Things Fall Apart, Chapter 24-25, The End

"Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: "That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a do." He could not say any more. His voice trembled and choked his words" (Achebe 208).

Part I​ - According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it?

Imperialism has a huge effect on the people in Umuofia. In this passage, Obierika is so overcome by the unfairness and tragedy of Okonkwo's death. Obierika can't express his emotions into words. He is choked up with his words. Okonkwo was mistreated and was sent to exile for seven years. When he came back from being exiled, his return was not what he expected. The White men changed Umuofia's beliefs and traditions. The village becomes unrecognizable to Okonkwo. He is completely distraught. Okonkwo's desperation led him to suicide which was the result of his fear of failure. 

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 22-23, Egwugwu

"Mr. Smith stood his ground. But he could not save his church. When the egwugwu went away the red-earth church which Mr. Brown had built was a pile of earth and ashes. And for the moment the spirit of the clan was pacified" (Achebe 191).

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 white men have complete control over the Ibo villages. One Christian convert, Enoch, unmasks an egwugwu. His action causes an uproar between the tribes and the Christians. The egwugwu burn Enoch's compound to the ground. The tribe confront Reverent Smith. They ask the Christians to destroy the church so that they can cleanse the village of Enoch's horrible sin. However, Reverend Smith forbids them to touch the church. Reverend Smith orders the tribe to leave the matter in his hands. As his request was ignored, the church is burned.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 20-21, New Customs

"'But he says that our customs are bad, and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has a put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart'” (Achebe 176). 

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 arrives in Umuofia after his exile. His return to his native land was not as memorable as he had wished. Okonkwo did not recognize Umuofia with the new religion and government. He complains to Obierka about the white men. Okonkwo is quite upset and truly believes that the new institutions that are talked and thought about were evil. He is firmly convinced that the white men are harmful to Umuofia and Ibo people. The white men are easily able to use their religion to persuade the villagers in Umuofia. 

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 17-19, Culture Change

"Now that he had time to think of it, his son’s crime stood out in its stark enormity. To abandon the gods of one’s father and go about with a lot of effeminate men clucking like old hens was the very depth of abomination. Suppose when he died all his male children decided to follow Nwoye’s steps and abandon their ancestors? Okonkwo felt a cold shudder run through him at the terrible prospect, like the prospect of annihilation. He saw himself and his fathers crowding round their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days, and his children the while praying to the white man's god" (Achebe 153).

Part I​ - According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it?

In this excerpt, Okonkwo fears that his family’s Ibo beliefs will be vanished by the influence and imperialism of the white men. There are many effects of imperialism in in the Ibo families. For example, Okonkwo believes that his views and his culture will make him an ancestor. However, this is tested as the white men convert his son, Nwoye, into Christianity. Another effect of imperialism is how the white men instantly expunge past traditions that were ancient to the Ibo culture. Okonkwo feels immediately betrayed and disrespected by his own children.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 15-16, Missionaries

"The interpreter spoke to the white man and he immediately gave his answer. 'All the gods you have named are not gods at all. They are gods of deceit who tell you to kill your fellows and destroy innocent children. There is only one true God and He has the earth, the sky, you and me and all of us'” (Achebe 146).

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

In the village of Umuofia, the White men, present the idea of a single god. The gods of the Igbo represent important aspects of their lives such as the earth in which they grow their food and the sky which is the source of sun and water needed for their crops. As the missionaries migrate into the villages, they strongly express their beliefs and ideas on to the other groups. They accuse the villagers that their beliefs are wrong and that there is only one god. The White men present to the people that all the Igbo gods are flawed and untrue.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 13-14, Crime

"The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years" (Achebe 124).

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


Okonkwo is punished when his gun accidentally goes off and kills Ezeudu’s sixteen year old son. He must atone by taking his family into exile for seven years because killing a clansman is a crime against the earth goddess. Okonkwo gathers his valuable belongings and take his family to his mother’s village. After his exile, men burn Okonkwo’s buildings and kill his animals to cleanse the village of his sin. It is questionable that if imperialism took place, this sort of punishment would of had a different outcome and discipline.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 11-12, Stories

"Low voices, broken now and again by singing, reached Okonkwo from his wives' huts as each woman and her children told folk stories. Ekwefi and her daughter, Ezinma, sat on a mat on the floor. It was Ekwefi's turn to tell a story" (Achebe 96).

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

The people in the Umuofia tribe use storytelling as a mechanism. In this chapter,

Ekwefi tells Ezinma a story about a greedy, cunning tortoise. She teaches Ezinma stories to give her daughter knowledge and principles to follow throughout her life. Storytelling is a huge part of Igbo culture. These stories were told to educate young children about past events and life lessons. Many of these stories were only acquainted with people in the tribes. Igbo people have many traditions and practices that lay out how they live and better their lives. They strive to form their culture and society into sophistication.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 9-10, Sick Ezinma

"Okonkwo returned from the bush carrying on his left shoulder a large bundle of grasses and leaves, roots and barks of medicinal trees and shrubs. He went into Ekwefi's hut, put down his load and sat down" (Achebe 85).


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?

After Okonkwo is informed that Ezinma is sick and believably dying with iba, a form of fever, Okonkwo goes to the forest to collect a large bulk of herbs, leaves, grass, and roots to cook up her medicine. He uses such plants and herbs as medicine because he believes that the plants are sacred and very powerful. It is very common to find medicine by using plants and herbs in Eastern civilization. In Western tradition, this technique and remedy would be ridiculed and replaced. However in Eastern’s tradition and style of medicine was very practiced and was quite used.

Things Fall Apart, Chapter 7-8, The Oracle

"Yes, Umuofia has decided to kill him. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves has pronounced it. They will take him outside Umuofia as is the custom, and kill him there. But I want you to have nothing to do with it. He calls you his father" (Achebe 57).

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 was taken to surprise when Ogbuefi Ezeudu came to tell him that Umuofia had decided to kill Ikemefuna. According to the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves, they pronounced Umuofia to be killed and sacrificed. Ogbuefi Ezeudu wanted Okonkwo to have nothing to do with the killing of Ikemefuna. Okonkwo did not want to look weak when Ikemefuna begged for help, after he overheard the other men talking about killing him. Instead, Okonkwo finished the task of killing Ikemefuna. Okonkwo grew his love for Ikemefuna, as his son. Ikemefuna deserved Okonkwo’s admiration and honor because he was acting more manly each and every day. Ikemefuna’s masculinity also encouraged and set a positive example to his younger brother, Nwoye. After the death of Ikemefuna, Nwoye avoids Okonkwo at all costs.