Remember that one of Achebe's goals in writing this novel was to demonstrate that the Igbo had developed a sophisticated society, religion, and justice system long before the Europeans arrived. Achebe describes a colonial government that subdues the Igbo people without requiring the missionaries to learn their language or try to understand the Igbo traditions and ways. The first church representative, Mr.
Brown, is the exception in being accommodating to Igbo language and customs. By recruiting other African natives — the kotmas , or court messengers — to be their agents in the day-to-day enforcement of their authority, the missionaries bring into their use people with skin color and language characteristics much like the local natives — people who seem to be friends of the local natives though their dialect was apparently different.
Ultimately, the court messengers abused their positions by beating prisoners and taking bribes. Achebe is implying that corruption among the Igbo people isn't exclusive to Umuofia; the court messengers are more interested in what they can get out of the situation rather than what they can do to spread Christianity or even to help the Umuofians.
When Okonkwo tells Obierika that his fellow Umuofians should rise up against the British, Obierika wisely understands that it is too late. Many Umuofians have already "joined the ranks of the stranger.
He may wear more than one anklet to indicate more titles. Kotma is a Pidgin English word derived from the words court and messenger. Previous Chapter He hanged himself. What did Obierika tell the Commissioner?
Obierika said that the Commissioner had driven Okonkwo to kill himself. He thought about how he could use the incident as material in his book. Things Fall Apart Flashcards. Things Fall Apart Chap 6 February 13, Part 2 Things Fall Apart February 13, Things Fall Apart Chapters February 13, Ironically, she best understands the dilemma of compromised manhood that her father faces. Already having dealt with the missionaries in Mbanta, Okonkwo is now forced to deal with them in his own village.
However, Mr. Brown, their leader, is far more enlightened than the average white colonist. His influence is largely benevolent, and Achebe uses Mr. Brown as a foil for the missionary who eventually takes his place, the more radical Reverend Smith. Things Fall Apart is not one-sided in its portrayal of colonialism. The sympathetic Mr. Brown urges the Igbo to send their children to school because he knows that the colonial government will rob the Igbo of self-government if they do not know the language.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to view colonialism in a tremendously positive light: suddenly the Igbo must relate to the colonial government on European terms. The story of Abame and the discussion of the new judicial system show how different the European frame of reference is from that of the egwugwu.
The colonial government punishes individuals according to European cultural and religious values. For example, without first making an effort to understand the cultural and religious tradition behind the practice, the government pronounces the abandonment of newborn twins a punishable crime.
Achebe shows us the extent to which cultural and linguistic structures and practices are intertwined, and he is able to re-create in English the cadences, images, and rhythms of the speech of the Igbo people.
True or False: Many of the other villagers liked the trading store and the resultant money that was coming into Umuofia. They were also starting to think that the religion had some substance.
How did Mr. Brown act to gain converts? He used a frontal attack. He threatened to kill all of the children if the adults did not convert. He bribed them with money. He built a school and a hospital. What did Enoch do? He killed the sacred python. Enoch publicly unmasked one of the egwugwu, thus killing an ancestral spirit.
He molested one of the young girls. He stole food from some of the women. What was Okonkwo afraid of before the big meeting in Chapter 24? The wrath of the District Commissioner. That Egonwanne would convince the tribe not to fight. He didn't want to fight against former clansmen. The Court Messengers were tough fighters. What was the result of the action taken by the egwuguw? Okonkwo and five of the leaders were imprisoned. The village of Umuofia was fined bags of cowries.
Smith became ill and returned to England. They were all hanged.
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