Things Fall Apart

This story is about a respected man named Okonkwo in Nigeria who encounteredEnglish invaders that tried to change his igbo religion. Along the way, he faced many problems with family, his reputation, and much more. He later died by a suicide hanging.

Okonkwo was a wealthy and respected fighter of a clan, a Nigerian tribe that is part of nine connected villages. He was devastated by the actions of his father. In response, Okonkwo became a clansman, warrior, and farmer.

Okonkwo had a twelve-year-old son named Nwoye. Okonkwo worries that Nwoye will end up a failure like his father. In a deal with a neighboring tribe, Umuofia also got a teenage boy. Okonkwo took control of the boy, Ikemefuna, and found an ideal son in him. Nwoye liked the newcomer. Even though Okonkwo has fondness for Ikemefuna, Okonkwo does not let himself show any fondness for him. The boy stayed with Okonkwo for three years. Okonkwo's son respected Ikemefuna as his older brother and developed a more manly attitude. However, a village elder later notified that Ikemefuna has to be killed. Since Okonkwo is like a father figure to the boy, the elder tells him not to take part in the killing. Okonkwo later lied to Ikemefuna telling him he need s to go back to him own village once again. Okonkwo's son bursts into tears. Ikemefuna later gets murders as a sacrifice by his own father.Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna to not look weak to the other tribesmen. Okonkwo goes into depression where he cannot eat or sleep. 

During a week of peace, he beats his wife for arriving lat to make the afternoon meal. His neighbor scolded him for disturbing the peace. 

At the elder's gigantic funeral, the beat drum and play music. Trouble later occurs when Okonkwo's gun explodes and kills a boy. Since killing another clans person is illegal to a goddess, Okonkwo has to take his family to another village to pay for what he's done for seven years. He takes almost all of his belongings and takes him to his mother's and uncle's village. His uncle especially supports him and even builds new huts, just for him.  His uncle also gives him yam seeds to start a farm. Even though he is angry at his luck, he tries his best to keep on going.The people back at his village burn down his house and kill his animals to "clean" the village.

They first came nicely but then became cruel. They came to the village and set up celebrations to practically "kill" the earth goddess. The next day the villagers get so mad that they planned and burn't down the church. The clans people hold a meeting, expecting his fellow people to join him in revolting, Okonkwo kills their leader. Then the crowd tries to escape. Okonkwo realized that the village is not ready to go to war. Later, the commissioner finds that Okonkwo hanged himself. They realize that suicide is a crime, and none is allowed to touch his body.

All in all, this book was a great read. It teaches lots of important lessons like you have to work hard to get what you want. But the main part why I think this book is so good is from the character Okonkwo. He is most intriguing character in all the books I've read. He emphasizes on what we don't do today and it brings up lots of ideas about how we live our lives today.

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