Government is shown around the world in many different ways. There is a countless amount of justice systems around the world. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, it talks about the Igbo culture. Achebe demonstrates the culture and all the rules by using a character named Okonkwo. Okonkwo learns from his father's mistakes in the past but when he is older he doesn’t always make the best decisions. Throughout the novel it shows him and all the things he does and punishments for them and how the egwugwu play a huge role in the justice system of the Igob. Achebe writes this book because he wants people to see the real side as he states in an interview, “There is great proverb- that until the lions have their own historians,
…show more content…
As the clan prepared for the ceremony some of the women notice something off about Okonkwo, “...noticed that Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the row of Egwugwu” (Achebe 53). This shows that when someone is an Egwugwu they can not be with the elders or titled men. It just shows that there are many rules in the Igbo. Okonkwo’s wives also notice that, “the second Egwugwu had the springs walk of Okonkwo” (Achebe 53). This shows that no one knows who the Egwugwu men are. Okonkwo cannot even tell his wives or family that he is one of them. The Igbo have so many different things to follow like the quote before shows. Igbo government is kind of complicated, they do not separate church and state like most places do which can cause conflict. According to Vees, “the Egwugwu are a very important part of the government system of the Ibo people. They are the nine spirits of the founders of the villages. They are the most important beings to the Ibo people, short of the gods. When there is a dispute that the elders cannot decide, the Egwugwu are summoned to resolve the issue” (Vees). This is a good example to show how closely Egwugwu are to gods and their power in the tribe. It also gives a good example as to why Achebe wrote this novel. Achebe wanted to write this to show both sides to every story but he also wanted to show culture …show more content…
Achebe talks about and explains the punishment that was ruled for the man, Uzowulu. Mgbafo’s brother explains that Mgbafo running away from her husband, Uzowulu, was the right thing to do and that she was trying to save herself. Odukwe says, “the law of Umoufia is that if a woman runs away from her husband her bride-price is returned. But in this case she ran away to save her life” (Achebe 54). Uzowulu is known for beating his wife and Mgbafo’s brothers decide to take it upon themselves to beat him up. Later on throughout the trial the Evil Forest begins to tell Uzowulu what he should do. The Evil Forest says, “go to your in-laws with a pot of wine and beg your wife to return to you. It is not bravery when a man fights with a women” (Achebe 55). This is what they rule his punishment to be. It is a another form of their government and decision making the Igbo do. They brought the man on trial in front of everyone and questioned him and at the end they gave him the punishment they thought he needed. In an article about pre-colonial systems in Nigeria, it talks about how the elders preside over affairs and other justice things. The Igbo hold a town assembly to decide the punishment of the person who commited the crime. The elders and the egwuegw decide what the punishment should
As the clan prepared for the ceremony some of the women notice something off about Okonkwo, “...noticed that Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the row of Egwugwu” (Achebe 53). This shows that when someone is an Egwugwu they can not be with the elders or titled men. It just shows that there are many rules in the Igbo. Okonkwo’s wives also notice that, “the second Egwugwu had the springs walk of Okonkwo” (Achebe 53). This shows that no one knows who the Egwugwu men are. Okonkwo cannot even tell his wives or family that he is one of them. The Igbo have so many different things to follow like the quote before shows. Igbo government is kind of complicated, they do not separate church and state like most places do which can cause conflict. According to Vees, “the Egwugwu are a very important part of the government system of the Ibo people. They are the nine spirits of the founders of the villages. They are the most important beings to the Ibo people, short of the gods. When there is a dispute that the elders cannot decide, the Egwugwu are summoned to resolve the issue” (Vees). This is a good example to show how closely Egwugwu are to gods and their power in the tribe. It also gives a good example as to why Achebe wrote this novel. Achebe wanted to write this to show both sides to every story but he also wanted to show culture …show more content…
Achebe talks about and explains the punishment that was ruled for the man, Uzowulu. Mgbafo’s brother explains that Mgbafo running away from her husband, Uzowulu, was the right thing to do and that she was trying to save herself. Odukwe says, “the law of Umoufia is that if a woman runs away from her husband her bride-price is returned. But in this case she ran away to save her life” (Achebe 54). Uzowulu is known for beating his wife and Mgbafo’s brothers decide to take it upon themselves to beat him up. Later on throughout the trial the Evil Forest begins to tell Uzowulu what he should do. The Evil Forest says, “go to your in-laws with a pot of wine and beg your wife to return to you. It is not bravery when a man fights with a women” (Achebe 55). This is what they rule his punishment to be. It is a another form of their government and decision making the Igbo do. They brought the man on trial in front of everyone and questioned him and at the end they gave him the punishment they thought he needed. In an article about pre-colonial systems in Nigeria, it talks about how the elders preside over affairs and other justice things. The Igbo hold a town assembly to decide the punishment of the person who commited the crime. The elders and the egwuegw decide what the punishment should