Chinua Achebe Case

Chinua Achebe uses many techniques to create tension and sympathy throughout chapter seven of Things Fall Apart. He expresses everyone's feeling and moods towards Ikemefuna's death. He also shows how much of an impact Okonkwo and Nwoye have on Ikemefuna's life.

One day while Okonkwo and his sons are working on the walls of the great compound, the villagers recognize the locusts coming, which is a great delicacy. Everyone caught the locusts and while Okonkwo, Nwoye, and Ikemefuna are eating the rare food, there was a strange call for Okonkwo to meet with the oldest man of the village, Ogbuefi Ezeudu. He shares the news with Okonkwo that the Oracle has decided Ikemefuna must be killed in return for the woman killed before in Mbaino. Okonkwo was told to take no part in the killing since Ikemefuna called him "Father." The morning of the bug day all the men of Umuofia came fully dressed as if they were going to a clan meeting or pay a visit to an neighboring village.

On the day of the journey, Okonkwo tells Ikemefuna he is returning home to live with his real family, but Ikemefuna doesn't believe Okonkwo. They set off to leave while numerous men of Umuofia come along. As they move farther to the outskirts of town, everything becomes quiet and everyone starts talking discreetly and starts to carry out the plan. Okonkwo is walking beside Ikemefuna but suddenly drops to the back of the group so he has nothing to do with the killing. When Okonkwo falls behind, Ikemefuna becomes scared and worried. From then on, every move that is taken becomes very suspicious to Ikemefuna.

Ikemefuna has completely different feelings towards everyone that plays a role in his life. Ikemefuna isn't very fond of his real father. He likes his mother & sister but he is worried he will not recognize his sister. Ikemefuna thinks of all the possible questions his mom could have and if she would want to hear about everything that happened to him. This shows that Ikemefuna actually cares what his mother thinks of him. He fears that his family will not recognize him and he wonders if his mother is still alive. Okonkwo acts like his father and creates sympathy towards Ikemefuna and tries to comfort him through his thoughts he has about his real family. In conclusion, Ikemefuna has very mixed emotions about everyone that is part of his life.

At first Ikemefuna isn't scared with Okonkwo beside him but it is when he is behind him that he becomes scared. While his back is turned, Okonkwo looked away, and the man who had just cleared his throat strikes Ikemefuna for the first time with the machete. Ikemefuna cries out to Okonkwo, "My father, they have killed me!" and runs towards him. This is a biblical reference to the bible when Jesus is crucified and hung on the cross. Okonkwo afraid to look weak drew back his machete and killed Ikemefuna himself.

This concludes the summary of what

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