Things Fall Apart is a novel by Chinua Achebe. The story follows the life of Okonkwo, a traditionally hypermasculine man who struggles with the shame of his father being a debtor and coward. Okonkwo uses masculinity and aggression to reconcile with father's legacy, eventually becoming a notable man in his village. Throughout the story, Okonkwo faces problems internally and externally that arise from this way of living, while also having to face European colonization.