Things Fall Apart: Ancestors

While reading Things Fall Apart, the quote "A man's life from birth to death was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors" (Achebe, 89) in chapter 13 really struck me, and lead me to think about how our past shapes our future.

The first reason the quote grabbed my attention was while the whole clan was trying to become closer and closer with their ancestors, Okonkwo does the exact opposite. His actions are geared towards appearing strong and dominant, so he does not resemble his father. Additionally, he will do anything not to appear weak, even if it means breaking Peace Week and disappointing his ancestors with his unruly actions. Okonkwo's fear of resembling his father keeps him from embracing who he really is, and becoming close with his ancestors.

The second reason why I found the quote interesting was I could easily relate it to today. Our lives are often shaped by the actions of our ancestors, just like Okonkwo. Whether we meet the expectations set for us, or start a whole new set, the present is shaped by our past.

Additionally, as we mature, we get closer to our ancestors. That can be interpreted two different ways. The first would be that as we get older, we get closer to death, which, in turn, brings us closer to those who died before us. The second, and happier, interpretation is as we get older, we have to go through transitions that resemble those our ancestors had to face, such as marriage or working, which brings us closer to our past. It seems that no matter how hard we fight against our past, ultimately we must face it at some point our life time.