Question

Is Okonkwo a victim of a single story? Why or why not? Explain thoroughly. How does the novel Things Fall Apart act as a rejection of a single story? Explain thoroughly.

Answer 1

In this novel, Okonkwo is a victim of a single story. A single story is an explanation of the world that is taken to represent all possible aspects of the world. When we accept a single story, we deny the fact that the world can be quite complex and difficult, and that we do not benefit from oversimplifying it. Okonkwo has a very firm idea of what men and women are like, and he is unable to modify this even when values like compassion or love are threatened by it.

The novel itself acts as a rejection of a single story by showing the sad end of Okonkwo. His inability to adapt or change leaves him lost towards the end, when the things he values are being threatened. Moreover, the fact that he is unable to show weakness or vulnerability because of this adherence to a single story leaves him deeply unhappy. The book suggests that it is better to understand the complexity and subtleties that exist in the world.