Chapter 10 of "Things Fall Apart" depicts a village public trial presided over by the egwugwu, masked and costumed figures representing ancestral spirits. The setting is the large village commons, where the elders sit on stools, with men and women gathered around. The egwugwu hear the case of Uzowulu, who claims his in-laws took his wife from his house. Odukwe, Mgbafo's brother, acknowledges the claim but states they did so to protect her from Uzowulu's abuse. After deliberation, the egwugwu order Uzowulu to reconcile with his in-laws and promise not to harm his wife, emphasizing the cowardice of fighting with a woman. The trial concludes with the villagers reflecting on the significance of such disputes being brought before the egwugwu.