Things Fall Apart, Part III

"It seemed as if the very soul of the tribe wept for a great evil that was coming- its own death" (187), Achebe writes following the unmasking of the egwugwu. The breadth of part 3 describes what could be considered the death of the tribe which also related to the title itself- Things Fall Apart, as the tribe is thrown into greater confusion culminating in Okonkwo's suicide. On that detail, I must cite Courtney's analysis, believing that his suicide was a means for Okonkwo to exert a last control over his tumultuous life. Yet, one can also note the irony of it. As many others described, Okonkwo in spite of his efforts to disengage himself from his father, failed and he too died a shameful death. In the grander scheme, Achebe emphasizes the fact that Okonkwo's effort and toil to gain societal/political standing was folly as he ended the same way as his slothful father- shamefully.

Mr. Brown's successor, Mr. Smith, who gained his position following the former's death, was a great contrast to Mr. Brown and his actions. Whereas Mr. Brown never openly antagonized the tribes for their metaphysical beliefs, Smith derided them. Further Smith "condemned openly Mr. Brown's policy of compromise and accomodation. He saw things as black and white. And black was evil" (184). Not only did Smith reproach Brown for his (more) humane treatment but was clearly fueled by rascism - a "black was evil" mindset rather than simply the religious motivations of a missionary. These two characters are overtly juxtaposed. It is logical that Smith was more hostile than Brown for he helped catalyze/speed up the process of degeneration within the tribe.

Cynthia made an interesting point that I'd like to comment on. She noted the irony of the Dictrist Commissioner's actions. He planned on devoting a single chapter to Okonkwo's death where the reader had just read a whole book concerning the trials and ultimate downfall of the man. The D.C. focused such a chapter solely on the suicide, for "the story of a man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make an interesting reading" (208), and as Michaela noted, the tribes served as a form of entertainment. Achebe painted a complex picture of the tribe both socially and culturally and thus ended his book quite ironically with the inclusion of the title of the D.C.'s book- The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of Lower Niger. In this manner, Achebe seems to prod the reader to question their definition of primitive given such a rich description of the tribe throughout the book.

-Tzivia

August 6, 2008 1:12 PM