Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart culminates in a deeply unsettling act: the protagonist, Okonkwo, takes his own life. This grim ending leaves readers grappling with the question: Why Did Okonkwo Kill Himself? Was it a rash decision born of shame and anger, or were there deeper, more complex motivations at play? While interpretations may vary, examining Okonkwo’s character, his values, and the encroaching colonial forces reveals a multifaceted tragedy that extends beyond a simple act of despair.
Some might argue that Okonkwo’s suicide was an impulsive reaction to his loss of control. Having lived his life striving for dominance and fearing weakness, the sight of the court messengers dismantling his clan’s meeting and his inability to rally his people could be seen as a breaking point. Shame, as some suggest, could also be a factor. Okonkwo, a man defined by his honor and status within the Umuofia clan, might have found the humiliation of his culture’s collapse unbearable. However, to reduce his suicide to mere impulsive shame or a temper tantrum is to overlook the profound shifts occurring within Okonkwo’s world and his evolving understanding of his place in it.
As the narrative progresses, the conflict in Things Fall Apart increasingly becomes one of culture and belief systems. Okonkwo, initially dismissive of the gods and reliant on personal strength and hard work, begins to grapple with the spiritual dimensions of the colonial impact. His earlier distrust of fate and reliance on his own ‘chi’ is challenged by the seemingly unstoppable erosion of his tribal norms and traditions. We see glimpses of a man seeking solace, ironically, in the traditional spiritual practices of his ancestors, evidenced by the Umuofia’s act of dismantling the Christian church by masked spirits. This suggests a deepening, albeit conflicted, engagement with the spiritual realm as a source of resistance against the colonizers.
Okonkwo’s defiant stance against the white man is undeniable. His declaration to “fight alone if [he should] choose” and to “avenge himself” highlights a spirit unwilling to yield. Yet, his suicide, viewed superficially, seems to contradict this defiant nature. How can a man so determined to fight end his own life in what appears to be a defeated act? This is where the interpretation of suicide as a calculated act of resistance gains traction.
Okonkwo’s suicide can be interpreted as a final, desperate curse upon the colonizers. In Umuofia culture, suicide is an abomination, rendering the deceased’s body unclean and forbidding clan members from handling it. Obierika’s statement, “His body is… an abomination. Only strangers may touch it,” underscores this cultural taboo. Okonkwo, acutely aware of this belief, might have strategically chosen suicide to transform himself into a spiritual blight, a haunting presence that would forever mar the land for the white man. By severing himself from the clan and ensuring he would likely be buried in the Evil Forest – the very land given to the Christian church – Okonkwo could be envisioned as aiming to become a malevolent spirit, eternally disrupting the colonizers’ presence.
This perspective reframes Okonkwo’s suicide from an act of personal despair to a final act of defiance and spiritual warfare. A violent confrontation with the colonizers would have resulted in imprisonment or execution under the white man’s legal system, a far less potent form of resistance from a spiritual standpoint. Suicide, in this context, becomes a horrific but purposeful act, a way to transcend the limitations of physical defeat and strike a blow in the spiritual realm.
While some may find the ending abrupt or emotionally underwhelming, particularly in comparison to a glorious last stand, it is crucial to recognize the nuanced tragedy Achebe presents. Okonkwo’s death, though preventable in a simplistic sense, is the culmination of a complex interplay of personal pride, cultural disintegration, and a desperate attempt to reclaim agency in the face of overwhelming forces. His tragedy is not merely personal; it reflects the larger tragedy of a culture collapsing under the weight of colonialism. It forces us to confront the devastating consequences of cultural imperialism and the extreme measures to which individuals might resort when their world falls apart.
Ultimately, Okonkwo’s suicide is not easily categorized. It is a complex act born from a confluence of personal and societal pressures. It is a testament to the destructive impact of colonialism, not just on societal structures, but on the very soul of the individual. Understanding why Okonkwo killed himself requires us to look beyond simple explanations of shame or anger and delve into the deeper currents of cultural resistance, spiritual defiance, and the profound tragedy of a world irrevocably lost.
