Things Fall Apart Summary

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Things fall apart is a tragic story of a hard working man, a fierce warrior, a wrestling champion and a respected clan leader whose life was overwhelmed with pride, anger, fear, and revenge. This man's name is Okonkwo.

The story begins with Okonkwo's rise to prominence in the village of Umuofia; which was part of a consortium (or cluster) of nine connected villages. The other villages include Mbanta, Abame, Mbaino, Umuazu, Ikeocha, Elumelu, Aninta and Ikemefuna respectively. Umuofia is a powerful clan amongst these villages; and Okonkwo was quite popular in the nine villages, and even beyond; because of his great prowess.

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Okonkwo was a hot tempered personality, had a stern face, alongside a great body build, and an intimidating appearance. Although excellent with his fists, he was a stammerer, and this was even more pronounced when he's angry. During Okonkwo's youthful age, he rose to fame after defeating Amilinze "The Cat", a great wrester.

Okonkwo is driven by a fierce desire to dissociate himself from the legacy of his father, Unoka whom he considered a weak, lazy, and an irresponsible man.

Although an excellent flute player but a lazy farmer, Unoka, Okonkwo's father is known by many as a debtor. As a consequence of his laziness, he was unable to support his wife and children. In fact, Unoka died a great debtor, leaving no inheritance for Okonkwo. For this reason, Okonkwo adopted a hyper-masculine persona, working so hard from a young age in order to build his fame, wealth and reputation.

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Okonkwo, now a great man had two titles after he bravely fought and won two intertribal wars. As a farmer, he was very successful, often having great harvests of yams. As a husband and father, he had three wives, as allowed by the Umofia culture. His wives are: Nwoye's mother as first wife; Ekwefi, the mother of Ezinma as second wife; and Ojiugo as third and youngest wife. In the story, his first wife is only referred to as ''first wife'' or ''Nwoye's mother''. Okonkwo presides over his family with an iron fist.

During the sacred week of peace, Okonkwo accuses his youngest wife (Ojiugo) of negligence. He displayed his anger by beating her, thus breaking the peace of the sacred week. This was a sacrilege in Umuofia. However, he did carry out sacrifices to atone for his abomination, but nonetheless; he had shocked his community irreparably.

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Still regarding his family, Okonkwo, being a brave and hardworking man is often disappointed at Nwoye whom he considers timid, weak and lazy. He worries that Nwoye may end up as his father Unoka, who died a man of disrepute. On the contrary, he has great love for Ezinma, the daughter of Ekwefi. According to the story, Ezinma is the only surviving child of Ekwefi, who had bore 10 children. These children of hers who died were considered as "ogbanje"; and for this reason, they were both scared of losing Ezinma, their beloved daughter.

One fateful day, a neighboring clan killed a woman who hailed from Umuofia. This was a grievous offence with great repercussions. The offending clan, in an attempt to avoid war obliged to Umuofia's atonement, offering a fifteen-year-old boy and virgin girl as a peace settlement for the murder. It is noteworthy to state that this peace settlement was proposed by Umuofia (after they consulted their oracle), and was accepted by the offending clan. 

The peace settlement required that the man whose wife was murdered would take the virgin as his new wife, while the young boy was to become an offering of sacrifice to the gods of Umuofia at the appropriate time. The young boy's name is Ikemefuna; and it was his father who committed the crime against Umuofia.

Okonkwo was entrusted by the elders of  Umuofia to watch over Ikemefuna. This was as a result of his manliness, reputation and high standard.

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Ikemefuna, (the boy who had been doomed to die at the appointed time) lived under Okonkwo's roof for three years. During this time, he became a part of his family, and was loved by Okonkwo's elder son, Nwoye. Nwoye who was described as weak and lazy by his father, started becoming more masculine in actions and active at work as a result of Ikemefuna's influence. In this regard, Okonkwo's love for Nwoye improved. Similarly, Okonkwo loved the doomed boy (Ikemefuna), but was careful not to always show it. In return, Ikemefuna loved Okonkwo; and thus calls him father.

After three years of living with Okonkwo, the oracle called for Ikemefuna's death. However, before this would happen, Egbuefi Ezeudu, a highly respected elder and the oldest man in Umuofia visited Okonkwo, warning him not to participate in the boy's death.

Okonkwo lies to Ikemefuna, telling him that they must return him to his home village. Nwoye on hearing this, bursts into tears. The next day, a group of men attempted to take Ikemefuna into the evil forest to kill him.

Disregarding the advice of Ezeudu, Okonkwo followed these men. As Okonkwo walked behind, the clansmen, attacked the boy in the evil forest, striking him with their machetes. Instinctively, Ikemefuna ran to Okonkwo for protection; but unfortunately, Okonkwo struck the boy down with his own machete, ultimately killing the boy who called him father. Okonkwo carried out this act of murder as a function of pride, since he didn't want to appear weak in the presence of his clansmen.

As soon as Okonkwo returned home, his heart was saddened. He had occassional nightmares, and would neither eat, drink nor sleep. He sank deeply into depression. It was a friend of his, Obierika who revived Okonkwo's mood a bit. However, Nwoye perceived that his best friend had been killed.

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After some time has passed, the death of Ogbuefi Ezeudu is announced to the clans via a musical instrument called ekwe. Okonkwo, on getting to hear about Ezeudu's passing away felt guilt within himself, since he discarded his warning, eventually participating in Ikemefuna's death.

Ezeudu's burial was quite an elaborate event which marked his graceful years on earth. During this event, the men beat their drums, people danced, and guns were fired in celebrations. Unfortunately, tragedy occurred when Okonkwo's gun mistakenly fired and killed Ezeudu's sixteen-year-old son.

In Umuofia's tradition, killing a clansman's son is a grave offence against the earth goddess. Okonkwo will have to face the consequences of his action. To this effect, himself and his family will become exiled for seven years in atonement for his sins. Okonkwo was embittered about his exile since he believes that man masters his destiny and fate; but apparently, the cause of his exile had proved this belief wrong. He is therefore compelled to labour anew without his youthful strength. Also, his house and animals are to be destroyed in order to cleanse the land from his abomination.

Together with his family, Okonkwo gathers his valuable properties to Mbanta, his mother's village. They were gracefully and warmly welcomed by Uchendu. Uchendu heads Okonkwo's maternal family. He's Okonkwo's uncle, a generous and wise old man.

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While Okonkwo remained in exile, white missionary men arrived in Umuofia and Mbanto respectively. They preached christianity, a faith that seemed weird to the people. However, they won few converts which were men of little reputation. Over time, they won more converts, and Okonkwo's son, Nwoye happened to be one of them. When Okonkwo discovered this, he beats the boy mercilessly. As a result, Nwoye left his home to live as an independent young man.

The tranquility of Igbo independence and traditional religion was considered to be shattered with the arrival of European missionaries and colonial forces. 

In the last year of Okonkwo's exile, he spoke with his good friend Obierika, telling him to sell all his yams. He also told him to hire two men to build him two houses in Umuofia. This he did in preparation for his homecoming so he could have a house to live in with his family. When his departure time was near, he held a great feast in appreciation for his mother's kinsmen.

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Through an interpreter named Mr. Kiaga, the missionaries’ leader spoke to the villagers. His name is Mr. Brown. He tells them that worshipping more than one God is idolatrous, yet; he preached on the Holy Trinity (three Persons in one God). This threw the villagers into confusion.

After numerous deliberations between the church leader, Mr. Brown and Umofia clan leaders, it was agreed that the church should be given land in the evil forest, where a church structure could be built. The clan elders did this because they believed the evils and spirits in the forest will destroy the church.

When Okonkwo returns to Umuofia, he discovered that the converts had increased, and some of them would even disrepect the customs and rituals of the land. In fact, during an important traditional festival, some clan members had masked themselves (called Egwugwu); and were considered as clan spirits on such occasion. A convert named Enoch, who had become a fanatical christian was flogged by the egwugwu. In response, he unmasked the clan spirit. Such act of unmasking an egwugwu masquerade was consider a grave sin; and it is believed that it kills the egwugwu. For this reason, Enoch's compound was burnt, and the church building, destroyed.

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Gregory Irwin; the district commissioner (representing the colonial government) politely asks the leaders of the clan to come see him for a peaceful meeting. Okonkwo, alongside other leaders arrived, but were quickly arrested and thrown into prison. Here, they were beaten, flogged and humiliated by having their heads shaved by the court messengers. They were subsequently detained until a fine (two hundred bags of cowries) is paid. The money was paid and they were eventually released. The messengers however, did inflate the fine to two hundred and fifty bags of cowries, pocketing fifty cowries as theirs.

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After their release from prison, the clan deliberated in a meeting to decide whether they should make peace with the whites, or go to war. Okonkow on his part wanted war. Meanwhile, the clan meetings are considered very crucial; and it represent the heart of Umuofia's government; as the clan decisions are reached democratically here. Any interference against this meeting is considered treason, marking the end of Umuofia's independence.

As the meeting ensued, court messengers arrived, attempting to break up the gathering. Okonkwo, enraged by this act, and expecting his fellow clan members to join him in an uprising, killed the leader of the court messenger; while the others escaped. The fact that his clansmen allowed their escape broke Okonkwo's heart; for he now understood that his people will not choose war. He also envisaged that through his action, he will face the full wrath of a white man's law.

Embittered Okonkwo, now in despair; and realizing that his people has lost their independence; alongside his fears of dying under a white man's judgement, returned home and hung himself.

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The district commissioner, on reaching Okonkwo's compound (to take him to court,) discovered his lifeless body on a tree.

According to Umuofia tradition, suicide is considered a taboo against the earth goddess; and the body of the deceased must not be touched by the locals. Therefore, Okonkwo's action had tarnished his reputation, status, and everything he had ever achieved. His best friend, Obierika struggles not to break down into tears as he laments Okonkwo's death. 

While Gregory Irwin and his men made plans to bury Okonkwo, he considered thoughfully that Okonkwo's death will make an interesting chapter for his written book: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.