Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

About Chinua Achebe Albert Chinualumogu Achebe was born the son of Isaiah Okafo, a Christian churchman, and Janet N. Achebe November 16, 1930 in Ogidi, Nigeria. He married Christie Chinwe Okoli, September 10, 1961, and now has four children: Chinelo, Ikechukwu, Chidi, and Nwando. He attended Government College in Umuahia from 1944 to 1947 and University College in Ibadan from 1948 to 1953. He then received a B.A. from London University in 1953 and studied broadcasting at the British Broadcasting Corp. in London in 1956.

Achebe’s Beliefs Unlike some African writers struggling for acceptance among contemporary English-language novelists, Achebe has been able to avoid imitating the trends in English literature. Rejecting the European notion "that art should be accountable to no one, and [needs] to justify itself to nobody," as he puts it in his book of essays, Morning Yet on Creation Day, Achebe has embraced instead the idea at the heart of the African oral tradition: that "art is, and always was, at the service of man. Our ancestors created their myths and told their stories for a human purpose." For this reason, Achebe believes that "any good story, any good novel, should have a message, should have a purpose."

Okonkwo, the Tragic Hero Okonkwo’s position in the community shows a sense of nobility, authority, influence, or power. Okonkwo has an “error, frailty, mistaken judgment, or misstep through which his fortunes are reversed.” Okonkwo is not perfect and makes this error as a result of hubris or “overweening pride or insolence.” Okonkwo’s punishment is harsh and arouses pity and empathy in the reader.

Okonkwo’s family tree Unoka – Okonkwo’s father (who is dead) Okonkwo’s 1st wife (name not given) Okonkwo’s 2nd wife – Ekwefi Okonkwo’s 3rd wife – Ojiugo Okonkwo’s son – Nwoye Okonkwo’s adopted son – Ikemefuna Okonkwo’s daughters – Ezinma (favorite) Obliageli Nkechi

Settings of Things Fall Apart Umuofia – Okonkwo’s home village Mbanta – village of Okonkwo’s mother Abame – a nearby village Mbaino – a nearby village Evil Forest – cursed area, given to missionaries for new church The Oracle – place where the priestess interprets the warnings or suggestions of the gods.