Things Fall Apart: Part 1 Quotations

chapter 1 - Okonkwo’s anger

• ‘he seemed to walk on springs, as if he was going to pounce on somebody.’

• ‘whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists.’

chapter 1 - Okonkwo’s relationship with Unoka

• ‘he had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father.’

• ‘a man was judged according to his worth, not according to the worth of his father.’

chapter 1 - character of Unoka

• ‘If any money came his way, and it seldom did, he immediately bought gourds of palm wine, called round his neighbours, and made merry.’

• ‘He wore a haggard and mournful look, except when he was drinking or playing on his flute.’

chapter 1

‘age was respected among his people, but age was revered.’

ibo culture is such that a man’s position within the hierarchy is determined by:

• the crops you produce.

• your wives.

• success within internal tribe wars.

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‘the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten.’

• conversation is an important skill in ibo culture.

• palm oil is important because it enhances the meal. Therefore, proverbs make the conversation more meaningful.

metaphor: it is custom to talk whilst drinking palm oil.

proverb = a short sentence known by many, that states a common experience or piece of advice.

chapter 2 - status of religion in Umuofia

• ‘Umuofia was feared by all of its neighbours. It was powerful in war and in magic.’

• '(Umuofia) never went to war unless its case was clear and just was accepted as such by its oracle.’

chapter 2 - Okonkwo’s temper

• ‘Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper.’

• ‘It was fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father.’ (agbala)

• ‘perhaps down in his heart, Okonkwo wasn’t a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness.’

  • constantly needs to prove his success and masculinity, a reflection on ibo culture.

chapter 3 - Unoka’s misfortune

priestess says:

• ‘when a man is at peace with his gods and his ancestors, his harvest will be good or bad according to the strength of his arm.’

• ‘evil fortune followed his to the grave…he died of the swelling which was an abomination to the Earth Goddess.’

chapter 3 - Okonkwo’s work ethic

• ‘he had begun even in his father’s lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future…he threw himself into it like on possessed. And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father’s contemptible life and shameful death.’

chapter 4 - Okonkwo’s success

• ‘looking at a king’s mouth (said an old man) one would think he never sucked at his mother’s breast.’

• ‘anyone who knew his grim struggle against poverty and misfortune could not say he had been lucky. If ever a man deserved his success, that man was Okonkwo.’

chapter 4 - character of Ikemefuna

• ‘he was by nature a very lively boy and he gradually became popular in Okonkwo’s household.’

• (very knowledgeable) ‘he knew which trees made the strongest bows.’

chapter 4 - Okonkwo’s fondness of Ikemefuna

‘Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy - inwardly of course… to show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength.’

chapter 4 - Okonkwo breaks the week of peace

• priest of the earth goddess: ‘ I shall not eat in the house of a man who has no respect for our Gods and Ancestors.’

chapter 7 - Okonkwo’s expectation of Nwoye

• ‘he wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of ruling his father’s household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors.’

chapter 7 - the treatment of women

‘no matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women, he was not really a man.’

chapter 7 - Ezeudu and Okonkwo

• ‘Umuofia has decided to kill him. The Oracle of the Hills have pronounced it.’

• ‘But I want you to have nothing to do with it. He calls you his father.’

chapter 8 - character of okonkwo

‘Okonkwo was not a man of thought, but of action.’

chapter 9 - Ezinma is sick

• “ Ezinma is dying” came her voice, and all the tragedy and sorrow of her life were packed in those words.’

• ‘The relationship between them was not only that of mother and child. There was something in it like the companionship which was strengthened by such little conspiracies as eating eggs in the bedroom.’

chapter 13 - tension

• ‘Umuofia was still swallowed up in sleep and silence when the ekwe began to talk, and the canon shattered the silence.’

• ‘the faint and distant wailing of women settled like a sediment of sorrow on the earth.’

chapter 13 - climax

• ‘drums beat violently and men leaped up and down in a frenzy… sparks flew as matchets clanged together in warriors’ salutes.’

the one handed spirit comes:

• ‘Ezeudu! If you had been poor in your last life I would have asked you to be rich when you come again. But you were rich. If you had been a coward, I would have asked you to bring courage. But you were a fearless warrior… I shall ask you to come again the way you came before.

chapter 13 - the aftermath of Okonkwo’s crime

‘ they set fire to his houses, demolished his red walls, killed the animals, and destroyed his barn.’

chapter 13 - Obierika

‘Obierika was a man who thought about things… he sat down in his obi and mourned his friend’s calamity.’