Protagonist of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo witnesses the white men bring changes to his clan and attempt to colonize them for conquest. Described as “a man of action”, Okonkwo seemingly falls short of his reputation when he commits suicide at the end of the novel (10). Commonly viewed as succumbing to a hereditary disposition of femininity and weakness, this death is thought of as a failure on Okonkwo’s behalf, as something within the clan which fell apart like the title and epigraph suggests. However, Okonkwo’s death is moreover a heroic ending for a man of honor and strength if one focuses on the further consequences. Willing to stand up for his beliefs and prevent unnecessary conflict, Okonkwo kills himself in a final attempt to correct the
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In Umuofia, suicide is “an offense against the Earth and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen” (207). Considered to go against Umuofia’s culture, suicide requires a certain set of rules to be followed. According to beliefs, only strangers from another tribe may touch the body. In accordance with their culture, the men at Okonkwo’s compound have already called for another village to come and bury the body. Once that is complete, they will continue to do their duty, making sacrifices to clean the ruined land. To readers, it seems that Umuofia has not completely forgotten its ways and fallen victim to the white men. Not only does Okonkwo’s death remind the tribe of the customs they have always upheld, but it also spreads understanding of the Ibo culture unwittingly to the whites. Participating in the tribal ways, the white men gain more knowledge of the ways of these so-called primitive tribes, albeit unknowingly. Even though the district commissioner himself doesn’t participate, he allows for his men to do the job for Umuofia and intends to write about the suicide. Blindly, the district commissioner thinks that he has won and overcome the villagers, but in reality, Okonkwo spread remembrance of his culture to Umuofia and the
In Umuofia, suicide is “an offense against the Earth and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen” (207). Considered to go against Umuofia’s culture, suicide requires a certain set of rules to be followed. According to beliefs, only strangers from another tribe may touch the body. In accordance with their culture, the men at Okonkwo’s compound have already called for another village to come and bury the body. Once that is complete, they will continue to do their duty, making sacrifices to clean the ruined land. To readers, it seems that Umuofia has not completely forgotten its ways and fallen victim to the white men. Not only does Okonkwo’s death remind the tribe of the customs they have always upheld, but it also spreads understanding of the Ibo culture unwittingly to the whites. Participating in the tribal ways, the white men gain more knowledge of the ways of these so-called primitive tribes, albeit unknowingly. Even though the district commissioner himself doesn’t participate, he allows for his men to do the job for Umuofia and intends to write about the suicide. Blindly, the district commissioner thinks that he has won and overcome the villagers, but in reality, Okonkwo spread remembrance of his culture to Umuofia and the