The Way the Cookie Crumbles
U.S. politician, Frank A. Clark, once said, “A father is a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he [is] meant to be” (Clark). Clark’s statement about fatherhood probably resonates with many dads; however, the title character of this novel’s father is an exception. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe there is an interconnecting theme of attempting to break predestination, due to intergenerational hatred. The central character Okonkwo is continually trying to break the cycle of “weakness” in his family by achieving success, but his thirst for respect, horrible paternal relationships, death and burial lead him to his inescapable fate, which is his fellow clansmen remembering him as a duplicate …show more content…
The only way Okonkwo successfully defects though, is through having strength. As Things Fall Apart states a clansman told Unoka, Okonkwo's father, “You, Unoka, are known in all the clan for the weakness of your machete and your hoe. When your neighbors go out with their ax to cut down virgin forests, you sow your yams on exhausted farms that take no labor to clear” (Achebe, Things Fall). This quote in the book shows how uncaring and lazy Unoka typically is, in addition to showing a contrast between Unoka and Okonkwo. Throughout the book, the readers view Okonkwo as being diligent and strong, as shown through quotes, such as “and so at a very early age when he was striving desperately to build a barn through share-cropping Okonkwo was also fending for his father’s house” (Achebe, Things Fall). This goes to show how at an adolescent age Okonkwo has the strength, coupled with agility that his father does not show. The last and eminently distinctive way Okonkwo shows his strength is through suicide. Lauryn Nosek, at the University of Massachusetts explains this claim by …show more content…
Since Okonkwo commits suicide, he is committing an act against the sacred earth goddess; therefore, his clansmen cannot bury him “properly”. In consistence with Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, “We cannot bury him. When he has been buried we will then do our duty by him. We shall make sacrifices to cleanse the desecrated land.” Obierika ...said furiously: “You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog...” (Achebe, Things Fall). Even though Okonkwo works diligently, so that he can gain honors and have a burial like Ezeudu, an elder and honorable warrior, Okonkwo’s last offense is too great. The reader can infer from the text that before the last offence, whenever Okonkwo offends the earth goddess, he always repents. The fact that Okonkwo dies shows that he is no longer alive; therefore, he cannot repent to Ani, which could anger her. In short, Okonkwo's last offense against Ani is terribly grave and overshadows his perpetual pushes for success. So, Okonkwo's unfinished burial is Ani punishing him for his solemn felony. Thus, once again Okonkwo is losing a war with his Kismet and is ending up just like Unoka, in a neglected
U.S. politician, Frank A. Clark, once said, “A father is a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he [is] meant to be” (Clark). Clark’s statement about fatherhood probably resonates with many dads; however, the title character of this novel’s father is an exception. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe there is an interconnecting theme of attempting to break predestination, due to intergenerational hatred. The central character Okonkwo is continually trying to break the cycle of “weakness” in his family by achieving success, but his thirst for respect, horrible paternal relationships, death and burial lead him to his inescapable fate, which is his fellow clansmen remembering him as a duplicate …show more content…
The only way Okonkwo successfully defects though, is through having strength. As Things Fall Apart states a clansman told Unoka, Okonkwo's father, “You, Unoka, are known in all the clan for the weakness of your machete and your hoe. When your neighbors go out with their ax to cut down virgin forests, you sow your yams on exhausted farms that take no labor to clear” (Achebe, Things Fall). This quote in the book shows how uncaring and lazy Unoka typically is, in addition to showing a contrast between Unoka and Okonkwo. Throughout the book, the readers view Okonkwo as being diligent and strong, as shown through quotes, such as “and so at a very early age when he was striving desperately to build a barn through share-cropping Okonkwo was also fending for his father’s house” (Achebe, Things Fall). This goes to show how at an adolescent age Okonkwo has the strength, coupled with agility that his father does not show. The last and eminently distinctive way Okonkwo shows his strength is through suicide. Lauryn Nosek, at the University of Massachusetts explains this claim by …show more content…
Since Okonkwo commits suicide, he is committing an act against the sacred earth goddess; therefore, his clansmen cannot bury him “properly”. In consistence with Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, “We cannot bury him. When he has been buried we will then do our duty by him. We shall make sacrifices to cleanse the desecrated land.” Obierika ...said furiously: “You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog...” (Achebe, Things Fall). Even though Okonkwo works diligently, so that he can gain honors and have a burial like Ezeudu, an elder and honorable warrior, Okonkwo’s last offense is too great. The reader can infer from the text that before the last offence, whenever Okonkwo offends the earth goddess, he always repents. The fact that Okonkwo dies shows that he is no longer alive; therefore, he cannot repent to Ani, which could anger her. In short, Okonkwo's last offense against Ani is terribly grave and overshadows his perpetual pushes for success. So, Okonkwo's unfinished burial is Ani punishing him for his solemn felony. Thus, once again Okonkwo is losing a war with his Kismet and is ending up just like Unoka, in a neglected