Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
Things Fall Apart- The Meaning - Online Term Paper

Things Fall Apart- The Meaning

Why the Book is Entitled Things Fall Apart
I believe that the title Things Fall Apart refers to the fact that without proper balance, things do fall apart. The notion of balance in the novel is an important theme throughout the book. Beginning with the excerpt from Yeats' poem, The Second Coming, the concept of balance is stressed as important; for without balance, order is lost. In the novel, there is a system of balance, which the Ibo culture seems to depend upon. It is when this system is upset that "things fall apart." Okonkwo, the Ibo religion, and ultimately, the Ibos' autonomy were brought to their demise by an extreme imbalance between their male and female aspects. These male and ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

He had to borrow money in order to maintain this lifestyle, and was never able to pay it back. Okonkwo perceived this trait as an imbalance toward the female side in his father's character; staying at home and not using one's strength to provide for the family is what a woman does. In reaction, Okonkwo completely rejected his father, and also his own feminine side. It was this deep-rooted antipathy toward anything considered weak or feminine that played a key role in his eventual downfall. He became a great wrestler and warrior in his tribe, and began providing for his family at a very young age, while at the same time starting new farms and beginning to amass wealth. He was very successful, soon becoming one of the leaders of his tribe, with many wives and children. His big ambition was to become one of the powerful elders of the tribe, for what could be manlier than that?
Unfortunately, everything was not perfect. His son, Nwoye, seemed to not be showing the characteristics ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

Things Fall Apart- The Meaning. (2007, February 18). Retrieved May 28, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Things-Fall-Apart-The-Meaning/60510

"Things Fall Apart- The Meaning." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 18 Feb. 2007. Web. 28 May. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Things-Fall-Apart-The-Meaning/60510>

"Things Fall Apart- The Meaning." Essayworld.com. February 18, 2007. Accessed May 28, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Things-Fall-Apart-The-Meaning/60510.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 2/18/2007 05:47:59 PM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1163
Pages: 5

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier