Things Fall Apart: Chapter 12

The main event that occurs in Chapter 12 is the wedding between Ibe and Obierika's daughter. This wedding creates a positive environment, and focuses on the building friendships between the two families. This is also a time when the families come together, and help each other during this ceremony (shown on pg.113, when men, women, and children have assigned jobs to help) This positive mood is not only shown within the village, but through Okonkwo. He has nothing negative to observe, and for the first time in the story his sees nothing that reflects "unmanliness" upon anyone. He also maintains a positive attitude, and does not lose his temper with anyone. The people in the village/at the wedding also recognize his strength and bravery. For example when Obierka is speaking at the wedding (as he presented the kola nuts to his in-laws) he says, "Your daughter will bear sons like you." (pg 117) or "...they paid short courtesy visits to prominent men like Okonkwo..." (pg 119) I think this recognition of Okonkwo's strength is a very important part of this chapter, because he is now not only known as a great wrestler in the village, but as someone that the people to look up to and want their children to be similar to.

Is this what Okonkwo has been waiting to hear? Has all his hard work to be different from his father paid off and noticed throughout the village?