Things+Fall+Apart+Part+1


 * (1)** “When a man says yes, his chi says yes also.” This Igbo proverb implies that man’s actions affect his destiny as determined by his chi. Okonkwo’s chi is considered “good,” but he says yes very strongly. In other words, Okonkwo’s actions to overcome adversity seem justified, but because he is guided by his chi, his denial of kindness, gentleman, and affection for less successful men will prove self-destruction.
 * (2)** Obierika is Okonkwo’s best friend and also a respected man in Umuofia. He often offers reasonable counterpoints to Okonkwo’s desire for rash action, although Okonkwo rarely takes his friend’s advice. More than any other character, Okonkwo is a thinking man, one who works things out in his head. He is one of the few characters who is truly concerned with moral ambiguities and he encourages Okonkwo to view the world in a more balanced and less hasty manner. Obierika uses his intellect and reason to come to decisions. However, his rationality is not cold and calculating, nor is it used to further selfish means. Obierika mediates his intellect with compassion. All his efforts are dedicated to being a good friend, father, husband, and responsible community member. He is one of the few characters to view the white men with a slightly sympathetic and curious eye.
 * (5)** Okonwko, Achebe's protagonist in // Things Fall Apart // , is a member of the Ibo tribe. In the ibo culture, a sense of tradition was highly significant. The Ibo people would carry out the various traditions that had been passed down from their ancestors centuries ago in their everyday lives. These traditions or customs that came in the form of funderal ceremonies, one's manners, rites of passage, and more were the backbone of the Ibo culture. They brought the tribe closer by allowing the people to come together and take part in activities as a group. 