When another clan commits a crime again Umuofia, a boy, Lkemefuna, eventually is going to be sacrificed. Before that happens, he lives  with Okonkwo,  and becomes almost like a son/brother to the family. Eventually a group of people, including Okonkwo, take him into the forest to kill him. Okonkwo does not want to be seen as weak.

A major change occurs when Okonkwo's gun fires and kills a boy.  Because of the gun firing, Okonkwo and his family have to live without the clan for 7 years. Okonkwo grows bitter because he alway thought that a man creates his own destiny but now realizes that he could not control his own destiny and has to start over and he is not young.  He takes his family to his mother's homeland where they are taken in.  

While they were in exile, the white man came to Umuofia. The missionaries came and got some people to convert and then a lot of people converted, even his oldest son, Nwoye. Okonkwo is not happy and beats him and Nwoye leaves home.

Okonkwo eventually returns to Umuofia but  it is not the same and there is little tradition. There is a new government and they cannot make decisions for themselves like they did before.

When a person takes off a mask, the clan people decide that the new church is should not be allowed in Umuofia and tear down the church. 
The Commissioner asks the leaders of Umofia to meet with him and he puts them in jail until they can pay a fine.  

After they get out, Okonkwo tells the clan he wants to fight. When the messengers show up to break up the meeting Okonkwo kills the  messenger and the other escape. His clan does not help him. He finally realizes that he is on his own and will die under the white law.  Okonkwo returns home and hangs himself.