Juan Oliva

Ms. O’Keefe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5kmY_2M_DI&rel=0

A.P English Literature

An analysis of power and how it leads to self destruction.

Things Fall Apart​ was written by Chinua Achebe in 1958. Achebe was born in Southern

Nigeria and although both of his parents practiced the Christian faith, he still loved and

adored studying his indigenous culture. This allowed him to be very proud of said

culture. This led him to write ​Things Fall Apart​ which is about one of the best wrestlers

in a clan, Okonkwo, and his struggles throughout life. Okonkwo’s worst fear is that of

being weak or not being powerful. This fear originates from his father, who essentially

was a disgrace to the clan as he had no title. Throughout the novel, it can be seen how

Okonkwo’s only motivation is to be as different from his father, as humanly possible.

The theme that will be explored in this video is the idea that the hunt or obsession for

power, will just lead to self-destruction.

In the near beginning of the novel, Okonkwo was tasked with taking care of a child who

was given to the clan as a sacrifice. This child, Ikemefuna, lives with Okonkwo and his

family for about 3 years. After those 3 years of Okonkwo and Ikemefuna developing a

bond, Okonkwo is told that it is time for Ikemefuna to be sacrificed. Okonkwo was also

told to not take part of in the murder of her “adoptive” son, because “the boy calls you

father”. He ignores this advice and proceeds to be the one who deals the final blow
needed to end Ikemefuna’s life. Okonkwo believed that if he didn’t participate in the

sacrifice, that he would be considered weak, or lacking the masculinity to do what is

necessary. This incident is what truly begins Okonkwo’s path to self destruction. It also is

the first time that the reader truly sees how ruthless Okonkwo is. To murder one’s

adoptive son to merely impress and maintain social status, one must not care about any of

the bond that was created. This incident was the lighting of the match that is the downfall

of Okonkwo. Okonkwo’s thirst to prove himself powerful led him to commit a horrible

act. This act led to several psychological ailments, the text states “Okonkwo did not taste

any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna. He drank palm-wine from morning

till night, and his eyes were red and fierce like the eyes of a rat when it was caught by the

tail and dashed against the door… He did not sleep at night. He tried not to think about

Ikemefuna, but the more he tried the more he thought about him” (Achebe 63). This

excerpt only shows part of the effects that Okonkwo’s actions had on himself. Because

Okonkwo didn’t want to seem weak, and lose power in his clan, he killed his adoptive

son. This action obviously affected him psychologically as he could not eat, taste, or even

function normally for quite some while. And this was only the beginning of his problems.

After this incident, Okonkwo is banished for accidentally killing the son of the

former clan leader at his funeral. The exile lasts 7 years, and when he returns he is

greeted back in his home by several missionaries who are trying to convert the village

into Christians. He is met by Mr.Brown, a kind and well-liked missionary, who has done

a lot for the village including building a hospital and a school. He unfortunately does not

last long, as he gets sick and gets replaced with Reverend Smith. Reverend Smith is much
less compassionate than Mr.Brown. When the village burns down the church in

retaliation for one of the missionaries disrespecting one of the ceremonies, the leaders of

the village including Okonkwo are tied up, beaten and not let out until the village paid a

fine. Just by knowing how Okonkwo is, it can be inferred that he was not going to like

that since it would be like taking away his power. Okonkwo states “ We should have

killed the white man if you had listened to me” (Achebe 195). This clearly shows how

Okonkwo, while being mad that he was being punished by a group of people who aren’t

supposed to have power in the village. Okonkwo harvested this anger, and ultimately

released it at the next village meeting, where he killed a missionary. The text reads “ The

spell was broken by the head messenger. ‘Let me pass!’ He ordered. ‘What do you want

here?’ ‘The white man whose power you know too well has ordered this meeting to stop.’

In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete. The messenger crouched to avoid the blow. It was

useless. Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his

uniformed body” (Achebe 204). Okonkwo’s unhealthy hunger to be the one in power, has

again caused him to make a questionable decision. It almost seems like this need to be

powerful, blinds Okonkwo and takes over his body to the point where he has no control

over what he does. This second incident directly leads to the culmination of Okonkwo’s

power hungry path.

Once Okonkwo realizes that none of his village members will go to war with him,

he knows that he will die while trying to fight the other missionaries and messengers.

Okonkwo knows that dying at the hands of the missionaries whom he now despises,

would be similar to dying with no honor. Okonkwo, in order to die with all of the power
that he had in his clan, decides to kill himself. Achebe wrote “... they skirted round the

compound, keeping close to the wall. The only sound they made was with their feet as

they crushed dry leaves. Then they came to the tree from which Okonkwo’s body was

dangling, and they stopped dead” (207). Okonkwo was so blinded that he believed

suicide, would be better than to be taken by the missionaries and lose his power/image in

his tribe. To be fair, it seems like it worked, “ Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at

his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said

ferociously: ‘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…” (Achebe 208).

In the end, Okonkwo was blinded by his thirst and he could not control his

actions. His actions led him to commit murders and immoral actions that ultimately

ended with his demise. The theme of being power hungry will lead to self-destruction is

really exemplified with Okonkwo’s story as it truly did end with Okonkwo destroying

himself.