Things Fall Apart, Part II

I would first like to address a compelling point that Katie made. She noted that Okonkwo brought out the wine during a meeting between his aquaintances from Umofia and his kin in Mbanta. Previously emphasized as being a woman's job, Okonkwo was instructed to "go into that room" in order to retrieve "a pot of wine there" (137). In undertaking this task, in returning to the motherland, in practicing diplomacy rather than war, in being reprimanded, it is clear that Okonkwo's role within society has altered drastically even degenerated since his time in exile. And it is through this role change that Achebe emphasizes irony (as many have mentioned). His persona- austere and masculine, that took so many years to forge, was just as quickly effaced following the death in Umuofia.

Achebe seems to juxtapose the characters of Okonkwo and Uchendu. Uchendu chides Okonkwo for his overt negativity, reminding him that he is not the only one who has experienced "suffering." Uchendu himself noted that he "had six wives once" and that he buried "twenty-two" of his own children but is "still alive" (135). Uchendu represents a man who is able to express both emotions and an overt love for family, yet, is still successful. By describing Uchendu as both a prosperous and more importantly, likeable character, Achebe emphasizes the folly of Okonkwo's manic desire for masculinity.

The second section of the book concludes solemnly. One of Okonkwo's older kinsman addresses him, initially expressing gratitude for the feast. The man's thoughts stray and ironically, he goes on to prophesize about the destruction of the clan based on lack of fellowship. He seems to foreshadow Okonkwo's continued and inevitable demise fortified by the quote, "I fear for you, I fear for the clan" (167). With the continued presence of the missionaries, it is evident that the clan's traditional ways are becoming obsolete.

I've been wondering if Achebe has established an opinion of the missionaries' work within the tribes. At times the reader is empathetic towards the plight of tribe and the disingration of their traditional practices. Simultaneously, the missionaries prevent the arbitrary murder of twins and as Mary pointed out, view outcasts nuetrally, even accepting them. I can not seem to sift through this information to determine whether Achebe welcomes or repudiates the onset of missionaries. Ideas?

-Tzivia

August 3, 2008 10:22 PM