Chapter Summary
- A trial takes place in the center of the village.
- The clan's ancestral spirits, or egwugwu come out. They administer justice in the clan.
- The egwugwu are actually men from the clan dressed up. Okonkwo is one of them.
- The trial is between a man named Uzowulu and his wife, Mgbafo, and her three brothers.
- The brothers accuse Uzowulu of being a monster and beat Mgbafo while she was pregnant, miscarrying the child as a result.
- The brothers demand that Uzowulu beg for Mgbafo to return and to never beat her again. The egwugwu are happy with this.
- One elder questions if this case is important enough for the egwugwu.
Character List
The egwugwu - The clan’s ancestral spirits, impersonated by men of the clan, including Okonkwo. They act as a sort of jury, resolving disputes taking place between clan members.
Evil Forest - The leader of the egwugwu. Said to have smoke pouring from his head.
Uzowulu - The husband of Mgbafo. Says to the council that Mgbafo’s three brothers beat him and then forcibly took his wife and children away.
Mgbafo - The wife of Uzowulu. Doesn’t actually take part in the case.
Odukwe - The eldest of Mgbafo’s three brothers. Represents Mgbafo’s party in the case. Says that his sister's husband is a monster and beats her excessively.
Cultural Analysis
- The egwugwu who are the ancestral spirits who also act as the judges and decide with Mgbafo and her brothers.
- The egwugwu seem ok with the brothers threatening Uzowulu openly during the trial.
- Similar to a domestic violence court case
- In this culture beating the wives is accepted and there is not a such as jail time, just an apology from the man.
Things Fall Apart - Chapter 10