Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Chapter. 7-13

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    The killing of Ikemefuna has a profound impact on Okonkwo. He becomes more withdrawn and irritable, and he begins to question the traditions that he has always held dear. He also starts to see the flaws in his own character, such as his pride and his inability to control his anger. In Chapter 8, Okonkwo and his family are exiled from Umuofia for seven years. This is a punishment for Okonkwo's accidental killing of a clansman during Ikemefuna's funeral. Exile is a difficult experience for Okonkwo. He is forced to leave behind his home, his land, and his status in the community. He also has to deal with the shame of being exiled for a crime that he committed. In Chapter 9, Okonkwo and his family settle in Mbanta, his mother's natal village. Okonkwo struggles to rebuild his life in Mbanta. He is not used to the customs and traditions of the village, and he has difficulty finding work. Okonkwo's son, Nwoye, also struggles in Mbanta. He is attracted to the new Christian religion that is being preached by the white missionaries. Nwoye sees Christianity as a way to escape his father's traditional world and to start a new life for himself. In Chapter 10, Nwoye converts to Christianity. Okonkwo is furious when he finds out what his son has done. He beats Nwoye and tries to force him to renounce his new faith. However, Nwoye refuses to back down. In Chapter 11, Okonkwo returns to Umuofia after seven years of exile. He is eager to reclaim his position in the community. However, he soon finds that the world has changed in his absence. The white missionaries have made significant inroads in Umuofia, and many of the villagers have converted to Christianity. Okonkwo is horrified by the changes that have taken place, and he lashes out at the missionaries and their converts. In Chapter 12, Okonkwo's eldest son, Nwoye, is captured by the missionaries. Nwoye has been helping the missionaries to spread their religion, and the villagers are furious. They demand that Okonkwo bring Nwoye back. Okonkwo refuses to go after his son. He is still angry with Nwoye for converting to Christianity. However, the villagers eventually force him to go. In Chapter 13, Okonkwo and the villagers go to the mission station to retrieve Nwoye. However, the missionaries refuse to release him. Okonkwo attacks the missionaries, but he is quickly overpowered and arrested. Okonkwo's arrest is the final straw for him. He feels that he has lost everything: his home, his land, his status, and his son. He can no longer bear to live in a world that has changed so much. Okonkwo commits suicide by hanging himself. His death marks the end of an era for the Igbo people. Their traditional world has been destroyed by the arrival of the white man and his new religion. Themes The themes of tradition, change, and loss are central to Chapters 7-13 of Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo is a man who is deeply committed to tradition. He believes that the old ways are the best ways, and he is resistant to change. However, the world around him is changing rapidly, and Okonkwo is unable to keep up. The arrival of the white man and his new religion is a major turning point in the novel. The missionaries challenge the Igbo people's traditional beliefs and practices. This leads to conflict and division within the community. Okonkwo is ultimately a tragic figure. He is a man who is out of touch with the changing world around him. He is unable to adapt to the new realities, and he pays the ultimate price for his intransigence. Analysis Chapters 7-13 of Things Fall Apart are a powerful and moving depiction of the impact of colonialism on a traditional African society. Achebe shows how the  

Sample Answer

     

Chapters 7-13 of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart are a pivotal time in the novel, as they mark the beginning of the end of Okonkwo's traditional Igbo world. Okonkwo is forced to confront the changing world around him, and his attempts to uphold tradition ultimately lead to his downfall.

In Chapter 7, Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna, the young boy who has been living with his family for three years. Ikemefuna has become a beloved member of the family, and Okonkwo is reluctant to kill him. However, he feels obligated to do so because it is the tradition of his clan.