"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.
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