Commentary On Passge (Page 124-125) Of Things Fall Apart By Chnua Achebe
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In this passage of Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, the protagonist and main characters of the novel, Okonkwo, has just been sent into exile away from his land of Umuofia , Nigeria . The crime he has committed to receive such a punishment is the sin of murder. While he is attending a funeral for a man named, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, Okonkwo’s gun accidentally explodes and kills Ezeudu’s sixteen-year-old son. Killing a clansman is a crime against their earth goddess, thus, Okonkwo and his family are sent into exile, being forced to go back to his motherland of Mbanta. The men of the family who have experienced the loss in this accidental death burn Okonkwo’s houses and kill his animals to cleanse the village of his sin of murder. They do this to follow the commands of tradition. But, Obierika, a very good friend and fellow clansman of Okonkwo, questions why Okonkwo and his family should suffer so much for an accidental killing. This leads him into thoughts as to why he was forced to commit such a crime himself. He was forced to throw away twins, born from his wife. What crime had they committed?
Okonkwo is the protagonist and tragic hero of the story and this is emphasized by the title of the novel, Things Fall Apart, because Okonkwo’s village, Umuofia, has the ability to be flexible and adapt to changes, while still preserving their own traditions and beliefs. However, Okonkwo consistently test the limits of his society’s fidelity and follows his own stubborn will, not tradition. Hence, this tale is not entirely focused on the breakdown of a customary African society, but it demonstrates the personal misfortune of a single character, whose life collapses. Though this killing was accidental, it could be a form of punishment for his earlier disobedience against his people and gods. His previous killing of an innocent boy Ikemefuna damaged the harmony of the traditions of his clan and society. His condemnation shows the importance of customs within the community. Because the character Okonkwo shows repeated failures, Achebe’s tone towards him is sympathetic and compassionate throughout the entire novel. Achebe’s attitude towards him proves to be understanding because he recognizes and appreciates the ideas of the traditional Igbo society and culture. This third person narrative shows diversity, because one seems to embrace tradition, while the other has a more modern view, aware of the moral principles one should have. The narrator is omniscient who focuses mainly on Okonkwo and consistently presents this dualistic view on him, which allows the reader to maintain innermost sympathies for Okonkwo.
Achebe uses this event to foreshadow the future consequences of the coming of the white missionaries. Their arrival and Okonkwo’s absence is used by Achebe as an appliance to reveal the changes and falling apart of the clan. Throughout this passage, the narrator maintains compassionate tone towards Okonkwo, as does the reader. “His wives wept bitterly and their children wept with them without knowing why”. The reader feels a slightly similar benevolence towards Okonkwo. The assonance used here emphasizes the melancholy atmosphere and feeling of sadness created towards Okonkwo. An even deeper feeling of empathy is created when the storming of Ezeudu’s quarter is described. “It was the justice of the earth goddess, and they were merely her messengers […] They were merely cleansing the land which Okonkwo had polluted with the blood of a clansman”. The word “merely” is repeated when describing the dreadful imagery of their destruction, this use of metonymy accentuates Achebe’s understanding and consent of their traditions. Although it was a misfortune, this destruction and revenge helps to withdraw bitterness and anger, and his exile of seven years will make these bitter feelings die out and mend his place in the community. This incident expresses one of the main themes, which is the struggle between tradition and change. This killing and destruction emphasizes the damage that is stirring in Okonkwo’s psychological conflict, especially resting on his personal struggle to control and restrain