Chapter Four Summary

Okonkwo had no patience for less diligent and successful men and lost no opportunity to degrade them, especially in public meetings. He had risen from nothing to become one of the most important men in his village—a feat that was much talked about by the elders of Umuofia.

At a meeting regarding ancestral feasts, Okonkwo had demeaned Osugo, a man with no titles, for interrupting him and had called him a woman. He was chided by the elders for being arrogant and not grateful toward his fortune-bearing spirits. Okonkwo had promptly apologized.

However, Okonkwo had climbed the ladder of success not only on account of a benevolent spirit but purely because of his tenacity and hard work. He had earned fame as a young wrestler and then as a rich farmer. The Igbo people believed that if a man said yes, his chi said yes too. This was also why he was sent as the village emissary to Mbaino and had returned with a virgin girl and a boy, Ikemefuna—who was soon forgotten by the elders and lived with Okonkwo for three years.

Ikemefuna sometimes contemplated running away and even with the affections of a new family, would refuse to eat. Only the fear of Okonkwo’s stick would make him eat. He fell sick for several weeks and when he recovered, he seemed to have forgotten all his fears and weaknesses.

Ikemefuna soon made himself indispensable, especially with Okonkwo’s children, with his prowess in making flutes, catching rodents, and identifying birds. Okonkwo too developed a fondness for him but always hid it. In time, Ikemefuna began to address him as his father.

Ikemefuna came to Umuofia in the carefree season between harvesting and planting and got better by the “Week of Peace”. This was the year Okonkwo broke the peace and was punished by the priest Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess. Once, Okonkwo beat up his youngest wife for not cooking his afternoon meal. Even though his eldest wife tried to save her with lies, it was of no help. Okonkwo beat her mercilessly, despite the pleadings of his other wives.

Immediately afterwards, Okonkwo was visited by the earth goddess’s priest and admonished for disrespecting the gods. As a result of his violence, they would, as a clan, be denied good harvests. For this, Okonkwo was summoned to the temple along with the gift of a female goat, a hen, a length of cloth, and a hundred cowries. Although Okonkwo was inwardly repentant, he made no show of this and was admonished by his neighbors and friends.

Since no one worked during the week of peace, people found nothing better than to talk of Okonkwo’s mistake and his ill-placed pride. They talked of harsher punishments and abominations during the week of peace.

After this period of rest, each family began to work on new farms—clearing old grass and setting it on fire, waiting for the rains to come. Okonkwo was helped by his son Nwoye and Ikemefuna, in sowing his seed-yams. During this time, Nwoye and Ikemefuna became closer as the latter told endless folk tales, with a new flavor.

Chapter Four Analysis

The life of the Igbo people is governed by agriculture. Gods and spirits form a crucial part of this society where diligence and faith go hand-in-hand in societal life. Okonkwo is a hardworking and proud man, who does not shy away from disrespecting the gods in punishing a lazy wife. He is stern with his young sons as he teaches them the laws of farming.

The author makes the narrative almost nostalgic in a remembrance of nature and its bounties. Climate governs what people do—diligent labor in the planting season, a period of rest during torrential rains, and another period of hard work during the harvest season, followed by a celebration of good harvests. Everything that nature bestows upon man is celebrated and respected. And the spirits are lavished with prayers and gifts, in times of need.

The relationship between Nwoye and Ikemefuna also strengthens. The two boys become like brothers. Even though Ikemefuna is brought to Umuofia as part of a peace treaty, he is treated like family and not as an enemy or slave.