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Things Fall Apart with Connections
One of Chinua Achebe's many achievements in his acclaimed first novel, Things Fall Apart, is his relentlessly unsentimental rendering of Nigerian tribal life before and after the coming of colonialism. First published in 1958, just two years before Nigeria declared independence from Great Britain, the book eschews the obvious temptation of depicting pre-colonial life as a kind of Eden. Instead, Achebe sketches a world in which violence, war, and suffering exist, but are balanced by a strong sense of tradition, ritual, and social coherence. His Ibo protagonist, Okonkwo, is a self-made man. The son of a charming ne'er-do-well, he has worked all his life to overcome his father's weakness and has arrived, finally, at great prosperity and even greater reputation among his fellows in the village of Umuofia. Okonkwo is a champion wrestler, a prosperous farmer, husband to three wives and father to several children. He is also a man who exhibits flaws well-known in Greek tragedy:
Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children. Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. It was deeper and more intimate than the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw. Okonkwo's fear was greater than these. It was not external but lay deep within himself. It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father.And yet Achebe manages to make this cruel man deeply sympathetic. He is fond of his eldest daughter, and also of Ikemefuna, a young boy sent from another village as compensation for the wrongful death of a young woman from Umuofia. He even begins to feel pride in his eldest son, in whom he has too often seen his own father. Unfortunately, a series of tragic events tests the mettle of this strong man, and it is his fear of weakness that ultimately undoes him.
Achebe does not introduce the theme of colonialism until the last 50 pages or so. By then, Okonkwo has lost everything and been driven into exile. And yet, within the traditions of his culture, he still has hope of redemption. The arrival of missionaries in Umuofia, however, followed by representatives of the colonial government, completely disrupts Ibo culture, and in the chasm between old ways and new, Okonkwo is lost forever. Deceptively simple in its prose, Things Fall Apart packs a powerful punch as Achebe holds up the ruin of one proud man to stand for the destruction of an entire culture. --Alix Wilber
256 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1995
10 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Chinua Achebe
169 books4,167 followersWorks, including the novel
Things Fall Apart
(1958), of Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe describe traditional African life in conflict with colonial rule and westernization.
This poet and critic served as professor at Brown University. People best know and most widely read his first book in modern African literature.
Christian parents in the Igbo town of Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria reared Achebe, who excelled at school and won a scholarship for undergraduate studies. World religions and traditional African cultures fascinated him, who began stories as a university student. After graduation, he worked for the Nigerian broadcasting service and quickly moved to the metropolis of Lagos. He gained worldwide attention in the late 1950s; his later novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe defended the use of English, a "language of colonizers," in African literature. In 1975, controversy focused on his lecture An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" for its criticism of Joseph Conrad as "a bloody racist."
When the region of Biafra broke away from Nigeria in 1967, Achebe, a devoted supporter of independence, served as ambassador for the people of the new nation. The war ravaged the populace, and as starvation and violence took its toll, he appealed to the people of Europe and the Americas for aid. When the Nigerian government retook the region in 1970, he involved in political parties but witnessed the corruption and elitism that duly frustration him, who quickly resigned. He lived in the United States for several years in the 1970s, and after a car accident left him partially disabled, he returned to the United States in 1990.
Novels of Achebe focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values during and after the colonial era. His style relied heavily on the Igbo oral tradition, and combines straightforward narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory. He also published a number of short stories, children's books, and essay collections. He served as the David and Marianna Fisher university professor of Africana studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
ollowing a brief illness, Achebe died.
This poet and critic served as professor at Brown University. People best know and most widely read his first book in modern African literature.
Christian parents in the Igbo town of Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria reared Achebe, who excelled at school and won a scholarship for undergraduate studies. World religions and traditional African cultures fascinated him, who began stories as a university student. After graduation, he worked for the Nigerian broadcasting service and quickly moved to the metropolis of Lagos. He gained worldwide attention in the late 1950s; his later novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe defended the use of English, a "language of colonizers," in African literature. In 1975, controversy focused on his lecture An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" for its criticism of Joseph Conrad as "a bloody racist."
When the region of Biafra broke away from Nigeria in 1967, Achebe, a devoted supporter of independence, served as ambassador for the people of the new nation. The war ravaged the populace, and as starvation and violence took its toll, he appealed to the people of Europe and the Americas for aid. When the Nigerian government retook the region in 1970, he involved in political parties but witnessed the corruption and elitism that duly frustration him, who quickly resigned. He lived in the United States for several years in the 1970s, and after a car accident left him partially disabled, he returned to the United States in 1990.
Novels of Achebe focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values during and after the colonial era. His style relied heavily on the Igbo oral tradition, and combines straightforward narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory. He also published a number of short stories, children's books, and essay collections. He served as the David and Marianna Fisher university professor of Africana studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
ollowing a brief illness, Achebe died.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 12, 2025
will definitely be reading more from this author. i loved the complexity of the main character was, and how gender informed the family dynamics. also, i loved the connections section at the end!! it was so interesting, and all books should have one.
March 2, 2015
Unusual and informative story about life in the lower Niger.
Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. It was deeper and more intimate than the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw. Okonkwo’s fear was greater than these. It was not external but lay deep within himself. It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father. Even as a little boy he had resented his father’s failure and weakness. And so Okonkwo was ruled by one passion - to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of these things was gentleness and another was idleness.
He worshipped them with sacrifices of kola nut, food and palm-wine, and offered prayers to them on behalf of himself, his three wives and eight children.
Ekwefi! a voice called from one of the other huts. It was Nwoye’s mother.
“Is that me?” Ekwefi called back. That was the way people answered calls from outside. They never answered yes for fear it might be an evil spirit calling.
Okonkwo clear his throat and moved his feet to the beat of the drums. It filled him with fire as it had always done from his youth. He trembled with the desire to conquer and subdue. It was like the desire for woman.
Nneka = Mother is Supreme
For whom is it well, for whom is it well?
There is no one for whom it is well.
After the singing the interpreter spoke about the Son of God whose name was Jesu Kristi. ‘You told us with your own mouth that there was only one god. Now you talk about his son. He must have a wife, then.’
‘Your buttocks said he had a son, so he must have a wife and all of them must have butocks.’
Obiageli called her ‘Salt’ because she said that she disliked water: ‘Are you afraid you may dissolve?’
palavers - prolonged and idle discussion
Achebe: I wouldn’t say that for Okonkwo there is no way out. The cards were stacked against him. I mean, his father, Unoka, was not successful, so Okonkwo had this fear in him that he was actually his father’s son and that was what scared him. That is why he was fighting so relentlessly to kill that possibility of his father resurfacing in him.
So he exaggerated everything. He heard the loud sounds: bravery, success, wisdom, strength, but not compassion. He failed to hear the subtle admonition of his culture, which is that it’s wonderful to be brave, but remember also that the coward outlives the brave man.
I simply think that we have a difficult job to do in my country and the reason that the military is behaving the way it’s behaving is that we have not -- we the civilians -- allowed principles to rule our conduct. It’s the opportunism of one group seeking the advantage over the other.
When we learn to deal with this, then the military will go. And we will begin our difficult march because it’s always going to be difficult. This legacy of colonial rule is not something we can just shake off one morning and say now it’s over. There are many things we must unlearn and learn how to be free.
[The artist plays] an essential role because the artist is dealing with the most vital element of the people’s condition, that which is called the human condition. The artist is one who looks at this closely and carefully and without apology and without condescension; he doesn’t put anybody down. He’s not owned by anybody, either. He looks at our condition as it is.
Okonkwo is in a way the story of our culture; he pays a price because he places too much emphasis on strength and manliness. Not enough attention is given to those who are oppressed. Okonkwo stands as a symbol of that price that must be paid.
Ezeulu introduces into my fiction the element of the divine. No matter what arrangements we make, there are time when we are not in control of our lives. Indeed he is self-willed and vindictive, but he is more than that: He is a traditional priest. He conscientiously upholds his traditional beliefs, and if he comes to a ‘stick’ end, it is just the nature of our world and our humanity.
We must be very patient when it comes to legislating anything concerning language.
Chief Seattle
Our dead never forget the beautiful world that gave them being. They still love its winding rivers, its great mountains and its sequestered vaes, and they ever yearn in tenderest affection over the lonely hearted living and often return to visit and comfort them.
tamanawus - may have been miscopied by Smith. It may have been tahmanawis, a ritual or mystery of the Puget Sound Native Americans.
The white man will never be alone. Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not altogether powerless.
--- --- ---
Peace is costly, but it’s worth the expense.
- The Jungle Commission by Jomo Kenyatta
eiderdown - down, or soft feathers, from the breast of the female eider duck. a heavy quilt or comforter, especially one filled with eiderdown
Métier - trade, vocation
Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. It was deeper and more intimate than the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw. Okonkwo’s fear was greater than these. It was not external but lay deep within himself. It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father. Even as a little boy he had resented his father’s failure and weakness. And so Okonkwo was ruled by one passion - to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of these things was gentleness and another was idleness.
He worshipped them with sacrifices of kola nut, food and palm-wine, and offered prayers to them on behalf of himself, his three wives and eight children.
Ekwefi! a voice called from one of the other huts. It was Nwoye’s mother.
“Is that me?” Ekwefi called back. That was the way people answered calls from outside. They never answered yes for fear it might be an evil spirit calling.
Okonkwo clear his throat and moved his feet to the beat of the drums. It filled him with fire as it had always done from his youth. He trembled with the desire to conquer and subdue. It was like the desire for woman.
Nneka = Mother is Supreme
For whom is it well, for whom is it well?
There is no one for whom it is well.
After the singing the interpreter spoke about the Son of God whose name was Jesu Kristi. ‘You told us with your own mouth that there was only one god. Now you talk about his son. He must have a wife, then.’
‘Your buttocks said he had a son, so he must have a wife and all of them must have butocks.’
Obiageli called her ‘Salt’ because she said that she disliked water: ‘Are you afraid you may dissolve?’
palavers - prolonged and idle discussion
Achebe: I wouldn’t say that for Okonkwo there is no way out. The cards were stacked against him. I mean, his father, Unoka, was not successful, so Okonkwo had this fear in him that he was actually his father’s son and that was what scared him. That is why he was fighting so relentlessly to kill that possibility of his father resurfacing in him.
So he exaggerated everything. He heard the loud sounds: bravery, success, wisdom, strength, but not compassion. He failed to hear the subtle admonition of his culture, which is that it’s wonderful to be brave, but remember also that the coward outlives the brave man.
I simply think that we have a difficult job to do in my country and the reason that the military is behaving the way it’s behaving is that we have not -- we the civilians -- allowed principles to rule our conduct. It’s the opportunism of one group seeking the advantage over the other.
When we learn to deal with this, then the military will go. And we will begin our difficult march because it’s always going to be difficult. This legacy of colonial rule is not something we can just shake off one morning and say now it’s over. There are many things we must unlearn and learn how to be free.
[The artist plays] an essential role because the artist is dealing with the most vital element of the people’s condition, that which is called the human condition. The artist is one who looks at this closely and carefully and without apology and without condescension; he doesn’t put anybody down. He’s not owned by anybody, either. He looks at our condition as it is.
Okonkwo is in a way the story of our culture; he pays a price because he places too much emphasis on strength and manliness. Not enough attention is given to those who are oppressed. Okonkwo stands as a symbol of that price that must be paid.
Ezeulu introduces into my fiction the element of the divine. No matter what arrangements we make, there are time when we are not in control of our lives. Indeed he is self-willed and vindictive, but he is more than that: He is a traditional priest. He conscientiously upholds his traditional beliefs, and if he comes to a ‘stick’ end, it is just the nature of our world and our humanity.
We must be very patient when it comes to legislating anything concerning language.
Chief Seattle
Our dead never forget the beautiful world that gave them being. They still love its winding rivers, its great mountains and its sequestered vaes, and they ever yearn in tenderest affection over the lonely hearted living and often return to visit and comfort them.
tamanawus - may have been miscopied by Smith. It may have been tahmanawis, a ritual or mystery of the Puget Sound Native Americans.
The white man will never be alone. Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not altogether powerless.
--- --- ---
Peace is costly, but it’s worth the expense.
- The Jungle Commission by Jomo Kenyatta
eiderdown - down, or soft feathers, from the breast of the female eider duck. a heavy quilt or comforter, especially one filled with eiderdown
Métier - trade, vocation
May 23, 2019
This book defies many of the normal, western conventions of the novel. The plot consists of many snapshots of life of the Ibo people (a fictional version of the Igbo tribe of Nigeria). Connections between the threads of story exist mainly in the atmosphere. The way life proceeds and how the people living in the story situate themselves inside the land, culture and history. The main character is a hard, flawed man. Achebe presents him as he is, not perfect, full of passion, blinded by misogyny. And yet, an integral part of a world that gets cut down due to brutal colonization. The ending represents the violent destruction of the way of life by forces of history outside the individual’s control.
March 7, 2017
It's very well written. Also very dark and different than anything i've ever read. Interesting but not addicting. i would recommend if you're looking to spice up your reading selection.
January 13, 2023
It is refreshing to read a fictional story that provides a strong base in traditional life of Nigeria before moving into the interaction and impact of whites on the people and culture. It is unfortunate the theme of weakness is described as being like a woman. It is distracting for a modern reader and uncertain if this descriptor is that of traditional Nigerian culture or the product of China Achebe's place in modern culture.
February 9, 2023
I really hated Okonkwo's character the entire book but I still the book ended because HE HUNG HIMSELF WHAT?!?! Ofc my favorite character died in chapter seven and was betrayed by his father figure #daddyissues for real. But even though this book took me on an emotional rollercoaster I still loved it and I do believe that it is a classic everyone should read at least once even if it's not ones own set genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2022
This book was good, but I personally never really got super into it. I didn't really connect with any of the characters at all, and at the beginning it felt like things were scattered around a bit.
January 21, 2024
things fell apart 👎👎
March 25, 2025
Bellissimo
February 16, 2024
i don’t care bro so mid
August 19, 2013
Dissatisfied with Western novels about Africa, Chinua Achebe sought to present Africa as an African. I found the immersion into the tribal culture of his protagonist, Okonkwo, totally absorbing.
Fully the first three-quarters of the book essentially depict the day-to-day events of village life. Through them, Okonkwo enjoys his successes and suffers his tragedies, and through them all proves to be a proud man unyielding in his values.
It's not until the later chapters that the white man appears bringing his customs and religion and conflict is heightened. That opening 3/4 of the book is critical, however, for the reader to know what is at stake in the confrontation.
I found Achebe to be remarkably fair in his depiction of the Westerners. He seems to have no argument with the content of the new religion (Christianity) and principles of government (English law) that are introduced, but rather with the ham-handed--and sometimes violent--manner in which they were imposed. Those of Okonkwo's village themselves show an amazing tolerance for the belief-systems of the newcomers, possessing a pretty libertarian attitude: "We say he is foolish because he does not know our ways, and perhaps he says we are foolish because we do not know his."
But as we know from the history of Africa, things do not end well. For all that the Okonkwo's people had and were, things fall apart.
And after we see it happen in Achebe's telling, his final paragraph becomes an absolute gut-wrencher.
Fully the first three-quarters of the book essentially depict the day-to-day events of village life. Through them, Okonkwo enjoys his successes and suffers his tragedies, and through them all proves to be a proud man unyielding in his values.
It's not until the later chapters that the white man appears bringing his customs and religion and conflict is heightened. That opening 3/4 of the book is critical, however, for the reader to know what is at stake in the confrontation.
I found Achebe to be remarkably fair in his depiction of the Westerners. He seems to have no argument with the content of the new religion (Christianity) and principles of government (English law) that are introduced, but rather with the ham-handed--and sometimes violent--manner in which they were imposed. Those of Okonkwo's village themselves show an amazing tolerance for the belief-systems of the newcomers, possessing a pretty libertarian attitude: "We say he is foolish because he does not know our ways, and perhaps he says we are foolish because we do not know his."
But as we know from the history of Africa, things do not end well. For all that the Okonkwo's people had and were, things fall apart.
And after we see it happen in Achebe's telling, his final paragraph becomes an absolute gut-wrencher.
September 19, 2023
I am writing this review over three years after reading the book, so I will be speaking in regards to what I remember about the book and what its impression has been on me.
I struggled a lot reading Things Fall Apart primarily because of the culture barrier. I simply could not grasp an understanding of the culture written about it the book, and this is presumably why I disliked the book as much as I did. Everything from the character names, important plot points, and symbolism fell short on my comprehension because they were so foreign to me. I remember having to SparkNotes every chapter when I was done reading because I couldn't understand what was going on.
I read this book in high school and would certainly consider revisiting it now that I am older to see if I can make anything of it a second time around. This book might require some additional research to be done before/during reading to get some background knowledge that will help readers grasp everything going on.
I struggled a lot reading Things Fall Apart primarily because of the culture barrier. I simply could not grasp an understanding of the culture written about it the book, and this is presumably why I disliked the book as much as I did. Everything from the character names, important plot points, and symbolism fell short on my comprehension because they were so foreign to me. I remember having to SparkNotes every chapter when I was done reading because I couldn't understand what was going on.
I read this book in high school and would certainly consider revisiting it now that I am older to see if I can make anything of it a second time around. This book might require some additional research to be done before/during reading to get some background knowledge that will help readers grasp everything going on.
March 13, 2015
So I had to read this book for school, and I had other choices, but the trailer seemed the most interesting. Firstly, I would like to say that this isn't an anyone can read it type of book. There is lots of culture type shit, so if you're one of those people who get butt hurt about Christians and extreme prejudice, this book is not for you. The is mainly about this guy who came from nothing and is now the leader of his tribe/town. Europeans show up and everything just starts going bad. I do not recommend this book to anyone. It's not 'that' book. This book is a book that only teachers love. I like the book, glad I read it, but there isn't going to be a movie that I'm going to be getting excited about, so I mean.
September 12, 2015
I don't know...I think I must have missed something, because I was so excited to read this book & it just didn't speak to me. It was historical and I appreciated the sense that I was reading something fundamentally different, but there was no part of it that was either compelling or good storytelling to me. I didn't care for the writing style or the structure. I did like the fact that Okonkwo let us into his head occasionally and that there were many parts of the book that seemed to be repetitive on purpose, but I didn't think it was well done. I'll need to research to see if I missed something crucial, but this one didn't do it for me.
November 16, 2012
I read this book for my English class and I didn't think it was bad at all. It wasn't hard to get into reading and there were many morals and prverbs that I liked. At the same time it wasn't a catchy book, or a book you couldn't put down. It was very informational about the British colonialization, but not in the sense that it felt like a textbook, which was nice. I have to give this a 3 star rating because I wasn't in love with this book and it felt like everything went too fast. It's a good read, but not great.
April 10, 2018
Honestly, books like these (ones about missionaries and imperialists) don't interest me. I typically know how they end and they're also typically from the missionaries' point of view. I like this book because its a little different in that its told by a villager. I think this book is beautiful and helps portray the effects of imperialism on an isolated community and the different societal norms between villages.
April 10, 2018
I enjoyed the book to an extent but I felt as if it was too much. The author brings up someone in or outside of the tribe to explain something like an event, feeling, or action and I just felt like it was too much. Also I did not enjoy the ending. I thought Okonkwo would take it to the Christians and die fighting so I felt really disappointed that he just hanged himself and the book ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2007
this is death of a salesman african style. To me the father-daughter story is the most touching because she's his favorite yet he must negotiate that with his strong feelings that girls are worthless. ah she is strong; she would have made a fine son
December 15, 2013
Something I would've hated in high school/pre2001 but absolutely loved now that I'm appreciative of other cultures. Notice how all three parts are written differently in terms of style. Another perspective on colonialism! Heartbreaking!
December 9, 2013
Achebe takes the reader to Nigeria where, like the white men in the novel, the reader must search for understanding of the people, the land, and the culture. Things deserves to be read multiple times.
April 27, 2012
"'A bowl of pounded yams can throw him in a wrestling match'" (57).
November 29, 2014
Not Bad.
December 25, 2017
Great depth for what seems at first to be a primitive story.
December 25, 2017
Great depth of character & cultural wisdom. I looked forward to each time I could pick it up again.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews