A proverb is an originally popular phrase, which has been repeated among people in a society to express a moral thought, advice, or lesson. In Achbe's novel, there are numerous proverbs that reveal the cultural values of the Igbo people, proverbs that represent ideas, or others that provide the point of view on a particular subject.
The figure of the elders in Things Fall Apart is of great importance, as they represent knowledge, respect, tradition, and mysticism. In traditional African societies, they are venerated because they have had many more experiences than young people and this makes them more mature and rational.
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A clear example of wisdom that caught my attention is Ezendu, the oldest man in the village. He tells Okonkwo not to kill his adopted son Ikemefuna. 'That boy calls you Father. Do not bear a hand in his death (Pg.57). He warned him, but Okonkwo finally did not follow his advice and ended up killing the young man for a matter of honor and masculinity.
Proverbs have a direct relationship with the elders, since, as I mentioned earlier, advice or teachings are expanded through them. And the figure of the elders represents respect and truth for Igbo society. So, in order to give credibility to something that is said, references to “wise men” are always made.
As for this, some proverbs that appear during the novel, make reference to these elders. They are easy to differentiate as they begin with expressions like 'our elders say that...', 'as the elders said...', and 'as our fathers said...'. This connotes us that they are sources of wisdom and complete reliability, which derives in some way in a way to offer a tribute to the wisdom of the ancestors.
Examples of those proverbs:
- “Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them.”.
This quote appears in Chapter 1 when Okoye, one fiend of Okonko’s father, comes to collect one of his father’s debts. Unoka replies that he still has bigger debts to pay, and adds this proverb, which means that he will not put the less important things in the position of those that are.
- “As our fathers said, you can tell a ripe corn by its look.”
This proverb appears in chapter three when Nwakbie thoughts about giving Okonkwo yam seeds. Nwakbie trusts him at first sight because he seems mature enough to take care of his yams. This is what the proverb refers to, that only experienced people know who to trust at first sight.
- “As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”
This proverb appears in chapter one to allude to the fact that Okonkwo will not follow in his father's footsteps, this means that he will try to give his best to his children, not like his father did.
- “As the elders said, if one finger brought oil it soiled the others.”
This proverb appears at the end of chapter thirteen when Okonkwo accidentally shoots Ezeudu's eldest son during the funeral. After this tragic event, it was thought that Mother Earth would punish all the people in the village, and this is what the proverb refers to, by the action of one person, many other people, who have had nothing to do with, can be punished.
To sum up, by means of proverbs we remember part of the oral translation, which is characteristic of African cultures, as opposed to the written translation, typical of Western culture. Through these proverbs, experience and knowledge are transmitted, preserving them for the future. The most significant way to expand these proverbs is to allude to the figure of the elders, who not only play a very important role in the tradition and culture of Igbo society but also provide any argument with veracity and reliability.
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