When the Mbaino people had killed the daughter of Umuofia, who was also the wife of OgbuefiUdo, she had gone to the market of Mbaino and there she was killed. The crowd of Umuofia shouted with anger and thirst of blood at Umuofian market place. In the end they followed normal course of action by…
Okonkwo has three wives. First one is Nwoye’s mother to whom Ikemefuna is handed over, she is the senior wife. Ekwefiis his second wife, who is mother of Ezinma (their only surviving daughter) because Ekwefihad delivered ten children out of which nine died. Ojiugo is Okonkwo’s youngest wife, whom he married lately, she is very…
If the night was very quiet, darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them. Children were not seen playing in the open fields. They were warned not to whistle at night for fear of evil spirits. Dangerous animals became even more sinister and uncanny in the dark. A snake was…
The story starts with the introduction of the protagonist Okonkwo being described as a champion and a warrior, who is not only wealthy, but also powerful with two titles. He is shown to be everything that his father Unoka was not. Such a start at once prepares us for a masculine world wherein the father…
Okonkwo being the central character of the novel is the focal point of many of the themes of the novel; one of them is being able to carve out one’s destiny with one’s own hands. This incidentally, sums up the Umuofian people’s philosophy of life. Thus in understanding the character of Okonkwo, we are able…
Ironically for Okonkwo his father Unoka foreshadows Okonkwo’s son Nwoye in many ways. Much to the chagrin of Okonkwo, both his father and son love music, art and songs. Both wish to live in the lap of nature. Ironically again Okonkwo dies without a burial like his father despite all his bravery, hard toil and…
Achebe illustrates the importance of proverbs in Igbo society by writing, “Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten.” In Igbo society, palm oil is a fundamental ingredient used for cooking. Palm oil not only provides flavour to the meal but…
One day a neighbour called Okoye came to see Unoka. Unoka immediately rose and shook hands with Okoye his neighbour. Unoka immediately went into an inner room and soon returned with a small wooden disc containing a Kola nut. “I have Kola”, he announced when he sat down, and passed the disc over to his…
Okonkwo and Unoka are poles apart, as they are different from each other as day and night. They have opposite personalities that contrast greatly throughout the novel. Unoka is considered as Agbala due to his inaction. He is considered a weak, poor man who is unable to pay back people from whom he borrowed money….