English 5 Period 1 Book Report: Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart is a story that takes place in Nigeria. From the setting it tells us that the culture of Okonkwo, and other characters in the story, is completely different from cultures outside of Africa. The story’s setting helps us understand Okonkwo’s point of view and what the norm is in his society. The reader has to adapt to the mindset of the characters in the story in order to have a full perspective of opinions and decisions that are in the story A theme from this story is that your pride can hurt you. This was evident in the main character, Okonkwo. He didn’t want to end up like his father who was lazy. Okonkwo wanted to be strong and be more of a “man” than his father. This “manliness was all that mattered to him and was something that he was not willing to lose. Okonkwo’s son Nwoye, was the opposite of Okonkwo. He wasn’t “manly” in Okonkwo’s eyes. Okonkwo’s adopted son Ikemefuna was the favorite because he was as manly as his father. Okonkwo’s pride got the better of him in the story. Though he loved Ikemefuna as if he was his own, when Ikemefuna was set to murdered, Okonkwo felt that he should have no weakness and took part in his own son’s murder all because of his pride. Okonkwo showed no emotion but felt guilt. As you read further on in the story, Okonkwo accidentally kills a boy and he has to be exiled for his crime. During his exile he becomes more aware of white missionaries that want to convert the Igbos who were exiled to Christianity. Just before his exile ends, he finds out that his son has converted to Christianity. Okonkwo’s pride makes him disown his own blood related son. Okonkwo’s pride takes place again when the Igbo people decide not to go to war with the white men, Okonkwo was enraged. In that enraged state of mind he decides to hang himself. It’s okay to be proud in the right circumstances. It’s not okay to let your pride go to your head that when someone challenges you, your first reaction is to eliminate them or to stick to your word though going back on it would make more sense. Pride can lead you to a road filled with denial and can hurt those closest to you which is one of the important lessons that is told in the story and the reason why this book should be recommended to everybody to remind people that pride can destroy you.
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