Things Fall Apart (deeper meaning intentions) Flashcards
1: To show what life was like in pre-colonial Nigeria
events:
The Feast of the New Yam – A traditional Igbo festival celebrating the harvest, showcasing communal life, feasting, and customs.
The Week of Peace – A sacred week where violence is forbidden, illustrating the Igbo value of harmony.
characters:
Okonkwo – A strong warrior and leader who embodies Igbo masculinity and tradition.
Unoka – Okonkwo’s father, representing a different side of Igbo society, one that values music and leisure over success.
Obierika – Okonkwo’s close friend, who offers a more thoughtful and reflective perspective on Igbo customs.
scenes:
Okonkwo’s Farm and Hard Work – Depicting the importance of agriculture in Igbo society.
Sacrifice of Ikemefuna – A tragic moment that highlights the role of tradition and fate in Igbo life.
The Role of Egwugwu (Masked Spirits) – Demonstrating Igbo religious and judicial practices.
Storytelling and Proverbs – Conversations between characters filled with Igbo wisdom and oral tradition.
2: To celebrate, respect or explore traditional Igbo customs and beliefs
events:
Naming Ceremonies for Children – A ritual that highlights the significance of names and ancestral connections.
The Role of the Egwugwu (Ancestral Spirits) – A sacred ritual where masked elders serve as the spiritual and judicial authority.
characters:
Chielo (Priestess of Agbala) – Represents Igbo spirituality and the respect for oracles.
Ezeudu (The Oldest Man in the Village) – A wise elder who upholds tradition and warns Okonkwo about the fate of Ikemefuna.
scenes:
Chielo Taking Ezinma to the Oracle – A powerful scene that demonstrates deep spiritual customs and Igbo reverence for the gods.
The Egwugwu Tribunal – A dramatic scene showing how disputes are settled through traditional justice.
Ikemefuna’s Stay and Influence – Highlights the Igbo value of kinship and fostering children from different villages.
3: To show the weakness of pre-colonial Igbo society
events:
The Killing of Ikemefuna – Highlights the rigid adherence to tradition, even when it leads to personal and moral conflict.
Okonkwo’s Exile – Illustrates the harsh consequences of Igbo customs, even for an accomplished man like Okonkwo.
characters:
Unoka – Okonkwo’s father, whose failure to succeed exposes the flaws of a society that values only strength.
Nwoye – Okonkwo’s son, who rejects Igbo traditions, showing how strict customs can alienate individuals.
scenes:
Okonkwo’s Participation in Ikemefuna’s Death – Demonstrates the rigidity of tradition and its emotional consequences.
The Missionaries Converting the Outcasts and Women – Highlights the vulnerability of Igbo society due to its strict hierarchies.
4: To redress the balance of historical accounts of colonisation
events:
he Arrival of the Christian Missionaries – Shows how colonial influence began through religion rather than direct force, subtly undermining Igbo traditions.
The Conversion of the Osu (Outcasts) and Nwoye – Highlights how colonialism exploited social divisions to weaken indigenous societies.
The Destruction of the Egwugwu House – A direct attack on Igbo spirituality and governance, symbolizing the erasure of indigenous authority.
characters:
The District Commissioner – A European official who dehumanizes the Igbo people, showing how colonizers reduced complex societies to mere anthropological studies.
Mr. Brown vs. Reverend Smith – Contrasts the different approaches of missionaries: Brown’s more understanding approach vs. Smith’s aggressive imposition of Western superiority.
scenes:
Village Life Before Colonialism – Achebe vividly describes Igbo traditions, justice systems, and spirituality to show a rich, functioning society before European intervention.
Mr. Brown’s Diplomatic Approach – Initially presents a more tolerant view of Christianity, but still represents the slow erosion of Igbo traditions.
Reverend Smith’s Extremism – A stark example of how colonialism often led to cultural destruction through religious fanaticism.
5: To criticise colonisation
events:
The Arrival of the Christian Missionaries – Introduces European influence under the guise of religion, subtly undermining Igbo traditions.
The Conversion of the Osu (Outcasts) and Nwoye – Shows how colonization exploited divisions within Igbo society, weakening its unity.
characters:
Obierika – A thoughtful character who recognizes the injustice of colonial rule and critiques the passivity of his own people.
Mr. Brown vs. Reverend Smith – While Mr. Brown takes a diplomatic approach, Reverend Smith’s aggressive methods show the true oppressive nature of colonial rule.
scenes:
Mr. Brown and Akunna’s Debate on Religion – Akunna logically defends Igbo spirituality, exposing the European belief in religious superiority.
The Conflict Between the Egwugwu and the Church – Shows how colonialism directly attacked indigenous religion and governance.
6: To criticise the ideas behind colonialism
events:
The Conversion of Nwoye and the Osu (Outcasts) – Demonstrates how colonialism exploits divisions within indigenous societies to break them apart.
The Establishment of a Foreign Legal System – The British impose their own laws without understanding or respecting Igbo customs, criminalizing traditional practices.
characters:
Okonkwo – Represents the struggle against colonial rule and the refusal to submit to foreign domination.
Obierika – A more reflective critic of colonialism who sees how the Igbo way of life is being dismantled.
scenes:
The Reaction to the Church’s Growth – Igbo people initially allow the missionaries to stay, demonstrating their tolerance—contrasted with the Europeans’ lack of respect for Igbo traditions.
The Trial and Mistreatment of the Elders – Shows how colonial justice is neither fair nor impartial, but rather a tool of oppression.
7: To emphasise the tragedy and tragic effects of colonisation
events:
The Arrival of the Missionaries – Marks the beginning of cultural disruption, as they introduce a new religion that challenges Igbo traditions.
The Conversion of Nwoye – Symbolizes the generational divide created by colonial influence, leading to family and cultural fragmentation.
characters:
Okonkwo – A symbol of resistance whose downfall reflects the destruction of Igbo society under colonial rule.
Nwoye – Represents the internal conflict and loss of identity caused by colonial influence, as he abandons his culture.
scenes:
Akunna and Mr. Brown’s Religious Debate – Akunna logically explains Igbo beliefs, but Mr. Brown remains convinced of the superiority of Christianity, showing the dismissiveness of colonial ideology.
Nwoye’s Rejection of His Igbo Identity – When he leaves his father and embraces Christianity, it creates an emotional and cultural rift that can never be repaired.
8: To show the tragic effects of religious intolerance
events:
The Killing of the Sacred Python – A convert reportedly kills the python, a revered symbol of Igbo religion, intensifying hostilities between the Christians and traditionalists.
The Destruction of the Church by the Egwugwu – In retaliation for the disrespect toward Igbo customs, the masked elders burn down the church, escalating the conflict.
characters:
The Egwugwu (Masked Elders) – Symbols of Igbo spiritual authority who ultimately lose their power as Christianity takes over.
The District Commissioner – Represents the colonial government that enforces religious change through oppression and punishment.
scenes:
Nwoye’s Internal Struggle and Conversion – Torn between his father’s expectations and his personal doubts about Igbo traditions, Nwoye finds solace in Christianity but loses his family in the process.
The First Igbo Converts Mock Their Own Culture – Early Christian converts laugh at and insult their traditional beliefs, deepening divisions within the community.
9: To show the personal consequences of political / national conflict
