Things Fall Apart - Chapter Guide (20-25)

Things Fall Apart - Chapter Guide (20-25)

• 1.
  STUDY GUIDE : OKONKWORETURNS TO UMUOFIA AND COLONIZATION IS INEVITABLE CHAPTERS 20-25 TEACHER NAME
• 2.
  “HOW DO YOUTHINK WE CAN FIGHT WHEN OUR OWN BROTHERS HAVE TURNED AGAINST US?”
• 3.
  From the beginningof his exile, Okonkwo has planned how to rebuild his compound. He wants it to be larger, to take two more wives and get titles for his sons. He thinks less of Nwoye’s disgraceful departure, but still regrets that Ezinma is a girl. Okonkwo gets his daughters to postpone marrying so that he may attract interest when he returns to Umuofia. However, Umuofia is very different. The church has grown. The white men subject the villagers to their judicial system and rules of government. Okonkwo cannot believe that his clan has not driven out the harsh, arrogant, white men and their church. Obierika explains that it is too late; the CHAPTER church has weakened the ties of kinship. Okonkwo observes that the white man is shrewd; he came in peace, appeared to 20 have benevolent interests so the Africans would permit him to stay.
• 4.
  Umuofia is dividedover the white men’s influence in the community. The benefit: trading posts. Money is flowing into the village. Mr. Brown, the white missionary, restrains Christians from harassing the clan. Akunna, one of the clan’s leaders, explains that the clan also has just one god, Chukwu, who created the world and the other gods. Cultural Exchange: Mr. Brown - there are no other gods; a carving is not a god, but a piece of wood. Akunna – agrees it is a piece of wood, but wood created by Chukwu. Neither will convert, but gain a greater understanding of the other’s faith. Mr. Brown builds a hospital, a school. Threat: if children don’t go to school, strangers who can read and write will rule over them. Mr. Brown tells Okonkwo that Nwoye is in a training college for teachers. Soon after, his health declines. He leaves Umuofia. Daughters attract many suitors, but clan has little interest in his return. Ozo initiation ceremony occurs only once CHAPTER every 3 years. 21 Okonkwo is baffled and upset by changes in his once warlike people.
• 5.
  Reverend James Smithreplaces Mr. Brown. Strict, intolerant, demands obedience to the letter of the Bible. Disapproves of Mr. Brown’s former policies. Zealous converts are relieved to be free of restraints. Enoch unmasks an egwugwu during the annual ceremony to honor the earth deity (equivalent to killing an ancestral spirit). The next day, the egwugwu burn Enoch’s compound to the ground. They gather in front of the church to confront Reverend Smith. They tell the Christians that they wish to destroy the church to cleanse their village of Enoch’s horrible sin. Smith stands his ground, forbidding them to touch the church. His interpreter alters statements for fear they are too harsh, will provoke great anger. (Says that Smith demands that they leave). They ignore Smith’s orders and burn the church. CHAPTER 22
• 6.
  Okonkwo is almosthappy because of taking action, even though the clan did not agree to kill the Christians or drive them away. Villagers are on guard, arm themselves for next two days. District Commissioner returns from his tour, requests a meeting with the leaders of Umuofia. They go, taking only machetes (guns would be “unseemly”). Commissioner is condescending, says they should discuss the church’s burning “as friends.” As soon as machetes are on the floor, soldiers handcuff them and throw them in jail. They suffer insults and physical abuse. Bail is set at 200 bags of cowries. Court messengers ask for 250 to prevent leaders from hanging – to make a profit. CHAPTER An emergency village meeting. Ezinma returns home from 28-day visit to future in-lawsThey decide to collect the cowries necessary to pay the fine. 23
• 7.
  Umuofia leaders returnto the village upset. Entire village overcome with tense and unnatural silence. Ezinma takes Okonkwo some food. She and Obierika notice whip marks on his back. Village crier announces another meeting. Following morning, clan is filled with sense of foreboding. Okonkwo has slept very little out of excitement and anticipation. Meeting is packed with people from 9 villages. Okonkwo believes that the nature of man has changed. He has decided on a course of action, no matter what others think. Takes out war dress. Assesses raffia skirt, feather headgear, shield. Remembers former glories. First speaker: laments the damage that white man and his church have done to the clan, the desecration of the gods / ancestral spirits. They may have to spill clansmen’s blood if they battle the white man. CHAPTER 5 court messengers approach, ordering the meeting to end. Okonkwo kills the leader with his machete. Villagers allow messengers to escape, end the meeting. 24
• 8.
  District Commissioner arrivesat Okonkwo’s compound. A small group of men sit outside, who tell him that Okonkwo is not at home. Commissioner asks again, and Obierika repeats his initial answer. Commissioner gets angry, threatens to imprison them. Obierika agrees to lead him to Okonkwo in return for assistance. Not understanding this agreement, Commissioner follows Obierika and a group of clansmen to a small bush behind Okonkwo’s compound. There, Okonkwo’s body dangles from a tree. Understanding that Umuofia would not go to war and disappointed with his clan, he has hanged himself. Obierika explains that suicide is a grave sin. Commissioner asks why they cannot take down the body, and they explain that it is now evil. Only strangers may touch it; only strangers may bury it. Angrily, Obierika blames him for Okonkwo’s death, praises his friend’s greatness. Commissioner leaves, but orders his messengers to do the work. As he departs, he congratulates himself CHAPTER 25 for increasing his knowledge of African customs.
• 9.
  “HE HAD ALREADY CHOSENTHE TITLE OF THE BOOK . . . THE PACIFICATION OF THE PRIMITIVE TRIBES OF THE LOWER NIGER.” The commissioner imagines that Okonkwo and his suicide will make an interesting paragraph in the book that he is writing.