I am writing about identify again today. These thoughts are from when I taught Things Falls Apart by Chinua Achebe (touted as one of the 100 Books ever written) to my AP Literature students.
I always started the year with this book. It is unusual, divergent, and exotic all combined into one. Most students have never read it or anything like it. The concepts behind Okonkwo (the protagonist) are difficult, though, for students. The AP Prompt I would choose to discuss in class:
“Novels and plays often depict characters caught between colliding cultures — national, regional, ethnic, religious, institutional. Such collisions can call a character’s sense of identity into question. Write a well-organized essay in which you describe the character’s response and explain its relevance to the work as a whole.”
A volunteer in each class be a life-size model and we drew around them. Then, each student had to find text in the book which described Okonkwo. They particularly had a good time adding African tribal garb. Someone added a yam. But more importantly, they were proving who was Okonkwo.
Students can figure out how Okonwko fell, but they fail to take it a step further – which “collisions call his identify into question”.
- He fears being a weak man like his father.
- He beats his wife during the Week of Peace.
- He takes part in the killing of Ikemefuna who he loved like a son.
There are more, but how do these “collisions” call his identity into question?
- The cycle of pride. Okonwko’s pride starts when he gains in prosperity.
- He didn’t appreciate his father’s gift of music and easy manner.
- He doesn’t listen to his friend’s advice when he told him not participate in the killing of Ikemefuna.
- He is a careless and sent to his Mother Land.
- When he returns, he is disillusioned that the white man has taken over and his tribe is not fighting back.
- Instead of breaking the pride cycle, he ends his life, and ironically, ends up exactly like his father, disowned. The things Okonkwo feared the most; being poor and without status. A tragic hero.
“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” C.S. Lewis
There are so many lessons learned from classic literature. Themes from Things Fall Apart:
- Peer Influence
- Toxic Masculinity
- Pride
- Conflict of Culture, Change
- Role of Religion and how it shapes our behavior
- Self-will
Reflecting back on this novel, a thorough self-evaluation would be the first step in learning from Okonwko’s mistakes. Have you read this classic book?