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Things Fall Apart

by Chinua Achebe

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Chapter 8 Summary and Analysis

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Okonkwo barely eats anything for two days, upset about Ikemefuna. Soon enough, however, he’s able to pull himself out of this depression and berates himself for acting, as he says, like “a shivering old woman.” He then visits his good friend Obierika, who needs Okonkwo’s help negotiating his daughter’s pride price with her suitor. Obierika rebukes Okonkwo for taking part in Ikemefuna’s death, but their argument is quickly brought to and end by a messenger who brings them news of a truly strange event: the oldest man in their sister village of Ire has died, but the drums have not beaten for him, because his first wife, who wailed over his body, died shortly after, and so they’ll have to wait to bury him until she is in the ground, as is the custom.

Okonkwo goes to tap his trees for palm-wine, then returns to Obierika’s hut for the negotiations. Obierika’s daughter Akueke, the soon-to-be married one, offers the men kola nuts, then returns to her mother’s hut to prepare food. Meanwhile, the men discuss her bride price, finally settling on a sum of twenty bags of cowries. Then they exchange stories of the strange customs practiced by a different village, where they don’t decide bride prices fairly. Obierika compares a white man to a piece of chalk, and the men laugh at the image of a man with leprosy, a disease known to them as “the white skin.”

Metaphor

Achebe uses a metaphor when he equates the disease leprosy with white skin, suggesting that the white men are a kind of disease that will blight the people of Nigeria.

Simile

Obierika uses a simile when he says that white men are “white like this piece of chalk.”

Symbols

Palm-Wine. Once again, palm-wine is offered as a symbol of respect and fellowship. In this chapter, however, palm-wine takes on an added layer of meaning, as men who tap palm trees are given the title ozo, which is highly respected in Umuofia but means nothing in many other clans, such as the Abama and the Aninta. Thus, palm-wine is also a symbol of one’s social status.

Threads. When a man takes a title in Igbo villages, he wears the colored thread associated with the title on his ankle. Essentially, the more threads one wears, the more titles one has, and the more titles one has, the higher one’s social status.

Themes

Death. There has already been much death in this novel: the warriors Okonkwo killed, the girl that was slaughtered by men from Mbaino, and, of course, Ikemefuna. These are all untimely deaths, each stemming either from acts of war or sacrifice, and emphasize the violent nature of life and war in these villages. There haven’t been many natural deaths, however, and Ndulue’s is the only one so far to receive this much attention in the novel. His wife Ozoemena’s death is strongly suggested to have been caused by Ndulue’s, suggesting that the two were irrevocably linked by their love and that one could not live without the other. This is a rare sentiment in an often brutal novel and won’t be repeated.

Gender. Men in Igbo culture associate weakness with femininity. This idea is so deeply ingrained in their culture that Okonkwo actually berates himself for being sad about Ikemefuna’s death, referring to himself as a “shivering old woman” because of this uncharacteristic show of emotion. Similarly, when he hears the story of Ndulue, who couldn’t do anything without telling his wife, he shakes his head, considering this weak, though his friend Obierika quickly disabuses him of that notion: Ndulue was a great warrior and led Umuofia in his time. Love for a woman, Achebe implies, isn’t weak, no matter what Okonkwo thinks.

Expert Q&A

In Things Fall Apart Chapter 8, what warning does Obierika give Okonkwo?

In Chapter 8, Obierika warns Okonkwo that participating in the killing of his adopted son, Ikemefuna, will displease the Earth and could lead to devastating consequences for his family. Obierika advises that he would not have participated in such a ritual even if the Oracle decreed it, suggesting that Okonkwo's involvement was unnecessary and could lead to guilt and stigma.

What does Okonkwo and Obierika's argument in chapter 8 reveal about Okonkwo?

The argument between Okonkwo and Obierika reveals Okonkwo's adherence to traditional Ibo definitions of manhood and his fear of appearing weak. Okonkwo is combative and stubborn, justifying his harsh actions to uphold his masculine identity. Despite Obierika's disapproval of Okonkwo's role in Ikemefuna's death, Okonkwo remains defensive, highlighting his deep-seated need to distance himself from the perceived weakness of his father.

What global issue is addressed in Things Fall Apart, chapter 8?

In Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe addresses the issue of gender roles in different cultures. Okonkwo is a great warrior who is at first better than all the other men in his village. He believes that men should be brave, strong, and courageous all while being dominant over their wives and children. But when he kills a boy to avoid shame on him, he can't handle the guilt and emotional pain that follows. He has a breakdown of sorts and then becomes sick for two days with no food or water until his friends help him recover. This event shows how even the strongest man can be vulnerable and sensitive to emotions if they are faced with some sort of tragedy or loss. This shows how culture influences people'

In Things Fall Apart, chapter 8, what is Okonkwo's opinion and concern about his children?

Okonkwo is concerned about his children's potential, especially his son Nwoye, whom he criticizes for lacking masculine traits and independence. He admires Obierika's son, Maduka, for his wrestling skills and wishes Nwoye were more like him. Okonkwo is frustrated that Nwoye resembles his mother too much and feels Ezinma, though spirited, is hindered by her gender. Obierika suggests Okonkwo's worries are premature since the children are still young.

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