Things Fall Apart Ch.13-25

In "Things Fall Apart," chapters 13-17 focus on the impact of Okonkwo's exile on his family and the clan, and the introduction of Christianity into the Mbanta village. The chapters depict Okonkwo's emotional turmoil and his struggle to maintain his pride and masculine identity in the face of his exile and the changing world. Okonkwo's exile and his family's new life in Mbanta also offer a glimpse into the lives of those less fortunate in the clan and the impact of the colonial era on their beliefs and traditions. 

Chapter 13: Ezeudu's Funeral and Okonkwo's Tragedy

• Event:

  Ezeudu, the oldest and wisest man in the village, dies. Okonkwo's gun accidentally kills Ezeudu's son during the funeral ceremony.

• Analysis:

  The funeral highlights the importance of tradition and community in Igbo society. Okonkwo's accidental killing of Ezeudu's son is interpreted as a sign of his fate, a consequence of his past actions and his inability to control his violent tendencies. 

Chapters 14-16: Life in Exile and the Changing Times

• Events:

  Okonkwo and his family relocate to Mbanta, under the care of his uncle Uchendu. Obierika visits Okonkwo and informs him about the destruction of Abame by white men. Nwoye is drawn to the Christian missionaries and begins to attend church. 

• Analysis:

  Uchendu offers Okonkwo advice and guidance, helping him to cope with his exile and loss. Obierika's news about Abame underscores the dangers of confronting the white colonial power. Nwoye's attraction to Christianity marks the beginning of the decline of traditional Igbo beliefs. 

Chapter 17: The Arrival of Christianity and Nwoye's Choice

• Events:

  Christian missionaries arrive in Mbanta and are given land in the Evil Forest. Nneka, a woman who has borne four sets of twins, converts to Christianity. Nwoye, drawn by the church's music and teachings, secretly attends services. Okonkwo discovers Nwoye's conversion and beats him, but Uchendu intervenes. 

• Analysis:

  The missionaries' arrival and the villagers' initial reactions highlight the tension between the old and new ways of life. Nwoye's choice to embrace Christianity reveals his growing disillusionment with traditional Igbo values and his desire for a new way of life. Okonkwo's violence and Uchendu's intervention underscore the conflicting forces at play in the clan. 

Chapter 18: The church in Mbanta struggles with internal divisions over the acceptance of osu, creating tension among converts. A convert's boastful killing of a royal python challenges the villagers' faith in their gods, prompting them to reconsider their ostracization of the church. 

Chapter 19: Okonkwo's exile in Mbanta concludes. He throws a lavish feast for his mother's kinsmen, expressing his gratitude for their hospitality. He prepares to return to Umuofia, but his heart is heavy with a sense of loss and disappointment about the changes he perceives within the clan. 

Chapter 20: The colonial government begins to impose its laws and customs on Umuofia, including punishing the abandonment of twins, a practice deeply rooted in Igbo tradition. Obierika reflects on the difficulty of the white man understanding Igbo culture without understanding their language. 

Chapter 21: Okonkwo's return to Umuofia is met with a subdued reception. He finds that the clan's focus has shifted to the new order and its opportunities, which he views as a sign of weakness. He tries to assert his authority, but his efforts are undermined by the changing social landscape. 

Chapter 22: Reverend Smith, a strict and intolerant missionary, replaces Mr. Brown, further inflaming the tension between the church and the clan. Enoch, a zealous convert, unmasks an egwugwu during a ceremony, an act that is seen as a desecration of the ancestral spirits. The egwugwu retaliate by burning Enoch's compound and confronting the Christians, demanding the destruction of the church. Smith, refusing to back down, leads to the destruction of the church in a final, violent confrontation. 

Chapter 23: The Price of Freedom

• The village of Umuofia pays the exorbitant fine demanded by the British court, leading to the release of their leaders.

• Ezinma returns home and is shocked by the news of her father's imprisonment, fearing for his safety.

• The fine is a symbolic defeat for Umuofia, demonstrating the power of the British colonial regime.

• The court messengers, rather than being honorable, exploit the situation and cheat the villagers out of more money. 

Chapter 24: The Brooding Return

• Okonkwo returns to Umuofia, brooding and filled with rage over the changing world and the loss of his former glory. 

• A village meeting is called, where Okonkwo plans to speak against Egonwanne, who he believes will advise against war. 

• Okonkwo sees the opportunity to regain his reputation as a powerful warrior and to challenge the British, but the meeting is interrupted by court messengers. 

• Driven by his rage, Okonkwo kills a messenger, a desperate act that ultimately leads to his demise. 

Chapter 25: The Downfall

• The District Commissioner and his men arrive at Okonkwo's compound, seeking him out after the incident at the meeting. 

• Obierika, Okonkwo's friend, leads them to Okonkwo, where they find him hanged from a tree, having committed suicide. 

• Obierika explains to the Commissioner that Okonkwo's death is an abomination in Umuofia, a violation of their traditions. 

• The Commissioner, unaware of Umuofia's customs, sees Okonkwo's suicide as a sign of "savagery" and plans to incorporate the story into his book about Africa.