Key Moments of Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo kills himself

Okonkwo killing himself is one of the most significant parts of the story. It shows the downfall of a character who was over obsessed with masculinity. As throughout the story Okonkwo is seen as hating anything that resembles feminism and only allowing Masculinity into his character. Also, it shows how Okonkwo and symbolically the rest of Umuofia have lost the external conflict against the European Colonizers. As with Okonkwo dying, we see that the Igbo culture is presumed to have been conquered. Tying into two of the themes of the book of colonization and masculinity. Lastly it demonstrates the extent of the effects of colonization on Africans, showing the severity on the context in which the book was written in. For these reasons I believe that this is the most significant event in the book.

Ikemefuna is killed by Okonkwo

This moment outlines the theme of masculinity in Okonkwo. It shows how the character of Okonkwo has killed a boy whom he loved as his son, just to show his fellow townsmen that he has his masculinity still intact. As Ikemefuna was the son Okonkwo always wanted, obedient and masculine, something he never got from any of his own children. As such, it shows the reader the inner conflict that Okonkwo experiences regarding his masculinity. Lastly it comments on the Igbo tradition and how it has its flaws. Throughout the story we see Achebe comparing both Igbo culture and Christianity and showing the flaws in both of them. Clearly the event of killing an innocent boy shows one of the flaws the Igbo culture had

Nwoye joins the Christian community

This moment serves to ignite Okonkwo’s outer conflict against missionaries and colonization. As prior to part two of the book, the readers and Okonkwo only hear rumors regarding the “white man”. As such his son turning to join the Christians is a realization of the present situation for Okonkwo. In response he associates the missionaries to the thing he hates most softness as his son has now joined them. Additionally, it begins to establish the theme of colonization and the conflict between the two cultures. As we begin to see the Igbo culture and Christianity clash with one another.