Obierika as friend

In the novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo goes to his friend Obierika. As the reader we do not really get an insight into who exactly Obierika is, but we can see that he plays an important role in Okonkwo's life. They depend on one another and go to each other for advice. After the death of Ikemefuna, Okonkwo was feeling guilty and not himself. He went to go visit Obierika and seek his friend's help and comfort. Obierika would not go the night that the men killed Ikemefuna and Okonkwo inquired as to why he did not come. Obierika responded by saying, "But if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it (Achebe, 67)." This offered Okonkwo good insight into the situationa and showed him a different point of view. Although Okonkwo did not agree with what Obierika believed, it gave him something to think about. Obierika's friendship with Okonkwo is also evident in the fact that he wanted Okonkwo to be there for the ceremonies surrounding his daughter's marriage. These ceremonies are an important part of their culture and Obierika wanted Okonkwo to be present. Their friendship continued even after the death of the boy Okonkwo caused during the celebration. Obierika knew the ways of the clan and knew that it was necessary to keep the tradition of the punishment for a crime, but he also held his friend very dear. He was upset that his friend had to leave the village and take refuge somewhere else. " Why should a man suffer so grievously for an offense he had committed inadvertently? (Achebe, 125)" This quote shows Obierika's conflict in being a good friend, but also knowing the traditions. Once Okonkwo has been in exile, Obierika comes to visit his friend and shows that he has been loyal to him. He brings Okonkwo the money from his crops and tells him that he will continue to do so until Okonkwo returns. This shows that