ARI'S: Things fall apart- theme essay plans

Theme of Fear

1. Okonkwo is driven by the fear of becoming like his father

2. Fear affects relationships- particularly with his son Nwoye

3. Fear leads to Okonkwo’s downfall

Theme of Respect

1. Respect is tied to titles and masculinity in Igbo society.

2. Okonkwo earns respect through hard work and valour.

3. Loss of respect leads to alienation.

Theme of Rejection

1. Okonkwo rejects anything associated with weakness

2. Nwoye feels rejected by Okonkwo

3. Okonkwo is ultimately rejected by his society

Theme of Conflict

1. Internal conflict within Okonkwo drives the plot

2. Interpersonal conflict, especially between Okonkwo and Nwoye

3. Cultural conflict between the Igbo and the colonizers

Theme of Honour

1. Honour is tied to masculine achievement and status

2. Honour is tested during community decisions, such as Ikemefuna’s fate

3. Suicide is seen as dishonourable, reinforcing traditional values

Theme of Change

1. Okonkwo resists personal and societal change

2. The arrival of the missionaries marks cultural change

3. Resistance to change leads to disintegration

Theme of Shame

1. Okonkwo’s shame of his father drives his ambition

2. Shame is used to uphold societal standards

3. Okonkwo’s exile is a source of personal and familial shame

Theme of Power

1. Power is shown through physical strength and reputation

2. The white missionaries gain power through indirect control

3. Political power shifts with colonial arrival

Theme of Marriage

1. Marriage reflects social structure and male status

2. Women in marriage are expected to be obedient

3. Emotional bonds, such as with Ekwefi and Ezinma, challenge stereotypes

Theme of Loss

1. Personal loss, like Okonkwo’s exile, impacts identity

2. Cultural loss as colonization takes root

3. The final loss — Okonkwo’s death — symbolizes the collapse of old values