Question

In at least one hundred words, create a clear, original, and debatable thesis statement about at least one theme from Things Fall Apart. Include at least two supporting details for your thesis statement. Be sure to avoid using clichés. Use details from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

"Things Fall Apart" is a novel of many themes. One of these themes is masculinity. A man who is not masculine is not truly a man. This means that if a man does not carry the masculine qualities, they are are not truly a "man" but instead a person with undesirable traits and qualities. "Unoka, for that was his father's name, had died ten years ago. In his day he was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow." ("Things Fall Apart," Chinua Achebe). This quote is about Unoka and his qualities. Unoka never had any qualities that were valued in men. Unoka was seen as weak and cowardly. For these reasons, Unoka was not a true "man." " Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness." ("Things Fall Apart," Chinua Achebe). This quote shows that Okonkwo feared that he would not be seen as masculine to others. He was determined to prove that he was indeed masculine.

Answer 2

Answer:

Thesis statement is in the explanation. Details to support the thesis: Okonkwo, the lead, follows customs but believes more in his might, he is an ambitious upstart.

Explanation:

thesis:

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, the protagonist Okonkwo suffers an identity crisis throughout the story as he is too individualistic for the Igbo society and too rigid to change his ways  and accept the western ideals. While among Igbo his ambition is seen as a vice while in front fo the British, his refusal to give up his ways and decision to fight back costs him his life

He is stuck in the crossroads due to his inability to stay in inaction and ultimately represents a man's struggle against an uncompromising society, be it is his own or some foreigner's.