Turning and turning in the
widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the
falconer;
Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed
upon the world!
- W.B Yeats, The Second Coming
Things Fall Apart (1956) is a past-colonial novel written by Nigerian author Chinua
Achebe. There must be very few literary enthusiasts who have not heard of it as
this is archetypal 'modern African novel in English to have received global
critical acclaim'. This is a stark and simple story of Okonkwo, one of the greatest
warriors, leader and local wrestling champion in Nigerian village of Umofia. The title comes from
W.B Yeats' famous poem The
Second Coming.
The work is split into
three parts, the first describing his family history, customs and society while
the second and third sections describe aftermaths of influence of British
colonialism and Christian missionaries on indigenous African society.
The protagonist, Okwonko gains fame as local wrestling
champion at tender age. He is strong, arduous and wants to dispel his father's
image of being effeminate (who was coward and died with unpaid debts, outcast
from clan). He works hard on his own and becomes brusque with three wives,
children, and large barns and gains prestige among villagers.
On one such occasions he's
selected to be guardian to Ikemefuna,
a boy brought as peace settlement from other village to whom he grows fond of
later. But later he ends up striking a killing blow to prove his audacity
although the child seeks protection with his 'father'. The scene of
Okonkwo's accidental shooting of young clansmen and his subsequent banishment
is pivotal in the story.
Upon his arrival after
seven years, he finds his village blemished by the missionaries and he makes a
coalition with some friends to stand against the atrocities of the Christians.
Following series of tumult, he kills one of the missionaries when they try to
halt villagers meeting. After murder, foreseeing the upcoming misery and
offended with kinsmen, he commits suicide- the greatest sin against the gods of
his people. He ends up being untouchable and outcast from his clan- something
he strived lifelong not to resemble with his father.
The plot not only reveals Okowonko's struggle and fall
but also complex social fabric of people residing. The oral storytelling and
rituals for planting, harvesting, and human passage sustain an orderly society.
The proverbs are weaved in dialogue to clarify a point, teach lesson and mostly
to provide humor. Although most of the untranslated native words are understood
in context, some still create a distance between non-Ibo reader and the world
depicted in the novel.
In a nutshell, this very
interesting and succinct book is a story of protest and search of righteousness
in part of African society. The complexity in situation and Achebe's masterful
craft makes Things Fall Apart a classic novel. My recommended read
for everyone once.
