"Things Fall Apart" Chapter 10
Character analysis continued
- Chosen woman- draws detailed pictures of spirits at certain time intervals.
- Okonkwo- main character, highly respected in village, not a big part of ceremony
- Odukwe- shortest and thickest, accused of lying about Uzowulu’s marriage and sleeping with a pregnant woman.
Character Analysis
Chapter 10 summary
Cultural analysis
By Sam, Louise, Grant, and Andrew
- In chapter 10, a ceremonial gathering is held in order to administer justice.
- Ancestral spirits come out of a sacred house, in which women are not allowed, showing that they live in a culture in which men are considered to be higher then women.
- The ceremony acts as a judicial trial, in which there is a dispute between a man and his wife.
- Mgbafo- In a group who respects the elders, her husband is Uzowulu.
- Uzowulu- in the other group, not with Mgbafo, and he’s forced to explain himself.
- Aru oyim de de de dei!- spirit that talks to the people .
- Evil forest- leader and first father of the nine egwugwu
- Ceremony performed, only men are allowed
- Two groups face off, Mgbafo and her brothers, and then in the other group, her husband, Uzowulu, and his family.
- The spirits of the Umuofia ancestors come out of the forest and nine Umuofia gods appear
Chapter 10 summary
Conclusion
- Nothing seems to undermine each villager's perception of Chielo's power
- There seems to bean interest in justice and fairness, despite the village society clearly being dominated by men
- Uzowulu accuses the other side of beating him up and taking away his wife and children
- Uzowulu argues against Mgbafo and her brothers, who claim that Uzowulu was about to beat her to death
- the egwugwu deliberate, and command Uzowulu to his in-laws, and if he ever beats her again, his genitals will be cut off.
Bibliography
- Spark Notes <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/things/section4.rhtml>
- Morgan, Sarah, "Enotes," <http://www.enotes.com/topics/things-fall-apart/summary
- Achebe, Chinua, "Things Fall Apart"