Things Fall Apart: Context: Crime/Violence

Crime/Violence: Context

Traditional Igbo society depicted in Things Fall Apart has its own established system of law and justice exemplified through the egwugwu court.
Crimes in Igbo society are mostly addressed and resolved within the community using their customs and conventions.
The penalty for a crime is typically proportionate to its severity, balancing the principles of retribution and restoration.
There is an understanding of “nso ani”, a crime against the earth goddess, which incurs spiritual consequences beyond mortal control.

Physical violence in this society is common, either as domestic discipline (Okonkwo beating his wives) or rites of passage (Ikemefuna’s execution).
Warfare is a respected avenue for demonstrating courage and valour, reinforcing the masculine ideal of the Igbo society.
The Week of Peace is a significant event, serving as a reminder of the value of peace and the cultures’ aversion to unnecessary violence.

The European colonisers bring their own judicial system which doesn’t take into account the traditional norms and structures of Igbo society.
There is a clash due to this imposition and the disregard for local practices, leading to increasing resentment and conflict.
Crimes under colonial law are mainly dedicated towards protecting the interests of the colonizers.
The death of the messenger by Okonkwo shows the culmination of this conflict and signifies the tragicend of the traditional order.

The colonisers perceive Igbo punishments, such as leaving twins in the forest to die, as barbaric, which deepens the chasm between the two cultures.
Okonkwo’s suicide is seen as an abomination, a crime against the earth, showcasing the clash between personal despair and societal taboos.
The District Commissioner’s disregard for Okonkwo’s death, planning to write about it in a single paragraph in his book, epitomises the colonisers’ lack of respect and understanding of the Igbo culture.