Love in Things Fall Apart

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Ikemefuna’s death. During Ikemefuna’s ‘death walk’ (which he believes is the walk that will bring him home to his old village and family), his thoughts sway back and forth between his sorrow for leaving his newly gained family and the idea of the happiness that could come from returning to his real family. While he is processing all of his feelings, one of the nine elders raises his machete and takes the first blow. Ikemefuna cries out, “My father, they have killed me!” (Ch. 7, pg. 53). Seeming to have put his feelings away, Okonkwo simply “draws his machete and cuts him down.” (Ch. 7, pg. 53). One would think that Okonkwo would have taken an entirely different approach to this whole situation. For he loves Ikemefuna as if he were his own and accepted him into his family. Okonkwo’s actions show the weakness that we as humans all carry with us; the desire to be strong among other people. Instead of sticking by Ikemefuna and fighting to save his life, he put his love aside and did ...

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