Symbolism in “Things Fall Apart” is one of the most discussed topics. If you want to learn more about themes and symbols in this novel, you’re in the right place.
The novel Things Fall Apart takes a central role in the system of contemporary literature in Africa. The author refutes a widespread stereotype claiming that before colonization, Africa did not have a culture. It represents political and social background in a detailed realistic method. The foundations of African oral tradition, which include proverbs, tales, and symbols are frequently used in this novel.
Thus novel uses vast literature styles, such as symbolism and motifs, to illustrate the principles of African cultural erosion as a result of embracing western culture.
By using symbols, the author shows how the African culture was shattered by the European style of life when Christianity was adopted in the African society. In this book, numerous symbols are used, as discussed below.
Throughout the whole story, Okonkwo’s life was dominated by “the fear of failure and of weakness” (Achebe, 13). He tried so hard to become better than his father and raise his standings in the village.
Spending his whole life doing this, Okonkwo could not let change occur because change meant things would no longer be the same, and all his respect he gained in his village would go to waste.
So when the white men came and started disrupting the order, this affected him greatly. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo fights to preserve order and justice for him and his clan, but ultimately fails due to his own lack of understanding of what justice truly is.
Through his violent actions and constant self-doubt, Okonkwo demonstrated he had a misunderstanding about what tribal justice really is.
‘Does the white man understand our custom about land? How can he when he does not even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad…”
Through these words spoken by Okonkwo, he displayed his own hypocrisy of tribal justice. It was Okonkwo who beat his wife during the ceremonial week of peace, and yet he blames the white men for disrespecting their customs.
He again shows this when he commits suicide, defying the law set by his tribe, ‘It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offence against the Earth, and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen. His body is evil…” (Achebe, 208)
Fully knowing his people was falling to the white men, he felt his only option was was to leave looking like a coward rather than weak.
Throughout the novel, the situation often determined what was just or injust. But again, Okonkwo’s failure to change his sense of justice to the situation led to his failure.
“Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak.” (Achebe, 61) He believed that because he had his high standing in the village, it was just for him to kill Ikemefuna and would be rewarded for sacrificing his own sense of justice because the clan came before the individual.
Another example of Okonkwo’s inability to change his sense of justice was during the week of peace. “His first two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with him that it was the sacred week.
But Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating somebody half-way through, not even for fear of a goddess.” (Achebe, 29) His anger clouded his sense of justice when it came to women. He believed that beating his wives would show is dominance to his family and women.
In his eyes, he was doing what was right to maintain order, but the tribe did not deem it a necessary act to defile the gods and goddesses during their week of of prosperity.
Okonkwo’s final failure to his village and justice is caused by his pride and harsh temper pushing people away. He could not empathize with others and it drove people away to the more welcoming atmosphere of the white man’s’ church, like his son Nwoye. Nwoye despised everything about his father.
Especially the constant beatings and disappointment, but after finding out Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna, something gave way inside him. When the white men came and brought their European Christianity, he converted. “Nwoye did not fully understand. But he was happy to leave his father.” (Achebe, 152)
The last straw for Okonkwo was when the District Commissioner, Albeit, declared there is change in the justice system for Umuofia, “We have brought a peaceful administration to you and your people… where we… administer justice… under a great queen.” (Achebe, 194) According to him, civilization under the british queen has arrived and is going to change their way of life.
Yam is a crop that is commonly grown by men. Raising of this crop requires intensive labor, and the work ethics of a man can be measured by the portion of the field and harvest obtained. In the African setup, the sole objective of growing yams is to acquire wealth and feed the family.
They symbolize a man’s ability to provide. In this novel, a man who had bulk yams was portrayed as not a failure like Unoka-he had a large barn full of yams (Chinua, 1958, p. 4).
Nwakibie refuses to give the young men yams citing that they would dump them on earth rather than taking care of them as a man would do for his family to flourish. Yams are very precious and would only belong to hardworking individuals.
Okonkwo is compared to fire by other characters and the narrator; he is branded “Roaming Flame in the town” (Chinua, 1958, p. 122). According to him, fire is a symbol of strength.
While seated in his hut after a quarrel with his son Nwoye, Okonkwo stared on a log fire and felt a strong feeling to rise, take up a machete and clear the Christians who Nwoye was associating with. Whenever Okonkwo would gaze at flame, a wild feeling of strength would fill his body.
The Mother of the spirits can be viewed as personification by the clan of Umofia and the Mother of Egwugwu. At this juncture, the style of life of Umuofia is deeply disregarded, and the damage committed is irreparable. The Mother of spirits mourns her son’s death loudly after the unmasking night.
It is imperative that the Mother of spirits does not revenge her son’s death but rather mourns and weeps. People of Umuofia would not avenge for crimes committed against them.
The death of the main hero, Okonkwo, is a heroic death that is analogous to a warrior who is attached to his people. This symbolizes the catastrophic demise that great people face. This is because committing suicide is regarded abomination contrary to the earth and thus should not be buried by clansmen.
But in the right of African style, Okonokwo’s death could not be considered as a heroic death; rather, it can only be seen as a shameful death. Unable to deal with his failure, he acts in the way that leads to his death, and he is the one who should be blamed for this.
The irritating final words Obierika cast to the District Commissioner hold certain ambiguity within Igbos point of view, in memory of heroism and shameful act of killing himself (Okonkwo). From the novel, he was portrayed as the greatest man in Umuofia and was forced to commit suicide and buried in a disrespectful manner.
This also displays how justice is in the eye of the beholder. Albeit believed that justice could only be served under the British rule, while the Igbo people believed their own system as just. It was Okonkwo’s humiliation from the white men and clan’s lack of action that determined the only way to refuse the reform of the foreigners, is to end his life.
