All of a sudden, a tragedy with Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye, occurred. Okonkwo wasn’t sure if he could handle the disappointment, but he soon overcame it. He sent for his other five sons, the youngest being four, and brought them into his obi. While in his obi, Okonkwo basically disowned Nwoye, claiming that he was no longer his son or his sons’ brother. He tells his sons if any of them prefer to be a woman, let him follow Nwoye now when he is alive so that Okonkwo can curse him. “If you turn against me when I am dead I will visit you and break your neck” (172). Okonkwo claimed to be very lucky in his daughters, though he still regretted that Ezinma was a girl. He says that she understood him most, and throughout the years a “bond of sympathy” had grown between them (172).
Ezinma is now called Crystal of Beauty, just like Ekwefi (her mother) had been called when she was younger. The reader also learns that Ezinma had moments of depression when she would snap at everybody, but they didn’t come often. However, when the mood swings did occur, the only person she could stand to be with was her father (172-173).Ezinma had had many suitors come for her in Mbanta, but she turned them all down because of something Okonkwo had told her. “There are many good and prosperous people here, but I shall be happy if you marry in Umuofia when we return home” (173).Okonkwo knew that Ezinma understood the meaning behind his words, so he asked her to explain it to her half-sister, Obiageli. Even thought they were almost the same age, Ezinma had a strong influence over Obiageli (173).Okonkwo once again wished that Ezinma was a boy, but he knew that with two beautiful daughters, his future son-in-laws would be men of authority because “the poor and unknown would not dare to come forth.” Okonkwo’s return would attract “considerable attention” in his eyes (173).Achebe now shows how Umuofia had changed during the seven years of Okonkwo’s exile. The church had been established and “led many astray.” One example of someone who was lead astray was Ogbuefi Ugonna (174).Ogbuefi Ugonna had taken two titles, but threw all this away when he joined the Christians. The missionary was very proud of him, and Ogbuefi Ugonna “was one of the first men in Umuofia to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.” In Ibo, this was called the Holy Feast, and Ogbuefi Ugonna thought this feast to be consisting of food and drink, just to a holier extent (174).
Chapter 20 continued The ‘white men’ had also brought a government to Umuofia. They built a court and had a District Commissioner who had court messengers that brought people to him for trial. Most of the court messengers came from Umuru, where the ‘white men’ had first gone many years before and where they built the center of their religion, trade, and government (174).The reader learns that the court messengers were extremely hated in Umuofia because they were foreigners and they were arrogant. The messengers were called kotma, and they were also called Ashy-Buttocks because of their ash-colored shorts (174).The kotma guarded the prison which held those that had offended the ‘white man’s’ law. The prisoners were beaten by the kotma, and forced to perform slave-like tasks for the ‘white men’ (174-175).Some of the prisoners were “men of title” and were “grieved by the indignity” (175).As they were cutting grass, the younger prisoners would sing, “Kotma of the ash buttocks. He is fit to be a slave. The white man has no sense, He is fit to be a slave.” The Kotma beat the men for being called Ashy-Buttocks. When Okonkwo hears Obierika tell him all this, he feels sadness (175).Okonkwo questions why his people have lost their power to fight. Obierika asks him if he has not heard what the ‘whit men’ had done in Abame, to which Okonkwo answers: “I have heard…But I have also heard that Abame people were weak and foolish… We would be cowards to compare ourselves with the men of Abame” (175).
Chapter 20 continued Okonkwo says that they must fight these people, but Obierika said that it was too late because many of Umuofia had joined the Christians. “If we should try to drive out the white men in Umuofia, we should find it easy. There are only two of them. But what of our own people who are following their way and have been given power? They would go to Umuru and bring the soldiers, and we would be like Abame” (176).What is next spoken about is that the land that once belonged to Aneta was given to Nnama’s family, which had supported the ‘white men.’ The ‘white men’ had decided this, and Okonkwo and Obierika discussed how the ‘white men’ can decide upon matters of the land when they don’t understand the customs of Umuofia” (176).Obierika then states how the ‘white man’ was smart because he came peaceably with the religion, and how the Umuofians were foolish in allowing him to stay. “He [the white man] has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart” (176).Achebe explained how they caught Aneto. Aneto had fled to Aninta. His capture occurred about eight days after the fight between and Oduche because Oduche had not yet died from his wounds. He finally died on the seventh day, and Aneto got his belongings together and prepared to flee. However, the kotma caught him and sent him to prison with all the leaders of his family. Aneto, in the end, was taken to Umuru and hanged (177).Analysis:- Okonkwo is starting to regret that Ezinma is a girl more and more. His goes to show the importance of men in Okonkwo’s eyes since he can’t accept that she’s a girl.
- Okonkwo is beginning to lose hope in Umuofia.
- The ‘white men’ are gaining more control and the clan is basically giving up.
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