Things Fall Apart is a book that talks about how African culture was demolished by the catholic missionaries that came to spread their faith to Niger and places around it. In this book you follow Okonkwo, a native to the tribe of Umuofia and a very high class citizen in the village. He grew up to a lazy father and from a young age had to sharecrop to feed himself and his family. But as he grew up he finally started to obtain enough money to buy his own yam crop and start farming for himself. As he grew older his farm prospered and he became a powerful man and was of very high status. Until one day when a funeral was happening and they were firing off the ceremonial guns but Okonkwo's gun exploded killing a child. He was banished for seven years because of the accident and the villagers burned his compound and all his yam crops. So he left in exile depressed and under lots of pain to his motherland where he started anew with a small compound and only a few yams. Half way through the seven years Okonkwo is back on his feet with a new yam farm strange white men start coming into the village talking of only one god and building churches and all of the tribes were shaken because of it. Finally seven years have passed and Okonkwo is allowed to return to Umuofia to find it taken over by the missionaries. He is invited to talk to the leader of the missionaries but is tricked and thrown in jail. After being released and stripped of his pride Okonkwo lashes out in a rage, killing a white messenger and hanging himself.
Although this book wasn't very interesting to read, it was very informative on European culture, and very sad. I think this book if your willing to wade through slow parts is a very good read for someone of a medium understanding of African society.
Thanks Mrs. Jensen for a wonderful 8th grade year!
-Will
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2 comments:
I just have to copy Will really quick and say how awesome your class was, Jensen. It totally kicked butt. Thanks for everything. -Nain
I loved this book. I also read it in high school and it was exactly what you said, informative on the European culture, in regards to how they came into countries that were not of Christian background and felt they had a right to take over. We almost always read from the perspective of the European/American/Caucasian Christian culture side of things because we were built by these people. It is fascinating to see if from the perspective of others. Great review.
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