Things Fall Apart, Chapter 5-6, Okonkwo and The New Yam Festival

"The New Yam Festival was thus an occasion for joy throughout Umuuofia. And every man whose arm was strong, as the Ibo people say, was expected to invite large numbers of guests from far and wide. Okonkwo always asked his wives' relations, and since he now had three wives his guests would make a fairly big crowd" (Achebe 37).

Part II- How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/racial superiority in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart/the past?

The New Yam Festival takes place every year in Umuofia. This festival is a time to honor Ani, the earth goddess and the source of all fertility. Yams were harvested and new yams could not be eaten until some had first been offered to the people with power. Throughout Umuofia, the New Yam Festival was an occasion for joy. The New Yam Festival represents  major characteristics of imperialism. The people of the villages are religious, patriot and strong. They celebrate the yams and their gods. Also, Umuofia  people have wrestling matches to showcase their strength. During the festival, Okonkwo particularly feels tense. His unjustifiable action of beating his wife demonstrate the opposing aspects of imperialism.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 3-4, Self Made

"With a father like Unoka, Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had. He neither inherited a barn nor a title, nor even a young wife. But in spite of these disadvantages, he had begun even in his father's lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future. It was slow and painful. But he threw himself into it like one possessed. And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death" (Achebe 18).


Prompt, Part II - How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural / racial superiority in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart / the past?


Okonkwo is completely a self made man. Young Okonkwo grew up with his father, Unoka. Unoka lived a dishonorable and a truly sluggish life. He was not able to give a barn, a young wife, nor a title. Despite Unoka’s misfortunes, Okonkwo had a relentless drive to improve his reputation. His determination strongly gave him a future to look ahead to and a better life. Okonkwo’s ill fated father was pure motivation for Okonkwo to pursue a different lifestyle. He built and constructed a basis that definitely made him powerful and looked upon.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 1-2, Superiority and Fear

"An ultimatum was immediately dispatched to Mbaino asking them to choose between war on the one hand, and on the other the offer of a young man and a virgin as compensation” (Achebe 11).

Part 1- According to the text, what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it? 

The author, Achebe, portrays two different tribes in this novel. There were rising tensions after the Mbiano tribe killed a woman from the Umuofia tribe. Due to this event, the Umuofia is greatly disheartened by the loss of their daughter. Although revenge is likely to occur, the Umuofia tribe allow the Mbaino tribe choose whether to go to war or bring a girl and a boy from their tribe. The neighboring clans want to avoid war because the Umuofia tribe is very powerful and feared. Instead, the Mbaino offer a peaceful solution by giving a boy and a virgin girl to the Umuofia tribe. They decide the virgin girl should be given to the man whose wife was just murdered. The Umuofia tribe exhibits the power of fear and superiority. The tribe is able to display and spread  imperialism. Also they are able to emphasize their threatening power throughout the country.