Things Fall Apart Book Review

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Joe Hampton World Cultures 4/11/14 Book Review: Things Fall Apart This novel is about a man named Okonkwo and takes place in Umuofia, a cluster of nine villages in the lower regions of Niger. Umuofia is a powerful clan. They are skilled in war and have a large population with proud traditions, and advanced social institutions. The main character, Okonkwo, has risen from absolute nothing to a high position. Through hard work, he has become a great man among his people. He has three wives and his barn is full the staple crop, yams. A strong man, he rules his family with an iron fist. Throughout the novel, we see Okonkwo go through many struggles and hardships that end up becoming the death of him. This novel begins when it describes a day when a neighboring clan commits an offense against Umuofia. To avoid going to war, the offending clan gives Umuofia one virgin and one young boy. The girl is to become the offended party's new wife. The boy, Ikemefuna, is to be sacrificed, but not immediately. Ikemefuna lives in Umuofia for three years, and during that time he lives with Okonkwo. Over time, he becomes a part of Okonkwo's family. Nwoye, Okonkwo's oldest son, loves Ikemefuna like a brother. Eventually, the Oracle comes to kill the boy, and a group of men take Ikemefuna away to kill him in the forest. Okonkwo, afraid of being viewed as soft-hearted and weak, participates in the killing of Ikemefuna. The clan elders advised him not to partake, but he did so anyway. Nwoye is not only emotionally broken, but spiritually as well by the killing. Okonkwo is shaken as well, but he continues to try to become a lord of his clan. Nwoye constantly disappoints Okonkwo, which leads to a great love for his daughter Ezinma. She is the child to his second wife, Ekwefi. Ekwefi gave birth to ten different children, but only Ezinma survived. Ekwefi loves Ezinma greatly and is scared

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