
Okonkwo: he is the main character of the story. He is a warrior of the ethnic clan of Igbo
from the village of Umuofia, in Nigeria. He is brave and determined to become a better
man as his father. He is embarrassed by his father and is terrified of looking weak like him
because he was lazy and gentle, which he considers “effeminate” characteristics.
His hard-working and aggressive behavior made him reach a high status in his clan. He
has three wives that he continuously beats to demonstrate his anger.
Okonkwo is a tragic hero because although he is a superior character, his tragic flaw
brings him to the destruction.
Unoka: Okonkwo’s father, of whom Okonkwo has been ashamed since childhood. He
continuously borrows money and doesn’t pay his debts. He is a lazy and gentle musician
who doesn’t like to fight.
Nwoye: Okonkwo’s oldest son, whom Okonkwo believes is weak and lazy. Okonkwo
continually beats Nwoye, to make him become more aggressive, and this method works
because begins to exhibit more masculine behavior. At the end of the novel he converts to
Christianity, which Okonkwo considers “effeminate”. Okonkwo believes that Nwoye is
afflicted with the same weaknesses that his father.
Ikemefuna: a boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village. Close relationship with
Nwoye. Okonkwo does not demonstrate his affection.
Obierika: Okonkwo’s close friend.
Mr. Brown: The first white missionary to travel to Umuofia. His policy is based on
compromising, understanding and non-aggression. He builds a school and a hospital in
Umuofia and is respectful to the tribe’s value system.
Reverend James Smith: The missionary who replaces Mr. Brown. Different from
Mr.Brown: he is really strict and has no respect for the African culture, he rejects it. He is
the stereotypical white colonialist.
-Structure and plot (5 main parts)
1)Okonkwo is one of the bravest warrior of the Nigerian village of Umuofia. He gained his
high level in the society thanks to his aggressive behavior and the rejection of his lazy
