ThingsFallApart

Chapter 7.


1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).

The tribe; the men should not and should never be seen as weak. Ikemefuna was tricked into thinking that he was going to be returned home, while he was actually going to get killed. The decision was made by Umuofia and Okonkwo was told not to get involved, as his relationship with Ikemefuna was close, ‘That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death’ (p. 50). However as the tribe sees killing people meaning strong- and weak is seen when you cant kill someone for a reason, Ikemefuna was finally killed by Okonkwo. ‘Okonkwo drew his matchet and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak’. (p. 54)

2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot).
Okonkwo: he cannot be seen weak, and never should be. He has a self pride and his strong leadership leads the tribe. He kills Ikemefuna without showing his true weakness, even though after he does, he really didn’t want to kill his own ‘half’ son who he has been looking after for 3 years and even Okonkwo’s eldest son, Nwoye looks up to Ikemefuna.
Nwoye: Okonkwo’s oldest son, he is starting to leave and move on from being a mum’s boy and become very tough and strong. He has a good relationship with Ikemefuna, but hears and understands that he will be killed by his dad.
Ikemefuna: He lived with Okonkwo for 3 yrs. He saw Okonkwo as his dad, ‘He could hardly imagine that Okonkwo was not his real father’ (p. 52). He thought he was going to go home, and see his family and where he belongs, but he somehow knew what wouldn’t be right.

3. How does the author position you to view men?
Men are tough, should be strong and be able to support and lead the family and the tribe. Nwoye was slowly beginning to become a man, talking about women, and becoming a strong man, ‘Nwoye knew that his father wanted him to be a man’ (p. 41). Men were never seen as weak, if they were, it was a big deal to be seen as opposite of weak.

4. How does the author position you to view women?
Women had no opinion and were silenced for any violence that happened around the tribe. They were not told of the decision of the killing of Ikemefuna in this chapter, the men was in charge of it all, and it seemed like women was only there to feed the man and children.





Chapter 19.

1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
When a leader is leaving a place, they have a big feast to thank everyone and appreciate the gratefulness of the people. As Okonkwo says, ‘I must thank my mother’s kinsmen before I go’ (p.144).
Also he says, ‘My mother’s people have been good to me and I must how my gratitude’ (p. 145).
The oldest members of the umunna rose to thank Okonkwo:, ‘Thank you…a man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. ….An abominable religion has settles among you.’ (p.147)
The umunna tribe warns Okonkwo and his family for the Europeans. The tribes support and thank each other for any ceremonies.

2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot)
Okonkwo: He shows a great appreciation to the kinsmen and the umunna members in Mbanta. He thanks them with a great feast, which they did not expect, ‘We all know him, and we expected a big feast. But it turned out to be even bigger than we expected.’ (p.147)

3. How does the author position you to view men?
The men lead any tribes and are always supporting one another. They are in charge of the meat in feasts and give thankful and warning messages to each other.

4. How does the author position you to view women?
The women were there in this chapter to collect and harvest some food. They cooked most of the food except meat for the feast. They didn’t have many opinions and were silenced for decisions made, for example, what kind of food should there be at the feast…

5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).
When the oldest members of the umunna warned Okonkwo about the Europeans, it was said that they were, ‘An abominable religion has settled among you… I fear for you; I fear for the clan’ (p. 147). Europeans are said to be an abominable in another words, horrible and dreadful religion/people has come to the Ibo tribe. It then gives an awful view and image of the Europeans.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CHAPTERS 7 and 19 with 25.

The chapters 7 and 19 provoke a strong sense of men's leadership and their strong influence on younger males. 'That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog...' (p. 183)

Every single day, Okonkwo was looked up upon, however in chapter 25 when the commissioner says; 'The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. One could almost write a whole chapter on him.' (p.183) states that, even though the whole book was about him and his tribe, he is silencing Okonkwo's life.
Colonial discourse is shown with the relation of "superior" Europeans in chapter 25 compared to the "inferior" Ibo tribe. This is clearly seen by the way the colonialists talking to the Ibo people, 'Shut up!' shouted one of the messengers, quite unnecessarily." (p. 183).
This discourse is used to set up a binary opposition of the 'civilised' Europeans and 'primitive' Ibo people, with their