Chinua Achebe 's Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, is a story of a traditional village in Nigeria from inside Umuofia around the late 1800s. This novel depicts late African history and shows how the British administrative structure, in the form of the European Anglican Church, imposed its religion and trappings on the cultures of Africa, which they believed was uncivilized. This missionary zeal subjugated large native populations. Consequently, the native traditions gradually disappeared and in time the whole local social structure within which the indigenous people had lived successfully for centuries was destroyed. Achebe spends the first half of the novel depicting the Ibo culture, by

There are passages in this novel, however, that implies a more critical attitude on Achebe’s part. Despite the sophisticated aspects of the Ibo tribe, they still perform parts of their system of belief which are considered uncivilised and primitive. However, these measures can be considered a way of dealing with difficult or unpleasant circumstances. One example Achebe uses to depict the injustices in Ibo culture, is where it was believed that a child who died and return to its mother to be reborn again, several times, was the work of an evil spirit or an ogbanje child. If this occurs then a ‘medicine-man’ would “...bring out a sharp razor from the goatskin bag slung from his left shoulder and mutilate the child.” (P.56) It was assumed that in doing this that the ogbanje child “…would think twice before coming again.” (P.57) Twins, like an ogbanje child, were also greatly feared and were “thrown away” (P.89) at birth. Both of these examples show how the Ibo tribe rely on their primitive systems of belief to deal with incomprehensible circumstances.

What effects can fear have on a person? And how can these effects influence that person? Fear is defined in the Oxford dictionary as ‘an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm’. The tragic novel “Things Fall Apart”, written by the renowned Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, is an incredibly influential text. The novel is also an example of how fear can be utilised as an approach to characterisation. Achebe composed his novel in a manner, which portrays a complex and dynamic community to represent Nigerian cultures to a western audience. Achebe was able to attain this through the Ibo communities and the main character Okonkwo. In the beginning of the novel, Okonkwo is represented as a man of pride, success, and hard

Achebe also illustrates the Ibo judiciary and political system throughout the entire story. Similar to those in other cultures, the Ibo people had a very structured social order. In the beginning of the story on page 18, Achebe describes Nwakibie’s status in the Ibo village by stating he, “…had taken the highest but

In the novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe demonstrates how the integration of two different cultures can result in the destruction of one entirely. The story is centered around Umuofia, one of the 9 Ibo villages in Nigeria, Africa. It is a confined, well-structured society that is commonly viewed as a Utopia, or an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. It is a tight-knit community with little to no conflict. All inhabitants share the same cultural beliefs, the village has a well-developed justice system to keep things in order, and they even have traditions that bring them all closer together. However, it doesn't take too long for things to completely fall apart. Sooner rather than later, the village

In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the characters Ikemefuna and Obierika are used as “foil characters,” and reveal pertinent traits of Okonkwo’s true nature. The traits of Ikemefuna and Obierika contrast the traits Okonkwo, and allow the reader greater insight into Okonkwo’s fear of emasculation and his trepidation for the transformation of Igbo culture. Both Obierika and Ikemefuna accentuate the abhorrence Okonkwo has for becoming epicene and opprobrious like his father. Obierika also is skeptical of the Igbo culture in that he questions aspects of Igbo traditions and rituals, for he feels a certain degree of change may benefit their society. Furthermore, Ikemefuna’s character also reveals not only Okonkwo’s fear of emasculation, but

Are men always supposed to be represented as superior and tough? The novel, “Things Fall Apart” is about the tragic fall of the Ibo culture and main character Okonkwo. Reason why things fall apart is due to the men within the Ibo culture converting to a new religion. Chinua Achebe shows that men in the Ibo culture are expected to be superior, successful, and strong. Okonkwo is one man who embodies all the traits of a successful man. Achebe also shows how unsuccessful men of the Ibo culture led to things falling apart.The novel shows this with multiple events that happened in the the book for example when Okonkwo the main character becomes successful by beating Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling match and much more. In the novel men are represented

Introduction Throughout the novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, there are several attributes that lead to the demise of Okonkwo. Often times the result of acting on personal emotional impulses can carry with them negative outcomes. Okonkwo was a noble, appreciated man in the nine villages in which tribes had lived(Achebe 1). The traits that gave him that status are believed to have come through both his fear of failure and desperation to succeed (Achebe 4). Unoka, Okonkwo's father, was unsuccessful in the nine villages which led to Okonkow's lack of respect for him and those who do not work hard in the community (Achebe 1).

“Things Fall Apart,” by Chinua Achebe, is a story that takes place during the colonization of africa by European powers, and follows the adult life of Okonkwo. The village that Okonkwo calls home, Umofia, has a rich history and culture. A large part of their culture is how the two sexes are treated differently. Men are much more revered than women. The roles assigned to men and women greatly impacted Umofia’s society because of women’s required subservience, the treatment of women, and the unchangeable tasks assigned to each gender.

The strengths of Achebe’s novel and Issacman’s reading are how they illustrated how colonialism tears culture and tradition apart. In Achebe novel, it is has many historical contexts that occurred British colonialism that brought over their government and religion and their indirect ruling at the beginning of the 19th century in Africa.   When the Christian missionaries came over and basically said that the traditions were wrong, Okonkwo would not stand for it. However, one of the weakness of the novel is Okonkwo overbearing expectations of his family and himself and the extremes he took to restoring his village to the way it was before which is too much as well the conflict of colonialism did not come until halfway through the book.   However the strength of the novel is how Achebe illustrated the Igbo culture before the arrival of colonialist and missionaries. This helped us actually understand why Okonkwo and Africans felt at that time in colonialism in West Africa. From Achebe perspective, he shows the characters in the novel and in history how Africans view Europeans as odd and possibly threatening invaders. We experience colonialism, therefore, from the perspective of a colonized people. As Okonkwo friend, Obierika metaphorically explains how colonialism tore apart the Igbo culture

The most traumatizing and destructive statement someone can say is to “Be a Man.” As Carlos Gomez once stated, “So many men in this world (are) living in this sort of quiet desperation, confined in this box of toxic masculinity.” In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, some characters are the epitome of this toxic masculinity. Things Fall Apart shows the dimension of both Igbo people and culture, while highlighting the tale of a tragic hero, Okonkwo. Okonkwo’s rise to glory was demonstrated by his humble beginnings and eye for prosperity. However, abundant cultural differences show how conflict emerges between individuals and what society expects of them. The novel also in part traces Okonkwo’s lack of emotional awareness as he murders his surrogate son while simultaneously criticizing his other biological son for being effeminate. Ultimately, Okonkwo’s obsession with masculinity sparked aggression between the white missionaries, and eventually he was driven to commit suicide. Chinua Achebe reveals that the overpowering theme of hyper masculinity portrays one as emotionally unacceptable, and although one ideal, the author demonstrates how heavy masculine qualities tear apart relationships and structure in life.

In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the reader is taken on a journey to a Nigerian tribe, Umuofia, to experience first-hand the struggles of a warrior named Okonkwo. Okonkwo showed that he had so much to live for, but as seen through the story, that quickly changed. Okonkwo was not any old village boy, he didn’t inherit a farm, nor was he from a wealthy family. Okonkwo disliked his father because he never paid his debts and was always looking to borrow money from others in the village. This left Okonkwo in a tough situation. The clash of cultures is one of the most important themes seen in book. After the Christian missionaries arrived in Umuofia, they immediately begin to alter the locals, which was ultimately the

Achebe’s Things Fall Apart moved me in a way that had once been unreachable by non-Western literary works regarding the state of foundation in the pre-colonialization period of Africa, and of course the subsequent rule from European powers. It is clear that Achebe sought to paint a truer picture of the sophisticated culture and traditions embedded in tribes that had only been smeared by Europeans who were solely after conquest, commerce, and Christianity.

Chinua Achebe uses characterization in the first part of Things Fall Apart to introduce the beliefs and male gender expectations of the people of the Ibo culture. Achebe starts by introducing the main character, Okonkwo, who is the spitting image of a respectable person within the Ibo culture. Okonkwo and his father, Unoka were on opposite sides of the spectrum when it came to being a respected man, or a man looked at as if he were a woman. Unoka was a musician, and Okonkwo was a fortunate farmer, and a brave soldier that fought for his people, but also for the fame. Unoka “was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat” (15). While Unoka was the spitting image of a dishonorable man, his son, Okonkwo, is one of the most honorable men in

The certain Ibo words included in the novel help develop a taste for true African culture. Without these words, Achebe would not have been able to explain himself as well as he did. The words that are used in the english language differ greatly from the words used in Ibo language. Achebe illustrates this when he writes, “That was how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could also mean a man who had taken no title” (Achebe 13). In this piece from the novel, it demonstrates that the special African word has a greater meaning than any English word ever could. If Achebe were to just say the word woman in place of the word agabala, many readers may become confused as to what he means. The word choice establishes what true African culture is. The author demonstrates this principle of the difference of language on many occasions throughout the novel such as, “This man told him that the child was an ogbanje, one of those wicked children who, when they died, entered their mothers’ wombs to be born again” (Achebe 77) and