I really appreciate Professor Quayson pointing out the link between the marketplace and the Evil Forest, which I missed when reading the novel. When I read the book, Okonkwo reminded me strongly of Achilles.
Yes, you might say that Okonkwo has an Achilles heel, which in his case is his anger. But his weakness is also a product of historical conditions and it is these conditions that exacerbate the consequences of his resorting to his fists when he cannot get his words out.
Thank you for this! I’m reading Things Fall Apart independently and your post allows me to rejoin the community of literature scholars. Secondly, your observation around the lost of the didactic-Evil forest versus the Marketplace as the origin for the start of chaos blew my mind. As a student of gender studies the lost of the didactic/diametric (he/she) is what causes so much chaos when folks consider sexuality the acceptance of fluidity and it’s impact on power and the traditional or order.
Epochal changes, in other words, are often tragic for those who have the most to lose in the the passing of an age. Such is the fate of the Okonkwo faction. Kudos, Professor Quayson.
Leke, that is completely true. But the subtle changes in Umuofia that make his final act of beheading the kotma incomprehensible to them also means that they are also the victims of a tragic historical processes. The difference is that the changes are more subtle for the people but much more dramatic for Okonwko.
It's been 40 years since I read any of the classic African novels. I don't recall reading this, but it's possible I read A MAN OF THE PEOPLE and/or NO LONGER AT EASE, but maybe I'm just remembering the book covers. 45 years ago I had a linguistic prof named Okonkwo, who was Igbo. In your narrative, the arrival of the Christians is most interesting. Evil Forest --> Christianity --> altered relationships: new form of community. I didn't understand the ending. "Actions transcend frames of interpretation ....." I couldn't put all this together, but it's fascinating.
Things Fall Apart is definitely worth reading if you haven't read it before. And the arrival of the Christians alters social relations in a very subtle way. Okonkwo tries to push the moment to its crisis but his people do not go along with him. And therein lies a key aspect of his tragedy.
Really a good talk on the novel. Following the lecture series for upgrading my knowledge. Hope to watch a video of Ngugi wa Thiong'o's DECOLONIZING THE MIND, some day.
Wonderful analysis within just a time of half-an-hour! Thank you so much Sir for sharing this episode. Maybe you could do an episode on Tutuola's Palmwine Drinkard! Wish you a serene New Year Professor Quayson! Love from India!
Thank you ever so much. I will take the English Literature exam. One of the novels which should be under consideration is 'falling things apart'. It could be a big help.
Would you comment on how your reading of Okonkwo as a tragic character (and your thoughts on the Aristotelian, Judaeo-Christian and Shakespearian conceptions of tragedy) relates to the conception of tragedy that Achebe puts in the mouth of the protagonist of No Longer at Ease (sipping wormwood eternally)? It is impossible to state how precious your insightful readings are, so I won't try. Thank you.
Hi Adebiyi, this is too large a question to be able to deal with properly here. But suffice it to say that I have a book soon coming out titled Tragedy and Postcolonial Literature soon coming out with Cambridge University Press that tackles Obi's views on tragedy in No Longer at Ease directly. I will dedicate a special episode to talk about my book and the main claims I make in it once it is actually out. So watch this space!
An insightful review of a masterpiece novel. I really enjoyed your precise summary and analysis. Prof, I was wondering whether Okonkwo’s tragedy and fall from grace; from being a “prime representative, a spokesperson , husband, farmer, warrior and central figure” to his culture was because of his own fault (hot temperament , and indecisiveness) or was it as a result of the change and altering of the “Umofians’ values”, culture and belief systems that came with the introduction of Christianity?
Great analysis Prof. Thanks a lot. May I suggest that you give us the chapters of your extracts so we can follow your readings. though we may have different editions, with the chapters, we can locate your quotes. now Prof.I replayed the video severally to get the bit on"your analysis of t the question asked after Okonkwo killed the messager. you explain, "the question makes no sense within the context of the alternation that has taken place in society": Please I don't get it, are you suggesting that the 'askers' are affected by the wave of change resulting from the coming of the Eurochristian missionaries and therefore should not have asked that question? 2. for years I have been trying to understand why nothing happened to the Christians at the evil forest when the village expected them to be dead within three days. Could it be that, the object of worship of the Umuofians same as that of the Christians? Thank you.
Great suggestion, Agyeiwaa. Will give location of where I am reading the extracts from in next episodes. In terms of the question that makes no sense, I meant to say that that question is senseless because it would have had an unambiguous answer (declaration of war) in an earlier period but now produces only tumult and confusion. But the confusion is because the value system of Umuofia has subtly changed in a mere seven years of the course of his exile, so that what would have been clear to everyone before is no longer so. But values don't change out of the blue; it is people and society that are the bearers of values. Except of course for Okonkwo, who is still completely wedded to the old value system of unambiguous assertions.
Prof please allow me to also attempt an answer to the 1st question. From your analysis of the functionality of the evil forest and the market, I understood two other positions; 1) a cosmological standpoint of what "evil" is to the people, and how it affects life generally. 2) The market, as you aptly explained, representing a community where class is performed, epic memory is invoked in communal decisions, and where communal sentimentality is enacted to further validate Umoufia ideals. The positional switch of the market/gathering place becoming a place of evil (ie. if the location and context for the perpetuation of the murder by Okonkwo is considered evil, further validates the evil forest-and now Christian church as rather the 'market/community/place of gathering' where cultural ethos are enacted). As such the switch between these two key places as you have taught, dismantles Umoufia knowledge systems and thus what was considered "okay" is now not okay. I also find that the hesitancy of the people to follow after Okonkwo's act could be as a result of their own guilt in the reverse engineering of the cosmological foundations where their beliefs propelled them to give "evil" to their visitors in order to get rid of them...and hence the question "why did he do that?". Also, they may have broken their own positions of good and evil in that, we find that they only responded to evil when evil had been meted out to them before (eg. when a wife of a leader was killed by a neighboring village). Now they had not been met with evil from the church but proceeded to act in an evil way. Perhaps Karma? Prof, please am i speaking sense? if yes, please adopt me...lol
Hi Alex, I do intend to do Half of a Yellow Sun, but that will come much later in the episodes. But there will be an episode on Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman soon.
ILO IS NOT MARKET PLACE.ILO IS VILLAGE SQUARE. MARKET IS A PLACE FOR TRADING AND BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS. IT'S IGBO CULTURE FOR EVERY VILLAGE TO HAVE A SQUARE AND A MARKET SEPERATE FROM EACH OTHER. IGBO PEOPLE ARE REPUBLICANS BY DNA.
The Igbo culture enters a form of demise only in literature, but historically they adjusted to both the pitfalls and opportunities presented by colonialism and redefined themselves into the vital culture that we know today. Igbo culture remains vibrant and undefeated despite all the worst machinations of colonialism.
I really appreciate Professor Quayson pointing out the link between the marketplace and the Evil Forest, which I missed when reading the novel. When I read the book, Okonkwo reminded me strongly of Achilles.
Yes, you might say that Okonkwo has an Achilles heel, which in his case is his anger. But his weakness is also a product of historical conditions and it is these conditions that exacerbate the consequences of his resorting to his fists when he cannot get his words out.
Your analysis of the relationship between the ilo and the evil forest is so interesting!
You are the best lecturer ever…. Simple but very deep… thank you. Please wish me good luck in my exams tomorrow
Thank you for this! I’m reading Things Fall Apart independently and your post allows me to rejoin the community of literature scholars. Secondly, your observation around the lost of the didactic-Evil forest versus the Marketplace as the origin for the start of chaos blew my mind. As a student of gender studies the lost of the didactic/diametric (he/she) is what causes so much chaos when folks consider sexuality the acceptance of fluidity and it’s impact on power and the traditional or order.
Thank you for this analyses Prof.
Epochal changes, in other words, are often tragic for those who have the most to lose in the the passing of an age. Such is the fate of the Okonkwo faction. Kudos, Professor Quayson.
Leke, that is completely true. But the subtle changes in Umuofia that make his final act of beheading the kotma incomprehensible to them also means that they are also the victims of a tragic historical processes. The difference is that the changes are more subtle for the people but much more dramatic for Okonwko.
You always bring new perspectives I never saw when reading the book. Keep up the good work...I am really learning a lot.
Thanks for the compliments, Nunya. I always try to do the best that I can.
Now studying this story at the University of Guyana, my lecturer gave us this clip to watch. Good explanation👍
Thank you, Prof. for the great analysis..
Thanks for sharing. I totally enjoyed your exposition.
Glad you enjoyed it, Petra!
Awesome ..didactic
Thanks, Franklin. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Really enjoyed this refresher on the famous Achebe book. Thanks for educating us, Prof.
Glad you enjoyed it, Theo.
It's been 40 years since I read any of the classic African novels. I don't recall reading this, but it's possible I read A MAN OF THE PEOPLE and/or NO LONGER AT EASE, but maybe I'm just remembering the book covers. 45 years ago I had a linguistic prof named Okonkwo, who was Igbo. In your narrative, the arrival of the Christians is most interesting. Evil Forest --> Christianity --> altered relationships: new form of community. I didn't understand the ending. "Actions transcend frames of interpretation ....." I couldn't put all this together, but it's fascinating.
Things Fall Apart is definitely worth reading if you haven't read it before. And the arrival of the Christians alters social relations in a very subtle way. Okonkwo tries to push the moment to its crisis but his people do not go along with him. And therein lies a key aspect of his tragedy.
Really a good talk on the novel. Following the lecture series for upgrading my knowledge. Hope to watch a video of Ngugi wa Thiong'o's DECOLONIZING THE MIND, some day.
Thanks, Kalapi. Will do something on one of his novels, likely A Grain of Wheat. More anon.
Indeed. Will be waiting for that and of course your other talks
Wonderful analysis within just a time of half-an-hour! Thank you so much Sir for sharing this episode. Maybe you could do an episode on Tutuola's Palmwine Drinkard! Wish you a serene New Year Professor Quayson! Love from India!
Hi Asis, an episode on Tutuola is definitely on its way. It will be part of a series of episodes on Magical Realism. More anon!
Uniqur analysis and elaborations professor Ayeeko!!!
Thanks, Alex.
Thank you ever so much. I will take the English Literature exam. One of the novels which should be under consideration is 'falling things apart'. It could be a big help.
How was Okonkows life influenced by his wider social context?
Would you comment on how your reading of Okonkwo as a tragic character (and your thoughts on the Aristotelian, Judaeo-Christian and Shakespearian conceptions of tragedy) relates to the conception of tragedy that Achebe puts in the mouth of the protagonist of No Longer at Ease (sipping wormwood eternally)?
It is impossible to state how precious your insightful readings are, so I won't try.
Thank you.
Hi Adebiyi, this is too large a question to be able to deal with properly here. But suffice it to say that I have a book soon coming out titled Tragedy and Postcolonial Literature soon coming out with Cambridge University Press that tackles Obi's views on tragedy in No Longer at Ease directly. I will dedicate a special episode to talk about my book and the main claims I make in it once it is actually out. So watch this space!
@@CriticReadingWriting Splendid, Prof!
Those are even much better than I could have hoped.
An insightful review of a masterpiece novel. I really enjoyed your precise summary and analysis. Prof, I was wondering whether Okonkwo’s tragedy and fall from grace; from being a “prime representative, a spokesperson , husband, farmer, warrior and central figure” to his culture was because of his own fault (hot temperament , and indecisiveness) or was it as a result of the change and altering of the “Umofians’ values”, culture and belief systems that came with the introduction of Christianity?
Thank you sir
Welcome!
Please do Americanah by Chimamanda and Comedy of errors by Shakespeare
Great analysis Prof. Thanks a lot. May I suggest that you give us the chapters of your extracts so we can follow your readings. though we may have different editions, with the chapters, we can locate your quotes. now Prof.I replayed the video severally to get the bit on"your analysis of t the question asked after Okonkwo killed the messager. you explain, "the question makes no sense within the context of the alternation that has taken place in society": Please I don't get it, are you suggesting that the 'askers' are affected by the wave of change resulting from the coming of the Eurochristian missionaries and therefore should not have asked that question?
2. for years I have been trying to understand why nothing happened to the Christians at the evil forest when the village expected them to be dead within three days. Could it be that, the object of worship of the Umuofians same as that of the Christians? Thank you.
Great suggestion, Agyeiwaa. Will give location of where I am reading the extracts from in next episodes. In terms of the question that makes no sense, I meant to say that that question is senseless because it would have had an unambiguous answer (declaration of war) in an earlier period but now produces only tumult and confusion. But the confusion is because the value system of Umuofia has subtly changed in a mere seven years of the course of his exile, so that what would have been clear to everyone before is no longer so. But values don't change out of the blue; it is people and society that are the bearers of values. Except of course for Okonkwo, who is still completely wedded to the old value system of unambiguous assertions.
Prof please allow me to also attempt an answer to the 1st question. From your analysis of the functionality of the evil forest and the market, I understood two other positions; 1) a cosmological standpoint of what "evil" is to the people, and how it affects life generally. 2) The market, as you aptly explained, representing a community where class is performed, epic memory is invoked in communal decisions, and where communal sentimentality is enacted to further validate Umoufia ideals. The positional switch of the market/gathering place becoming a place of evil (ie. if the location and context for the perpetuation of the murder by Okonkwo is considered evil, further validates the evil forest-and now Christian church as rather the 'market/community/place of gathering' where cultural ethos are enacted).
As such the switch between these two key places as you have taught, dismantles Umoufia knowledge systems and thus what was considered "okay" is now not okay. I also find that the hesitancy of the people to follow after Okonkwo's act could be as a result of their own guilt in the reverse engineering of the cosmological foundations where their beliefs propelled them to give "evil" to their visitors in order to get rid of them...and hence the question "why did he do that?". Also, they may have broken their own positions of good and evil in that, we find that they only responded to evil when evil had been meted out to them before (eg. when a wife of a leader was killed by a neighboring village). Now they had not been met with evil from the church but proceeded to act in an evil way. Perhaps Karma?
Prof, please am i speaking sense? if yes, please adopt me...lol
Maybe you could do half of a yellow sun! Or a poem/play by woke Soyinka
Hi Alex, I do intend to do Half of a Yellow Sun, but that will come much later in the episodes. But there will be an episode on Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman soon.
ILO IS NOT MARKET PLACE.ILO IS VILLAGE SQUARE. MARKET IS A PLACE FOR TRADING AND BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS. IT'S IGBO CULTURE FOR EVERY VILLAGE TO HAVE A SQUARE AND A MARKET SEPERATE FROM EACH OTHER. IGBO PEOPLE ARE REPUBLICANS BY DNA.
Okonkwos demise then parallels the subtle but tragic demise of the igbo culture as a result of forced foreign involvement
The Igbo culture enters a form of demise only in literature, but historically they adjusted to both the pitfalls and opportunities presented by colonialism and redefined themselves into the vital culture that we know today. Igbo culture remains vibrant and undefeated despite all the worst machinations of colonialism.