Chinua Achebe's novel, “Things Fall Apart” is a story that teaches a lesson. It is a story that takes you on a journey of the main character Okonkwo's life hardships, accomplishments, and defeat. Achebe gives the reader a front-row view and perspective of the lives and rituals of the Ibo people of Umuofia by creating a story full of imagery and symbolism to set the tone and pull you in “the drums beat and the flutes sang….Okonkwo was as slippery as a fish in water. Every muscle and every nerve stood out on their arms, on their backs, and their thighs and one almost heard them stretching to the breaking point.” (Achebe p.2) Okonkwo's journey teaches a life lesson that calls out for everyone to focus on the idea of honoring and loving your
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What makes it so similar is that reputation is something that can not be passed down. Reputation and titles are something that has to be earned over a man’s lifetime based on his success. Building a reputation for yourself and your family will gain you a lot of respect and power within the community. In Achebe's novel, the social hierarchy in the Ibo society is displayed through the example of Okonkwo and his father Unoka. Okonkwo's father Unoka was on the lower end of the scale while Okonkwo was on the opposite. Unoka earned his reputation as someone of low status because he became a burden for many of the people in his community. “Unoka was, of course, a debtor, and he owed every neighbor some money, from a few cowries to quite a substantial amount”. (Achebe p2). Unoka became more of a failure the older he became. He was a poor man that couldn't feed his wife and children. In addition to his debts and because of his low status, Unoka was taken away to the evil forest where men who commit murders and even twins that are born are left to die. Unlike his father, Okonkwo was a man of higher status as he is someone that is now famous in Umuofia, the best wrestler and the strongest. Okonkwo was someone that was successful, had several wives, owned a successful and profitable crop of yams, and someone who had won titles. Okonkwo received much of his respect because he was a hardworking man. Similar to the women in Umuofia who were only good for producing children, men with no titles had very little purpose in
What makes it so similar is that reputation is something that can not be passed down. Reputation and titles are something that has to be earned over a man’s lifetime based on his success. Building a reputation for yourself and your family will gain you a lot of respect and power within the community. In Achebe's novel, the social hierarchy in the Ibo society is displayed through the example of Okonkwo and his father Unoka. Okonkwo's father Unoka was on the lower end of the scale while Okonkwo was on the opposite. Unoka earned his reputation as someone of low status because he became a burden for many of the people in his community. “Unoka was, of course, a debtor, and he owed every neighbor some money, from a few cowries to quite a substantial amount”. (Achebe p2). Unoka became more of a failure the older he became. He was a poor man that couldn't feed his wife and children. In addition to his debts and because of his low status, Unoka was taken away to the evil forest where men who commit murders and even twins that are born are left to die. Unlike his father, Okonkwo was a man of higher status as he is someone that is now famous in Umuofia, the best wrestler and the strongest. Okonkwo was someone that was successful, had several wives, owned a successful and profitable crop of yams, and someone who had won titles. Okonkwo received much of his respect because he was a hardworking man. Similar to the women in Umuofia who were only good for producing children, men with no titles had very little purpose in