PART THREE (CHAPTER 20-25)

Okonkwo home  coming wasn’t memorable as a lot has happened in Umuofia that many did not take notice of his arrival. Okonkwo knew that he had lost his place among the nine masked spirits who administered justice in the clan. He had lost the chance to lead his warlike clan against the new religion, which , he was told, had gained ground. He had lost the years in which he might have taken the highiest titles in the clan. But however he consoled himself since these losses were  not irreparable.

In  Umuofia the white man did not only come with his religion but also his government, as the writer puts it ‘They had built a court where the district commissioner judged cases in ignorance.’

The people of Umuofia feared the court of the white man that whosoever killed a fellow clan member despite the circumstances surrounding the death , such a fellow would be killed by hanging as it was in the case of Aneto who killed Oduche.

During the reign of Mr. Brown, there was relative peace. He  mingled with the people wanting to understand the working of their mind and how to persuade them without been forceful. As he earlier learnt that using force on the people will yield no result. He was persuasive and he persevered that he was able to build schools and was able to convince the people to attend. But for his health issue he had to be replaced by Mr. Smith, who was rather different from Mr. Brown  as the writer puts it  ‘He condemned openly Mr. Brown’s policy of compromise and accommodation . He saw things as black and white. And black and evil. He saw the world as a battle field in which the children of light were locked in mortal conflict with the sons of darkness.’

In chapter twenty-two we saw  that as a result of the action of Mr. Enoch, one of the converts by unmasking one of the Egwugwu ; the church structure was brought down by the Egwugwu. This action by the Egwugwu got the attention of the District Commissioner, who invited the six leaders of Umuofia in which Okonkwo was among the six leaders. While in the meeting with the District Commissioner, unknown to the leaders of Umuofia they were rounded up and the six men were handcuffed. They were badly beaten by the court official and were released upon the payment of the fine they were aske d to pay .

Okonkwo was deeply angry at what happened to him and also at the fact that the people of Umuofia are not ready to got to war . Like he would always say  ‘worthy men are no more’.

Okonkwo is a man of action and not a man of thought. He is a man that is so impatient with unsuccessful and slow  people. Despite his greatness and achievements  he was unable to check his temper which eventually led to his dead.

There is no difference between Okonkwo and his father. Both had weaknesses which they were unable to control and which eventually led to their death. Both not having a decent grave or given a decent burial..

In chapter twenty-five Okonkwo thoughtlessly  used his matchet and killed a court official who wanted the people of umuofia to stop their meeting.

‘Okonkwo stood looking at the dead man. He knew that Umuofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messengers escape. They had broken into tumult instead of action’.

And the next thing that he did afterwards as to take his life without considering the customary implications. As the writer puts it through Obierika ‘It is against our custom. It is an abormination for a man to take his own life. It is an offence against earth, and a man who commits it will not be buried by  his clansmen. His body is evil, and only strangers may touch it.’

Okonkwo who started out very well in life, from a nobody to somebody of influence and a great leader in Umuofia was buried like a dog. Okonkwo always says he was not a coward, everyone was a coward but not him but he died a cowardly death.

From the character  Okonkwo, what clearly comes to mind is that wisdom is the principal thing, without wisdom it is impossible to remind at the top in fame and prosperity.  The end!!