What motifs, symbols and / or imagery are evident in this Things Fall Apart and how do they develop characterisation, convey theme, as well as, the author's intention?
Chinua Achebe uses the motif of fire juxtaposed by ash to develop the characters, convey theme, and deepen his intentions.  Fire is feared and respected.  It is a necessity for the people of Igbo, for cooking, warmth and burning off for the next farming season.  It is only helpful when it is contained otherwise it can quickly become powerful, brutal and destructive. 

In Chapter One Achebe shows us what kind of fire Okonkwo is by likening the growth of his fame to a bush-fire, he is out of control.   Okonkwo is known as the Roaring Flame, always displaying ferocious, relentless and violent qualities.  He is always on the verge of breaking out and burning everything.

The remnants and counterpoise of fire is ash.  It is a dead memory of a once burning fire, no longer dangerous, no longer powerful.  The Umuofia’s call the court messengers ‘ashy buttocks’ pg 128 a very demeaning name, as it suggests the messengers are emasculated.  Ashes are used to convey the theme where the culture of Igbo wrestles with change.  In Chapter 17 they find old ashes in the shrines, symbolic of the fire of the culture dying out. 

Majority of the tribe are able to control their fire, ‘as though cold water had been poured on a roaring flame’ pg 149 and always hope for a peaceful resolution.  The problem with Okonkwo is that he does not allow other emotions to surface and has no control over his fiery temper and violent nature.  As he realised himself ‘living fire begets cold, impotent ash’ pg 115, the burning fire within him reeks actions that turn against him to destroy him, to a cold and impotent corpse.