Things Fall Apart: Key Quotes Chapters 19-21
Things Fall Apart: Key Quotes Chapters 19-21
Chapter 19 Key Quotes
“He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
- Okonkwo’s metaphorical expression about the invasive influence of European colonisation symbolises the erosion of the Igbo way of life.
- The knife can be seen as the destructive force that disrupted the delicate balance and unity of the community.
“Umuofia kwenu,” and then he drank his palm-wine.”
- This quote demonstrates the strong sense of togetherness and unity amongst the people of Umuofia.
- It underlines the ‘‘respect for the collective’’ in Igbo society, contrasting with the individualistic approach of the European colonisers.
Chapter 20 Key Quotes
“[Okonkwo] mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart…“
- This exemplifies Okonkwo’s distress over the crumbling of indigenous practices and the rise of foreign influences.
- It exposes the cultural shift the society is experiencing and Okonkwo’s lamentation of the same.
“Let the white man be white man and the snake be snake. One of them even told me: ‘go home and consult your oracle.’“
- This prejudice reflects the persistence of discrimination under the guise of superiority, even on the native land of the marginalised.
- It underlines the exclusionary tactics of colonialists and the taboos they foisted despite their own eccentricities.
Chapter 21 Key Quotes
“The white man’s magic is real. We scorned it at first, now we must accept that it is the most potent in all the world.”
- The power of the white man’s magic is indicative of the technological advancements brought by the colonisers.
- It highlights the evolving views of the Igbo people in the face of new technologies and the beginning of an era of cultural assimilation.
“We should have killed the white man if you had listened to me.”
- Okonkwo’s resistance to change is accentuated here as he clings onto the old ways.
- His frustration represents the sentiments of those who opposed the imposed transformations, and felt their voices were suppressed in the new system.