Things Fall Apart - Part 1, Chapter 1

Setting

• Time: Late 1890s
• Place: Fictional village of Umuofia, Nigeria

Main Character

• Name: Okonkwo
• Ethnic Group: Igbo tribe
• Background:
  • Became famous as a teenager for defeating a wrestling champion
  • Known for being as slippery as a fish in the wrestling ring
  • Over 20 years, achieved fame as a successful farmer, war hero, and holder of civic titles
  • Status in the clan is very high; he is considered one of the greatest men
  • Has three wives
  • Walks with a jaunty step, suggesting confidence

Okonkwo's Father

• Name: Unaka
• Talents:
  • Gifted flute player
  • Lover of wine
  • Talented conversationalist and storyteller, known for using proverbs
• Failures:
  • Lazy, unable to provide for his family
  • Deeply in debt, with no intention of repaying
  • His failures and indebtedness deeply shamed Okonkwo

Themes Introduced

• Igbo Culture:
  • Pre-Christianity and pre-colonialism setting
  • Values conversation and proverbs
• Masculine Identity:
  • Okonkwo rejects his father's model of living and strives to be the opposite: strong, successful, and masculine
  • Okonkwo's fear of being seen as weak or feminine shapes his behavior and expectations of manhood
  • Quick to anger and violence, especially towards unsuccessful men who remind him of his father
  • Despite Unaka being dead for 10 years, his influence on Okonkwo remains strong

Key Points

• Okonkwo's achievements and reputation are central to his identity
• His father's failures have a profound impact on Okonkwo's perception of success and masculinity
• The novel opens by immersing the reader in Igbo culture and the personal struggles of its protagonist