Mr. Smith could not save his church. By the time the egwugwu had left, the church that Mr. Brown had built was burned to ashes (191). Analysis: - There is a great amount of tension between the Church and the clan, which could prove to be a dangerous thing.
- This is the breaking point for the Church. Mr. Smith seems like he is going to try to take control whatever means necessary.
- There is another sense of foreboding when Achebe says: “It seemed as if the very soul of the tribe wept for a great evil that was coming- its own death” (187).
Chapter 23 This chapter begins by saying that Okonkwo began to feel happiness again. He thought that the clan was finally realizing the mistake that they made. Okonkwo had spoken harshly to his clansmen when they met in the marketplace to decide what to do. They all listened to him with respect, just like the “good old days.” Okonkwo was almost happy again (192).After the destruction of the church, nothing happened for two days. All the men walked around armed, so as not to be caught off guard like the men in Abame (192).When the District Commissioner returned from his tour, Mr. Smith immediately went to him and told him everything that had happened in his absence. Three days later, the District Commissioner sent his manipulative messengers to the leaders of Umuofia and asked them to meet in the District Commissioner headquarters. The leaders did not think this strange because they were often asked to hold such meetings. Okonkwo was one of the six that were invited (193).Okonkwo told the others to be fully armed, just in case. The leaders went to meet the District Commissioner and he received them politely (193).The D.C. begins by telling them that he has asked to see them because of what happened while he was away. He then told them that he wanted to hear their side of the story. Ogbuefi Ekwueme stood up to tell the story, but he was interrupted by the D.C. He said that he wanted his comrades to be present for his story (193).The twelve men entered and sat down. Ogbuefi Ekueme began to tell his story when suddenly the twelve men attacked. It happened too quickly for the men of Umuofia to do anything. The men of Umuofia were handcuffed and taken to the guard room (194).
The D.C. told the six captured men that they would not be harmed if they agree to cooperate with him. He goes on to say that they have brought a peaceful administration to Umuofia for their happiness. He continues saying if someone were to harm the Umuofians, the Christians would come to the rescue, but they cannot allow the Umuofians to harm others (194).The D.C. continues telling the men why they have been captured and that the only way in which they will be released is if they agree to pay a fine of two hundred bags of cowries. The D.C. told the court messengers to treat these men with respect because they were leaders, and then he left (194).However, when the D.C. left, the head messenger shaved off all the hair on the men’s heads. They also did not feed or give the men anything to drink for two days, and they were not allowed to go urinate. The court messengers would come in every night and knock the men’s heads together (195).Even when the men were alone, they could not speak to each other because they could not find the words. Eventually, on the third day, they began to talk about giving in. Okonkwo says that had they listened to him, the ‘white man’ would be dead and they wouldn’t be in this situation. One of the messengers had overheard Okonkwo saying that he wanted to kill the ‘white man,’ so he brought a strong stick and hit each man on the head an back (195).As soon as the men were imprisoned, the court messengers when to Umuofia and told them that their leaders would not be released until the village paid them two hundred and fifty bags of cowries. They told the people of Umuofia that unless the fine was paid immediately, their leaders would be taken to Umuru and be hanged (195-196).There were different rumors flying everywhere. Some said that the leaders had already been hanged. Others said that they were to be hanged the next day (196).
Chapter 23 continued Even thought it was the time of the full moon, the regular activities that would have been taking place did not happen. Everything was silent, only to be broken by the beating of the ogene. The crier called that every man in Umuofia was to meet in the marketplace after the morning meal (196).In Okonkwo’s compound, everything was silent. The whole family was there, but they spoke in whispers. Ezinma broke her twenty-eight day visit to the family of her future husband when she heard that her father had been imprisoned. As soon as she got home, she went to Obierika to inquire as to what was going to be done. Obierika was not there, and his wife said that he had been out since morning and that he might have gone to a secret meeting. This please Ezinma because she was convinced that something was being done (197).The following morning, the men met at the marketplace as they were instructed to do the night before. They collected the two hundred and fifty bags of cowries without delay in order to give to the ‘white man.’ What they didn’t know was that the extra fifty bags of cowries was for the court messengers (197).Analysis:- As predicted, the fine line between Church and Clan was finally crossed.
- The men now know that they should have killed the ‘white men’ when they had the chance to.
- When Okonkwo says “An Umuofia man does not refuse a call. He may refuse to do what he is asked; he does not refuse to be asked. But the times have changed, and we must be fully prepared,” (193) he hints on that he senses something is going to happen.
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