Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe - 1557 Words

Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart, once said: â€Å"A man who makes trouble for others is also making troubles for himself†. This concept can be seen in the development of Okonkwo as a character throughout the book. Creating plenty of trouble for others, but ultimately creating the most trouble for himself is possibly the plot for the entire book. Generally, the creation of trouble is not a value that is appreciated in any culture, especially in Umuofia. Okonkwo breaks many of the boundaries and social norms within his culture; his tendency to be immature and unaccountable combined with being very self-concerned and the defiance of elders creates an interesting mix adjacent to the cultural standards. Okonkwo rarely takes ownership for†¦show more content†¦After a village elder had found what crime Okonkwo committed, he told Okonkwo that, â€Å"you are not a stranger in Umuofia. You know as well as I that our forefathers ordained that before we plant any crops in the earth, we should observe a week of peace in which a man does not say a harsh word to his neighbor† (30). The elder proceeded to give Okonkwo instructions on how to attempt amends with the goddess. After a single action was taken, his proceeding efforts were nearly non-existent. Any attempt to fix the situation were minimal, as were efforts to learn from his mistakes. Furthermore, Okonkwo advances to partaking in the death of Ikemefuna. The relationship between the two is complicated, but is closest description is that of a boy and his step-father. Killing Ikemefuna is not an evil against the earth, as beating a wife during the week of peace was, but a crime against himself. He is unhappy with himself, and still does nothing to fix his ways, continuing on to single handedly killing a boy at a funeral. Although accidental, Okonkwo was still the man behind the gun. â€Å"It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land†¦.he could return to the clan after seven years† (124). Okonkwo had no choice but to leave for the seven years, perhaps upon his return