On the Religion of Things Fall Apart

While our studies on Okonkwo focuses primarily on his development and fall as a Greek tragic hero, I was greatly distracted from this reading the book because i was intrigued to see the customs of a modern pagan tradition. I haven't been satisfied with much of my writing this quarter, and so I would like to add an entry on what has truly been rolling through my mind.

Observing the natural development of human civilization, one will note that religion adapts and gains complexity as needed for the society. Nomadic hunter-gatherer cultures tended to have shamanic systems, recognizing that the spirits of each land differed, with holy people who could reach out through ancient wisdom and commune with the web of life to aid in hunts, healing, and tribal decisions. As people settled down, the Penates (household gods) of each people settled down, and became a defining characteristic of its society, holding traditions and ties to ancestors.

This is where we see the peoples of Nigeria. There are later phases, where a religion believing itself to be one and true is needed for empire, and still after when diversity of the religion sustains democratic ideal. Neither are present for our discussion.

Now I am not certain the author has bent the religion much to serve his purposes, this would require rather obscure research to determine exactly what changes might have been made. Despite this, Achebe manages to integrate it well into the plot of his story. The use of the oracle since classic times as either a plot instigator or point of controversy. Oedipus itself, for example, a key integration of the divine through prophecy and the will of the gods without any actual deus ex machina.

Take for example the Oracle's prophecy of the death of Ikemefuna, or the ogbanje. While neither of these things are particularly key to the plot, or even the circumstances around them (Killing Ikemefuna without believing to some degree it was because the oracle said he should would not be much of a step from Okonkwo's current state of mind, and has the same effect on his development). However, they both add to the complexity and gravity of the situation to the characters.

Okonkwo's loyalty to his clan's ancestors and gods is reminiscent of Roman Pietas. His resistance to the Christian barbarians is noble, and commendable. In a way it increases pity brought on him towards the end, furthering his tragic nature.

I'm particularly fascinated by the custom of the egwugqu, as real world ritual met with the supernatural so realistically, so significantly, to the people of Umofia. Such sacred a communion I do not feel we have a like in our society. The desecration of one of these masked spirits was the beginning of the end for the religion of the tribe, and thus Okonkwo. This sacred tradition is key, therefore, to the plot of the story, though not per se, merely the interruption of a sacred tradition in general.