The use of the ideas in Yeats "The second coming" in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe.
Derrick Matthews
December 15, 2002
ENGL 211
"The Second Coming" by William Butler Yeats describes a world about to reach yet another transition in its history, one much worse than the prior. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo views the scenario presented in Yeats' poem as his reality. The first four lines of "The Second Coming" which Achebe decided to preface his book with can be seen as a topical representation of Okonkwo's experiences in the novel.
"Turning and turning in the widening gyre/ The falcon cannot hear the falconer" is how Yeats starts his poem, and consequently it is how Achebe begins Things Fall Apart. For both the poem and the story, this line prepares the reader for what is to follow. The turning in the widening gyre suggests a continual cycle where things are becoming worse and worse. For Okonkwo, this is how the novel plays out for him. Things Fall Apart is very episodic, that is to say that what happened in a prior event has absolutely no consequence on the next one. This structure allows us to see the individual and isolated hardships which Okonkwo suffered through. We're first shown that because of his strong work ethic that one year he decided to plant his yams early, but because of terrible conditions his harvest failed completely. Those who had not started early had a plentiful harvest however. This small trial was easily overcome, and then the next one appears. He is caught beating his wife during the Week of Peace, and is forced to sacrifice that which the priest tells him. Similarly, a minor road bump in the road of life and is easily overcome by giving up a few material possessions. Okonkwo's first real trial appears when Obierika informs him that Ikemefuna will be killed. Unfortunately for Okonkwo, the best case scenario is still a horrible one; his beloved adopted son will be killed. Obierika actually advises Okonkwo to remain in the village and not participate in killing. Okonkwo goes anyway, and strikes down Ikemefuna to avoid being seen as weak. This action has numerous consequences for the main character. First of all, he destroys the relationship with Nwoye which he finally began to build. Secondly, he has done the unspeakable; he murdered one of his own kinsmen (Ikemefuna can be considered as kin because he ended up calling Okonkwo father). This was all done in the name of what he viewed as masculinity. Ironically, no one else thought it would be considered weak to stay behind, that is indeed what he was told to do by the oracle! Ikemefuna was an example of how one could be masculine and gentle at the same time; Okonkwo's murder of his son can be seen as him also killing the idea that masculinity isn't the opposite of feminism and weakness. Okonkwo murdered more than just his son; he murdered his only possible way of overcoming his major flaw. Just as the first line of Yeats' poem suggest, things will get worse before they truly fall apart. And they do, Okonkwo's later exile is an example of that.
December 15, 2002
ENGL 211
"The Second Coming" by William Butler Yeats describes a world about to reach yet another transition in its history, one much worse than the prior. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo views the scenario presented in Yeats' poem as his reality. The first four lines of "The Second Coming" which Achebe decided to preface his book with can be seen as a topical representation of Okonkwo's experiences in the novel.
"Turning and turning in the widening gyre/ The falcon cannot hear the falconer" is how Yeats starts his poem, and consequently it is how Achebe begins Things Fall Apart. For both the poem and the story, this line prepares the reader for what is to follow. The turning in the widening gyre suggests a continual cycle where things are becoming worse and worse. For Okonkwo, this is how the novel plays out for him. Things Fall Apart is very episodic, that is to say that what happened in a prior event has absolutely no consequence on the next one. This structure allows us to see the individual and isolated hardships which Okonkwo suffered through. We're first shown that because of his strong work ethic that one year he decided to plant his yams early, but because of terrible conditions his harvest failed completely. Those who had not started early had a plentiful harvest however. This small trial was easily overcome, and then the next one appears. He is caught beating his wife during the Week of Peace, and is forced to sacrifice that which the priest tells him. Similarly, a minor road bump in the road of life and is easily overcome by giving up a few material possessions. Okonkwo's first real trial appears when Obierika informs him that Ikemefuna will be killed. Unfortunately for Okonkwo, the best case scenario is still a horrible one; his beloved adopted son will be killed. Obierika actually advises Okonkwo to remain in the village and not participate in killing. Okonkwo goes anyway, and strikes down Ikemefuna to avoid being seen as weak. This action has numerous consequences for the main character. First of all, he destroys the relationship with Nwoye which he finally began to build. Secondly, he has done the unspeakable; he murdered one of his own kinsmen (Ikemefuna can be considered as kin because he ended up calling Okonkwo father). This was all done in the name of what he viewed as masculinity. Ironically, no one else thought it would be considered weak to stay behind, that is indeed what he was told to do by the oracle! Ikemefuna was an example of how one could be masculine and gentle at the same time; Okonkwo's murder of his son can be seen as him also killing the idea that masculinity isn't the opposite of feminism and weakness. Okonkwo murdered more than just his son; he murdered his only possible way of overcoming his major flaw. Just as the first line of Yeats' poem suggest, things will get worse before they truly fall apart. And they do, Okonkwo's later exile is an example of that.
