Chinua Achebe 1958
Shanika Harris
• Setting : Nigeria
• The significance in the book is the
colonization of Africa; a clash of
cultures
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Change
Pride
Tradition
Assimilation
Power
Colonization
• Some humans would do anything to appear
from being weak.
• Okonkwo is the protagonist. He’s a hero and he holds a position of power.
His actions leads himself to his fall. Okonkwo’s most fear failure and fear of
weakness. Okonkwo is a proud, ambitious man who runs his family with anger.
• Unoka is Okonkwo's father. He died when Okonkwo was very young, and he
was a failure. Since his dad was a failure Okonkwo works tirelessly to prevent
himself from being one. Unoka died in humiliation. The memory of his dad’s
death gives Okonkwo a terrible fear of failure.
• Nwoye is Okonkwo's son. Nwoye is sensitive and thoughtful, but he is also
somewhat lazy. Okonkwo is harsh with his son, fearing that he will become like
Unoka. Later, he converts to Christianity, to escape his father. His betrayal turn off
and outrages Okonkwo.
• Ekwefi is Okonkwo's second wife. She has had ten children, but only one has
survived. She is a tough and brave woman, devoted to her only surviving
daughter, Ezinma.
• District Commissioner Protagonist is the head of British
government in Umofia. He distributes justice in total
ignorance of local circumstances. He has an attitude that is
arrogant and hypocritical. He is a determined and willing
man.
• Mr. Brown is a white man and missionary. He strives to
compromise with the clan. He restrains the excessive and
violence of some of the converts, but he eventually dies ill to
overwork..
• Mr. Smith is Mr. Brown's replacement. Mr. Smith is not wise.
His foolishness brings the Christians of Umuofia into direct
conflict with the clan.
• Motifs:
• Fear; Okonkwo is haunted by fear. He is greatly afraid of failure,
and he is afraid of being considered weak. This fear drives him to
thoughtlessness, and in the end concludes to his death.
• Masculinity; Masculinity is one of Okonkwo's obsessions. For him,
any kind of sensitivity is a sign of weakness. Male power lies in
authority and physical force. Okonkwo's harshness drives Nwoye
away from the family and into a new religion.
• Symbols: Fire; Okonkwo is associated with burning, fire,
and flame throughout the novel because of his intensity and
dangerous anger which is the only emotion that he allows
himself to display.
• Okonkwo’s dilemma is trying to avoid to appear like his
father, which is being weak, so in doing so he would
express his rage by physically beating people.
• He is deeply dedicated to the traditions and social
hierarchies of his people, and he is determined that his sons
and daughters follow his demanding example.
• Significance; The thematic significance is that change will
cause self-destruction. The protagonists decision is that in
the end he commits suicide simply because he didn’t want to
convert over to change.
• Significance of the beginning of the novel is that Achebe is
describing the cultural of Umofia. The unsympathetic
attitudes towards women and their babies are disrespected
and the men abuses the power that’s given to them.
• Significance of the ending of the novel is that in the end
change is not what everybody wants such as Okonkwo. To
avoid the appearance of being weak and converting change
is that he kills himself
• Okoye “Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly and proverbs
are the palm oil w/ which words are eaten” ; context Okoye states the next half a
dozen sentences in proverbs; significance I think this is important b/c proverbs are
words of wisdom about life and the “oil” is slick. In saying so this is stating the
people swallow “words” with pride.
• Narrator “The elders or ndichie, met to hear a report of Okonkwo’s mission.” ; context
The elders gather to hear a report of Okonkwo’s mission; significance The ndichie are
important throughout this book b/c they are a symbol of wisdom. They been around
longer to know the history of the culture.
• Narrator If ever a man deserved his success, that a man was Oknowko. At an early
age ha had achieved fame as the greatest wrestler in all the land. At the most one
could say his chi was gold” context Recognizing Okonkwo for his success and its not
by luck; significance I think this symbolizes the tribe’s religion by believing in a
personal god
• Narrator “None of them was a man of title. They were mostly the kind of people that
were called, efulefa, worthless, empty men”; context Obierika pays a visit to his
friend in exile; significance The significance is important b/c this is the opposite of
now how men are expected to be in Umofia.