Things Fall Apart

Who is the protagonist of Things Fall Apart?

Okonkwo, a respected leader and wrestler in the Umuofia clan of the Igbo tribe.

What is Okonkwo most afraid of becoming?

He fears becoming like his father, Unoka, who was poor, weak, and considered a failure.

What role does masculinity play in the novel?

Masculinity is a central theme; Okonkwo equates masculinity with strength, violence, and emotional suppression, which ultimately leads to his downfall.

What is the significance of the Week of Peace?

It's a sacred time before planting season when violence is forbidden; Okonkwo breaks it by beating his wife, showing his impulsiveness and disrespect for tradition.

Why is Ikemefuna killed, and how does it affect Okonkwo?

The Oracle decrees Ikemefuna must die; Okonkwo kills him to avoid appearing weak, but it deeply haunts him.

What is the importance of the egwugwu?

The egwugwu are ancestral spirits (actually masked elders) who serve as judges in the village; their destruction by the missionaries symbolizes the loss of tribal order.

What causes Okonkwo’s exile?

He accidentally kills a clansman during a funeral (a "female" crime), which leads to a 7-year exile in his motherland.

How do the Christian missionaries affect Umuofia?

They disrupt traditional beliefs, convert many villagers (especially outcasts), and introduce a new power structure.

What is the meaning of the novel’s title, Things Fall Apart?

It reflects the breakdown of Igbo society under colonial influence and Okonkwo’s personal decline.

How does Okonkwo die, and what is the irony of his death?

He hangs himself, which is considered an abomination by his people. The man who valued strength ends up dying in a shameful, powerless way.

What does the District Commissioner represent?

He symbolizes colonial arrogance and control, viewing the complex lives of the Igbo people as material for a chapter in his book.

What role does fate vs. free will play in the novel?

Okonkwo believes he can control his fate through strength, but the forces of change (colonialism, tradition, personal flaws) prove otherwise.

What is a chi in Igbo belief, and how does it relate to Okonkwo?

A chi is a personal god or destiny; Okonkwo believes he has a strong chi but still faces misfortune, raising questions about destiny and personal responsibility.

What is Nwoye’s role in the novel?

He is Okonkwo’s son who struggles under his father’s expectations and eventually converts to Christianity, symbolizing generational change.

Why does Okonkwo struggle to adapt to colonial rule?

He clings to traditional values and views change as weakness, unlike others who adapt or compromise.

What is the role of Okonkwo’s first wife?

She is never named but is respected as the senior wife. She manages the household and helps raise the children, including Nwoye.

Who is Ekwefi?

Ekwefi is Okonkwo’s second wife. She once left her first husband to be with Okonkwo and is the mother of Ezinma.

What is special about Ekwefi and Ezinma’s relationship?

They have a close, loving, and equal relationship. Ekwefi treats Ezinma more like a companion than a child because she lost many children before Ezinma.

Who is Okonkwo’s third wife and what happens to her?

Her name is Ojiugo. She is the youngest and is beaten by Okonkwo during the Week of Peace for neglecting to cook—this act is considered a grave offense.

ow does the killing of the sacred python illustrate cultural conflict?

A convert’s act of killing a python—a sacred animal—disrespects Igbo religion, showing how Christian beliefs reject and challenge traditional values.

Why is the villagers' response to the python’s death significant?

They hesitate to retaliate, showing confusion, division, and the weakening of traditional authority in the face of foreign religion.

What does the unmasking of an egwugwu represent in the cultural clash?

It shows how colonial religion not only disrespects spiritual practices but actively undermines the social and judicial structures of the Igbo.

Why do the villagers burn the church, and what does it show about the cultural clash?

It is revenge for spiritual disrespect (unmasking the egwugwu), showing that the Igbo won’t passively accept colonial domination.

How do beliefs about ogbanje children reflect the cultural clash in Things Fall Apart?

These beliefs show deep spiritual traditions, which the Christians label as “superstition,” creating conflict over how to understand suffering and death.