Lecture Notes: Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart - Chapter 14

Key Characters

• Okonkwo: The protagonist, exiled from his clan.
• Uchendu: Okonkwo's maternal uncle and family patriarch.

Plot Summary

• Setting: Okonkwo is exiled to Mbanta, his motherland.
• Support: Uchendu and his family provide Okonkwo with land, help build a compound, and provide seeds for farming.
• Okonkwo’s State: Despite his willingness to work hard, Okonkwo lacks his previous enthusiasm.
• Objective Lost: Okonkwo's aspiration to become a lord of his clan now seems unattainable.

Key Themes and Messages

• Suffering and Resilience: Uchendu speaks to Okonkwo about suffering, sharing his own experiences of burying five wives and 22 children.
• Acceptance of Exile: Uchendu advises Okonkwo to accept his exile and make the best of it.
• Shift in Character: Okonkwo transitions from a man of action and heroism to one of depression and disillusionment.
• Chi (Personal God): Okonkwo loses faith in his destiny for greatness, a belief that had previously driven him.
• Motherland's Support: Uchendu's character symbolizes the guiding support of Okonkwo's maternal roots.

Critical Questions

• What changes and sufferings will the novel bring next?
• How will Okonkwo's character evolve in response to these challenges?