Essay: Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart – Formation of Personalities Throughout the Generations

One of the many accomplishments the Nigerian, Chinua Achebe achieved with his famous for his novel things fall apart is his relentless expression of the tribal life of Nigeria before and after the arrival of Colonialism this book was first published in 1958 two years before Nigeria declared independence from the UK, and avoids the obvious temptation to draw colonial life as Eden. Instead Achebe sketches. The world of violence, war, and suffering but is balanced out by strong traditions, rituals, and, social consistency. His Ibo protagonist Okonkwo is a self-made man. As an attractive son, he worked hard to overcome his father’s weaknesses throughout his life and eventually gained great prosperity and greater reputation among his companions in the Umuofia village. Okonkwo is a champion wrestler, a wealthy farmer, the husband of three wives, and father of several children. He is an accomplished warrior who has fought for his people since the beginning of his time. He is one of the leaders of the Ibo clan that have fought for generations against their enemies. Okonkwo is a well-respected and powerful man and well-known throughout all nine villages even beyond. Okonkwo gained his qualities and personality by becoming the complete opposite of his father and refusing to do all the bad things that he watched his father do, later Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye feels the same way about him and the despise of his father shaped his personality.
Unoka was the name of Okonkwo’s father. He died ten years ago and was despised by his son. “He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had had no patience with his father.”(Achebe 3) The first reason Okonkwo had to not respect his dad was because he was not successful in life. His father was lazy and did not provide for his family. Even when he got the smallest amount of money he did the wrong this with it because he lived in the moment and never thought about tomorrow. In his day he was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow. “If any money came his way, and it seldom did, he immediately bought gourds of palm-wine, called round his neighbors and made merry.”(Achebe 3) He celebrated with the little resources his family had leaving them with nothing he got from hard earned money.
Unoka was selfish, lazy, and wore a haggard and mournful look. He had very little talents but the one time he had a smile on his face is when he was either drinking or playing his flute. This was one of his little talents, he was extremely good at playing the flute. He usually plays after harvest season when musicians from the village brought their instruments. “Unoka would play with them, his face beaming with blessedness and peace. Sometimes another village would ask Unoka’s band and their dancing egwugwu to come and stay with them and teach them their tunes.” (Achebe 3) Though this made him happy and enjoy life more this was years ago when Unoka was young. When Unoka grew up and had kids he lived a sad life.
Unoka had one wife while other men had several this proved that he was poor and was a terrible provider.
“He was poor, and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer, and they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back. But Unoka was such a man that he always succeeded in borrowing more and piling up his debts.”
He borrowed so much that when Okonkwo grew up he owed some people. At one-point Unoka owed so much debt that men could not be payed back because he said he had to pay the biggest debts first. “I shall pay my big debts first.” And he took another pinch of snuff, as if that was paying the big debts first.” (Achebe 5) He never paid any debts but kept collecting it. This made Okonkwo to swear he’d never be like his father; a coward, not successful, in never ending debt, and unable to support his family.
That promise to himself shaped the personality of Okonkwo and his personality eventually helped shape Nwoye’s. Okonkwo strived to be everything that his father wasn’t. Before things fell apart Okonkwo was a hard worker, respected, and a material provider. He strived to be the best at everything he ever did and he for the most part succeeded. Okonkwo shows his hatred for his father, Unoka in two main ways. For one, he adopted all the opposite ideals that his father died having. Another way he shows his hatred for his dad is by constantly beating his son who shows many signs of becoming just like his grandfather. Okonkwo’s son
Similarly, Okonkwo and his son, Nwoye do not get along. This is because Okonkwo sees Nwoye as his lazy, weak, and not hard-working son. Nwoye is the opposite of Okonkwo, he hated him, so he adopted all the opposite characteristics as his dad. He is kind, caring, and enthusiastic about others. The gentle attitude of Nwoye was interpreted as a sign of femininity, and he suffered from self-esteem after growing up under Okonkwo’s furious guardianship. However, the friendship between Nwoye and Ikemefuna was beginning they were basically brothers. Okonkwo’s killing of Ikemefuna was the beginning of his downfall, this was the beginning of Nwoye’s hate for his father.
In conclusion, Okonkwo gained his qualities and personality by becoming the complete opposite of his father and refusing to do all the bad things that he watched his father do, later Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye feels the same way about him and the despise of his father shaped his personality. The father-son relationship throughout the generations basically formed their personalities. Unoka was selfish, lazy, wore a haggard and mournful look, never planned for the future, and had very little talents. Okonkwo strived to be everything that his father wasn’t, so he was a hard worker, well-respected, and a material provider, and planned things out. Nwoye is the opposite of Okonkwo, he was kind, caring, and enthusiastic about others. He was also lazy and not a hard worker. Maybe the reason Nwoye was lazy, weak, and not hard working is because he knew it was everything his father hated so it shaped his personality.