Chinua Achebe For the CSET

The reader now hears of the arrival of the Christian missionaries, who take over the village of Mbanta, as well as Umuofia, set up a church and proceed to convert the tribesmen to Christianity.

After his period of exile, Okonkwo returns to Umuofia with his family and finds it totally changed. The missionaries have done a lot for the village. Umuofia is prospering economically, but Okonkwo refuses to change his religion.

A Christian named Enoch enters a meeting of the tribe in which the egwugwu is present, and he unmasks one of them (forbidden in the tribes religion). This causes great anger, and the villagers destroy the church. This action brings the wrath of the District Commissioner, who invites Okonkwo along with five other men and overpowers and imprisons them. These elders are humiliated in the prison. On their return, another meeting is held. The commissioner sends some men to stop the proceedings, and Okonkwo, in a fit of fury, beheads one of them. Finding no more support from his tribesmen, Okonkwo hangs himself.

His tribesmen refuse to cut him down and bury him since taking one’s own life is a violation of the earth goddess. His friend Obierika’s words describe the tragedy: “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog.” With his death, the old way of life is gone forever.