‘Things Fall Apart’ 2
LAST WEEK we met Okwonko, the chief character in this novel Things Fall Apart. This week, we have been transported back in time to Iguedo, Okonkwo’s village in the mid1800s. We have never been to Africa before, so we are both excited and nervous because we have been told that the people, the natives, are wild, uncivilized and savage. I wonder if something like what follows now is what would happen.
It is morning. Look around. What do you see? Men with tools striding away. Do you think that they are off to war? No, the tools seem to be what could be used for farming or fishing. Ah, and there appears to be more going to plow and weed than to fish. Huh! The natives are wearing clothes and briskly going about their business. We are observed but ignored, perhaps because we are dressed like the men we see and have similar physical appearance. To what are you listening? A conversation among a group of farmers, let’s call them farmers, about a wrestling match that occurred on the previous evening. You hear that it was a good one between men from another of the nine villages of Umuofia, but not as good as the one in which Okonkwo threw Amalinze ‘the Cat’. You decide that you must find someone to tell you more about this later.
Here comes a big man, tall and powerfully built. What a remarkable nose! Wow! Look how much he is carrying along with his tools. He must be going to plant those seed yams. Let us see what we can find out about this village from him. Esmond: Hello sir. How are you? May we help you with your load? Man: No! (said in almost a growl) Stephen: Sir, can you tell us something about your village, please? Man: Nwoye, Nwoye! NWOYE! Come along! You are moving like a weakling.
Behind the man is a youngster struggling under his own heavy weight of seed yams, followed by another young person. You are approaching him when an older man not only volunteers to give you whatever information you want, but also lets you know that we would get Nwoye, the boy’s name, in trouble with his father, Okonkwo, if he stops to talk to you. This, you readily accept as the fierce-looking and sounding man has made you somewhat nervous. After you have shared introductions, you follow the man to his home. He takes you inside his rather small hut where you meet his wife. It is clear that this is a poor family and we wonder if your host does not work. You are shocked to hear him tell his wife that their son, Okonkwo, is treating his 12-year-old son, who is going to the field with him, as harshly as usual. From questioning Unoka, you find out that Okonkwo is a rich man who has no time and no respect for his father. After a little while, Unoka, our host’s name, reaches for his flute and expertly entertains us with some lovely music.
You leave the hut and notice a compound nearby with small children at play. Approaching the gate, you call to them. A woman comes out of one of the three huts and speaks quietly to the children. They scamper away and she walks toward you. Another woman leaves her hut and moves forward as well. After you exchange greetings, you are invited to enter the compound and taken into one of the huts. Before you enter, though, you see another compound in the distance, a larger one, it seems. From the two women you learn much. The name Okonkwo surfaces again and this time you hear that the large compound is his, the reason for his attitude to his father, the way he treats his son, and even that he has three wives and eight children.
Tell me, now: can you describe Okonkwo’s yard (compound)? How many huts would you find there? I want to hear something about the village; the plants and animals, the places of worship and entertainment. This is a peaceful and orderly community despite our protagonist’s violent inclinations. What reason(s) can you give for this? Explain Okonkwo’s conduct. What is it that drives him to beat his wife during the week of peace?
Remember that he inherited nothing from his father and has had to climb his way up the ladder of success through determination and hard work. Hard work usually brings its own rewards. God bless!