Part 3: Chapter Twenty Summary

As Okonkwo prepared to return to Umuofia, he was aware that he had lost his high-ranking status in his period of exile. He was determined to return with a flourish and attain new heights again. In his first year of exile itself, Okonkwo had started to plan his return in a grand manner. Even though Okonkwo had lost Nwoye to Christianity, he was determined to initiate his remaining five sons as strong men of the tribe. His daughter Ezinma during the exile had grown into a very beautiful woman. She rejected all marriage proposals in Mbanta because her father had wanted her to marry in Umuofia. Okonkwo was certain that two young and beautiful daughters, in the prime of their youth, would attract powerful and worthy men for marriage in Umuofia.

In his time away, the church had grown considerably in Umuofia and even attracted wealthy, important clansmen, such as Ogbuefi. The white man’s district court had come up as well and many cases were brought from Umuru, where he had first set up his religion, government, and trade.

Most of the white man’s prisoners were men who had thrown away their twins or molested missionaries. They were made to do menial prison tasks.

Okonkwo was upset at his own village’s quiet, cowardly acceptance of the white man’s rule. Obierika explained that they could not fight the white man’s army of soldiers in Umuru which would come to Umuofia at any sign of trouble.

The white man’s world was corrupt and accepted bribes, often ruling cases in favor of unworthy parties. Obierika explained how the white man had divided and conquered their clan and they could not fight as a unified force anymore.

Chapter Twenty Analysis

By first creating alliances and offering a different religious practice, the white man has now created his own governance, justice, and trade in a land that does not belong to him. The clan is now divided and will not be unified in action anymore to fight the white man. The Igbo people are too innocent and just to be able to act against the white man’s supremacy in his shrewd ways. They only know how to respond in their fashion—with empathy, a supreme sense of fairness, and honesty.