the rest are scattered. Crops and fish die. It is the end of the clan, for without their land, the clan cannot endure.

Great River (Niger River)

The Great River (Niger River) is West Africa’s largest river, rising in Guinea and flowing generally east before turning southward to flow through Nigeria. For Umuofia, the Great River represents all that is far away and mysterious, since any travel over large distances would be by water. The missionaries establish their base at Umaru, on the Great River, because they are people who are not of the land and who will not stay in one place. They do not value land or land ownership, because they look to Heaven rather than to Earth.

Tragedy

Things Fall Apart narrates the dual tragedies of Okonkwo, a respected warrior, and the Igbo tribe, to which he belongs. In literature, a tragedy typically depicts the fall of a significant individual due to a flaw in their character. Okonkwo’s flaw is his uncontrollable anger, and his personal tragedy unfolds when he is exiled for accidentally killing a young tribesman. Upon his return, he finds his tribe drastically changed. The Igbo’s collective downfall results from one culture being overpowered by another, with their tragedy rooted in their abandonment of their tribal gods.

Setting

Things Fall Apart takes place in Umuofia, a tribal village in Nigeria, Africa. The story is set in the late 1800s, a time when English bureaucrats and missionaries are first arriving in the region. The novel highlights the historical conflicts between European colonizers and the African people they sought to convert and dominate. By situating the story at the onset of this period, Achebe emphasizes the initial cultural clash. This setting also enhances the stark contrast between the time Okonkwo leaves and returns to his village, which has become almost unrecognizable due to the changes brought by the English.

Conflict

In Things Fall Apart, the Igbo people flourish in Umuofia, adhering to their ancient rituals and customs. However, the arrival of the white man disrupts this harmony, as he disregards the Igbo's values and imposes his own beliefs, laws, and religious practices. Some weaker tribesmen are swayed by the white man’s influence, creating divisions within the clan. Initially, these deserters are attracted to the wealth the white man introduces to Umuofia. Additionally, they find a sense of acceptance and brotherhood in the white man’s religion that their lower status in the tribe had denied them. As more men leave the tribe to join the white man’s mission, the internal rift deepens. Social and psychological conflicts escalate as brothers turn against each other, and fathers and sons become estranged.

Narration

Achebe tells the story of Things Fall Apart through a third-person narrative—using he and she for exposition—rather than having the characters narrate it themselves. Often recounted in the past tense, the story is told with minimal character dialogue. This approach gives the narrative the feel of an oral tale passed down through generations of storytellers.

Imagery

Though the characters in Things Fall Apart engage in minimal dialogue, readers still form a vivid picture of them and grasp their motivations. Achebe achieves this by blending English with Igbo vocabulary and proverbs. When characters do speak, they share rich proverbs, described as "the palm-oil with which words are eaten." Achebe uses these proverbs not only to flesh out his characters but also to depict the society, reveal themes, and develop conflicts. The result is vivid imagery that gives readers a clear sense of the people and events.

Point of View

Critics commend Achebe for his skillful shifts in point of view in Things Fall Apart. He starts the narrative from Okonkwo’s perspective, allowing readers to understand the Igbo's daily customs, rituals, and significant life events like birth, marriage, and death. As the story unfolds, it transitions from being primarily about Okonkwo to focusing on the clan's story. Readers witness the clan’s life, its gradual disintegration, and eventual demise. The novel shifts from character-driven to situation-driven, evoking sympathy for the tribe rather than the individual. The final shift occurs when Achebe concludes the story from the District Commissioner’s viewpoint. While some critics argue that Achebe's ending is didactic, others believe it strengthens the conclusion, seeing it as a form of functionalism, an African tradition of cultural instruction.

Plot and Structure

Divided into three parts, Things Fall Apart includes numerous substories. Achebe unifies these various stories through the use of proverbs, traditional oral tales, and leitmotifs—recurring images or phrases. Igbo proverbs appear throughout the book, providing continuity to the storyline. For instance, the proverb “when a man says yes, his chi says yes” applies to both Okonkwo’s success and his failure.

Traditional oral tales often contain a story within a story. Nwoye’s mother excels at telling these tales, embedding morals within them. The stories Achebe weaves throughout Things Fall Apart are themselves tales within the overarching narrative. Leitmotifs link recurring themes to specific ideas. Achebe connects masculinity with land, yams, titles, and wives, associating this view of masculinity with a certain stagnancy in Umuofia. While a traditional Western plot might not be evident in Things Fall Apart, the African-influenced structure contributes to the story's overall unity.

Foil

Achebe employs foil—a contrasting technique—to highlight the differences between his main characters in Things Fall Apart. The following pairs of characters serve as foils: Okonkwo and Obierika, Ikemefuna and Nwoye, and Mr. Brown and the Reverend Smith.

Okonkwo seldom contemplates; he is a man driven by action. He adheres to the tribe’s traditions almost without question and places its opinion of him above his own judgment. In contrast, Obierika reflects on the events affecting Okonkwo and their tribe. Obierika frequently makes his own choices and questions the tribe’s wisdom in various matters.

Ikemefuna represents the promising young tribesman. As a vigorous and charismatic youth, Ikemefuna engages in the manly pursuits expected of him. Conversely, Nwoye appears lethargic and unmanly. He favors listening to his mother’s tales over strategizing for warfare. He despises the sight of blood and loathes any form of violence.

Mr. Brown communicates softly and holds back the overly enthusiastic members of his mission from overpowering the clan. He aims to win the people over by offering education and genuine faith. Reverend Smith, who succeeds Mr. Brown, is a fire-and-brimstone preacher. He views the world in stark terms; something is either evil or good. He thrives on the fervor of his converts and encourages them to take any measures necessary to gain supporters for his mission.