Things Fall Apart: Part 2 Quotations

chapter 14: the rains arrive

• ‘At last the rain came. It was sudden and tremendous.’

• The earth came quickly to life and the birds in the forest fluttered around and chirped merrily.’

Chapter 14 - Okonkwo’s work ethic changes.

• ‘work no longer had the pleasure it used to have for him.’

• ‘it was like beginning life anew without the and enthusiasm of youth, like learning to become left handed in old age.’

contrast to part 1, when Okonkwo took great pleasure in his strength and prosperity.

Okonkwo feels that he has lost his whole identity since committing a female crime.

Chapter 14 - Uchendu asserts his authority

• ‘You are a great man in your clan. But you are still a child.’

• Is it right that you should bring your mother a heavy face and refuse to be comforted? Be careful or you may displease the dead.’

Okonkwo’s pride is preventing him from finding good in his life.

Chapter 14 - Uchendu worries about Okonkwo

‘The old man, Uchendu, saw clearly that Okonkwo had yielded to despair, and he was greatly troubled.’

Chapter 14 - Uchendu scolds Okonkwo

• ‘You think you are the greatest sufferer in the world.’

• Uchendu has buried 22 children, but has not hung himself.

white missionary is killed

‘They killed the white man and tired his iron horse to their sacred tree.’

foreshadowing (reference to the locusts)

(The Oracle) ‘said other white men were on their way. They were locusts, it said, and that first man was their harbinger sent to explore the terrain.’

Abame is destroyed by the white missionaries

‘A great evil has come upon their land as the Oracle had warned.’

Chapter 16 - Nwoye and Okonkwo

‘How if your father’ Obierika asked, ‘I don’t know, he is not my father.’

• Nwoye is turning away from his father and traditional customs.

• Nwoye claiming that Okonkwo isn’t his father, corresponds to Okonkwo claiming that his father, Unoka, wasn’t his father either!

Chapter 16 - Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity

• ‘It was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the marrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul… the question of Ikemefuna who was killed.’

• ‘He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul.’

Chapter 17 - Okonkwo’s fury

• ‘Okonkwo was popularly called The Roaring Flame. He was a flaming fire. How could he have begotten a son like Nwoye?’

Okonkwo reminisces, and despairs at his circumstances. Things are starting to fall apart.

Chapter 17 - Okonkwo fears the extinction of Ibo culture

• ‘suppose when he died all his male children decided to follow Nwoye’s steps and abandon their ancestors? Okonkwo felt a cold shudder run through him at the terrible prospect, like the prospect of annihilation.’

Okonkwo is deeply afraid that Ibo culture and masculine identity will die.

Chapter 18 - Mbanta decides to Ostracize the missionaries

‘Okonkwo made a sound full of disgust. This was a womanly clan, he thought. Such a thing could never happen in his fatherland, Umuofia.’

• foreshadows that things have actually changed in Umuofia (missionaries have established a government.)

• Okonkwo is bitter, despite his motherland welcoming him.

Chapter 19 - old member of the Mbaino clan

‘ I fear for you young people because you do not understand how strong is the bond of kinship. You do not know what is to speak with one voice.’

‘An abominable religion has settled among you. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. He can curse the Gods of his fathers and ancestors.’