Things Fall Apart

 I chose to read Chinua Achebe's debut novel Things Fall Apart because this book is on Time Magazines 100 best novels. This tale is set in Nigeria in the 1890's. The main character, Okonkwo, is famous in his village for his wrestling skills. Most of his life Okonkwo acts in opposition to his father. His father was lazy and did not pay his debts. At an early age Okonkwo had to plant yams to feed himself, his siblings and his father. Okonkwo was as hard of a worker and his father was lazy. Okonkwo also tried to assert his masculinity with anger, violence, and impulsive behavior. He ended up wealthy with three wives and ten children. The first third of the book describes village life and customs. The middle and end of the book describe the reaction when missionaries come and try to convert the villagers to Christianity. Along with the missionaries came other white people and soon a government was formed to replace the system of government the village already had. Okonkwo is dead set against any and all changes made by the missionaries. This was a very interesting book told from the African side.