THINGS FALL APART
BUT THEY ARE GETTING BETTER
"Even as a little boy he had resented his father’s failure and weakness, and even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father wasagbala. That was how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could also mean a man who had taken to title." (2.12)
This is a quote explaining the feelings of Onkonkwo. It shows what he learned from a young age. This is also one of the first times we come across Okonkwo's fear.
He [Okonkwo] had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists. (1.3)
Here we learn of Okonkwo violent nature. This also is similar to how our violence comes out when we can not say what we want and get frustrated.
He [Unoka] was very good on his flute, and his happiest moments were the two or three moonsafter the harvest when the village musicians brought down their instruments, hung about thefireplace. Unoka would play with them, his face beaming with blessedness and peace. Sometimes another village would ask Unoka’s band and their dancing egwugwu to come and stay with them and teach them their tunes. They would go to such hosts for as long as three or four markets, making music and feasting. Unoka loved the good fare and the good fellowship…(1.5)
It is easy to relate to Unoka in this quote. We learn that Unoka has a happy connection with music. Often we listen to music when we are happy, sad or angry. For Unoka music is a way to express himself.
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[…] he [Okonkwo] was not afraid of war. He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike his fatherhe could stand the look of blood. In Umuofia’s latest war he was the first to bring home a human head. (2.4)
Okonkwo's fear is shown throughout the novel to get the reader to fully understand how strong it is. Okonkwo is also insecure and always compares himself to his father.
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He could hardly imagine that Okonkwo was not his real father. He had never been fond of his real father, and at the end of three years he had become very distant indeed. (7.26)
In this quote we understand the trust that Ikemefuna feels. He is not worried when led to the forest, doubting Okonkwo would ever hurt him. He has trust and bond with him even though he is not his biological father.
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Significant Quotes
Written by Amelia Imada
Edited by Micah Leval