My Top 3 Key Events of Things Fall Apart

1. When Okonkwo beheads the messenger:
This is a very important moment in terms of Okonkwo's character. Throughout the novel, we see him deal with a lot of internal conflict, which is then amplified when he returns from his exile to see that his village has changed tremendously and has been taken over by the British. After his arrival, his internal conflict builds up more and more, until it finally reaches the climax, and he kills the messenger.

2. Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna:
This event foreshadows Okonkwo's eventual downfall, and acts as a turning point in the story. During the event, Ikemefuna calls Okonkwo his "father", showcasing how strong the relationship they have formed is. Okonkwo is forced to kill Ikemefuna out of fear that he will be considered weak if he does not do so, and this act leaves a huge emotional scar in him.

3. Okonkwo hangs himself:
After he beheads the messenger, the villagers decide not to defend Okonkwo from the British, another example of their unwillingness to fight back. He cannot live with what his village has become, and decides to hang himself, which is considered a disgrace. Okonkwo, who has worked all his life to not be like is father but in the end he is buried in the evil forest just like him. He officially 'falls apart'.


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