Control over fate
The novel Things Fall apart by Chinua Achebe gives a fictional story of an African leader Okonkwo who is well known for his great achievements since his young age. However, in his leadership, his territory, as well as personal life, comes to a downfall due to various circumstances. As the author presents, it is evident that Okonkwo had no control over his fate as seen in the discussions below;
Firstly, Okonkwo’s gun accidentally explodes during Ezeudu’s burial, a situation which made him be sent out of the village (Achebe, “n.p”). This was the onset of his downfall since he could no longer continue with his activities in the exile. Similarly, the leader returns from exile with the plans to stage an act of revenge against his enemies. The author, on the other hand, depicts that Okonkwo’ was a determined and hardworking leader since he was eighteen years who brought victory to the entire village by throwing a wrestle against Amalinze the Cat who had for so long defeated the whole community (Achebe, “n.p”).
Secondly, The Igbo community had lost their fighting spirit against their enemies like before. When Okonkwo notices such losing spirit among his people, he declares to fight on his own even if it means losing alone. Later after killing the messenger, he was given no support by his people as he expected; rather, he was condemned (Achebe, “n.p”). Eventually, Okonkwo commits suicide when he realized that the District Commissioner was on his heels for killing the messenger.
From the discussions above, it can be deduced that the novel gives the postcolonial challenges among the African communities. The novel uses Okonkwo as an outstanding character throughout the entire novel, and he has been presented as an excellent and wonderful leader of the Igbo society in Nigeria.
Work Cited
Achebe, Chinua. The African Trilogy: Things Fall Apart; No Longer at Ease, [and] Arrow of God. Vol. 327. Everyman’s Library, 2010.