Things Fall Apart by Chinua Acebe

Chinua Acebe's novel Things Fall Apart is a novel in which a perfect world indeed does fall apart. <Tab/>Achebe begins the novel comparing and contrasting Okonkwo, an ambitious man, with his father Unoka, a failure. Okonkwo's determination to be successful comes from the shame and disappointment of his father. Okonkwo will live his life trying to be as different from his father as possible. Although Unoka is a failure, he …

…a feeling that Okonkwo's actions in killing the messenger are to get back at the white people whom are taking over his clan and culture. <Tab/>It is ironic that Okonkwo kills himself at the end, for he feels that he has become no different than his father, a failure, for letting his clan "fall apart." In conclusion, the title of the novel, Things Fall Apart, directly connects with the plot.