Things Fall Apart WHAT DOES THE PHRASE“FALL APART” MEANS “Collapse, break down, either physically or mentally and emotionally” “come apart at the seams; go to pieces.” CHINUA ACHEBE [1930 (NOW, AGE 80)] PUBLISHER: HEINEMANN, 148 (1958 ) CHARACTERS MENTIONED IN THESE QUESTIONS QUESTION 1 OKONKWO’S DESIRE to be strong, wealthy and respected comes from both his CULTURAL experience and his feelings about his FATHER. WHICH AFFECTS HIM MORE? (Choose, and explain why one affects more) HE IS OKONKWO WHAT IS DESIRE? “Noun: A strong feeling of wanting Verb: Strongly wish for something” Google “he feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state” The Free Dictionary “Synonyms: ambition, aspiration, dream” TFD OKONKWO’S DESIRE TO BE STRONG Both - It comes from both feelings Cultural and feelings about father Cultural experience BEING STRONG More honours for his village for bravery TRAGIC FLAW: “My father, they have killed me!... He was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 43) More valued and respected Crowning Ceremony OKONKWO’S DESIRE TO BE RESPECTED COMES FROM CULTURE ALSO The desire comes from his standing among his people will positively transformed. Unlike his father with no titles. “who had risen so suddenly from great poverty and misfortune to be one of the lords of the clan. The old man bore no ill-will towards Okonkwo. INDEED HE RESPECTED HIM FOR HIS INDUSTRY AND SUCCESS” (Achebe 19). MORE SHEEPS MORE TITLES MORE SHEEP/ANIMALS + MORE TITLES + MORE MONEY = MORE RESPECT, MORE WIVES Being strong meant being a warrior, a defender, a protector and a leader – Ibo people respected warriors. He desires to be somebody instead of being nobody like this father. OKONKWO AND UNOKA (HIS FATHER ARGUING) Being Wealthy Warrior awards The more the animals the more the respect The important question of what affects him more? His feelings about his father affects him more Feelings about his father changed his life Father’s GUILT ‘of being nobody’ made him struggle The guilt of suicide committed by his father WHAT AFFECTS HIM MORE? “whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists. He had NO PATIENCE WITH UNSUCCESSFUL MEN. He had had no patience with his father” (Achebe 3). At least at the end (BEING A WARRIOR) he realizes its TIME TO SACRIFICE his own self. Even though, he knew it is the most difficult part in his life. Okonkwo was all the time running away from this embarrassment of dying like this father. And now being like his father meant his salvation for himself and his people. ... (text displayed as much as the system allows) This is my presentation for my MA English class. You are free to modify, share, redistribute and add to it in any way you like. *I do not own the images used in the presentation. They are the property of their respective owners.