Chinua Achebe 's Things Fall Apart Essay

Throughout “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, aspects of Igbo culture are presented to the reader in order for them to obtain a grasp on how people from a part of Africa live. For the majority of Part I, different sides of Igbo culture are relayed to the reader predominantly through the 3rd person, as well as through the perspective of Okonkwo, in order to gain the understanding that these people do indeed, have a rich, intricate, and sophisticated way of life. However, things turn for the worse and in Parts II and III, where Achebe recreates the conflict between European and Igbo cultures at the turn of the twentieth century by focusing on the cataclysmic changes introduced by the forces of Christianity and colonialism, and how they destroyed the strong foundation of the once proud Igbo people.

The classic novel “ Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is about life in Nigeria before it was colonized. The story follows a leader, Okonkwo, and his society’s (Umuofia) lifestyle and traditions. In this particular society, gender roles are not balanced. The male is more dominant.

In Chinua Achebe 's novel Things Fall Apart, a well-known aphorism, "pride goes before a fall", was used. I agreed with and supported this statement. The story line itself backed up this statement as well. Through Okonkwo 's hard work he became a "great man" with a sense of pride and haughtiness, who then suffered a loss of pride, which ultimately led to his down fall and his own suicide.

The author Chinua Achebe, in the novel, “Things Fall Apart,” shares extreme diversity between the female and male characters residing in Umofia. Okonkwo, the male leader of the tribe, carries qualities such as power and manliness, as all men are expected to. As for the females they are commonly referred to as being weaker for child bearing and more responsible because they are expected to cook, clean, and take care of their children. Although the traits of the Igbo culture vary in the determination of the sexes, both genders share both positive and negative aspects on their community.

Cultures cannot acknowledge other cultures, for each one believes they are superior. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart centers on an isolated African tribe. When Christian missionaries arrive in Umuofia from Europe, they cause uproar among the tribe with their alien religion. The missionaries begin to build a church and establish a small community within the tribe’s land, which divests substantial power away from the Igbo tribe. Okwonko, a respected member of his clan, must face the changes caused by the missionaries. He attempts to hold both his clan and family together as the missionaries unravel and suppress his culture. Achebe shows that Christianity not only guides the Igbo people toward better education, but also divides their families

In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, he uses language to elaborate the African cultures and traditions before European colonization occurred. Chinua Achebe was born and raised in a village of Nigeria. Therefore, he has a high understanding of the African culture. This novel takes place around the 19th century in Nigeria. During this time, it was a male-dominated society, women were excluded and marginalized. Men were seen as the superior gender. They were illustrated to be strong and powerful. Women on the other hand were seen as useless, but without them, the Ibo society would fall apart.

In the book, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe presents the main character, Okonkwo, to us as a tragic hero. We watch Okonkwo progress through the book, and observe as his tragic flaw leads to his ultimate downfall. Obierika, Okonkwo’s best friend, always stands by Okonkwo and serves as Okonkwo’s voice of reason as they face the British colonization of their villages. The way Achebe presents these characters to helps shape the overall theme of the novel: the interpretations people have of one another’s culture can lead to their downfall when they clash. More specifically, the misinterpretations the Igbo tribe had of British intentions led to their downfall when the cultures clashed in Things Fall Apart.

Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” tells the story of Okonkwo, an ambitious man from the Igbo village of Umuofia, in modern day Nigeria at the onset of the Colonial era. Okonkwo is a rising member of the society until he inadvertently kills a kinsman and must flee for seven years to his mother’s clan so as not to offend the earth goddess of the village. During this time, British Colonialism reaches the Igbo people and quickly alters their traditional way of life. Through this tale of the Igbo Achebe seeks to illustrate the complexities of African societies and how deeply

Chinua Achebe masterpiece “Things Fall Apart” (1959) is the classic story of Okonkwo, a young man who strives to be revered by his village and family but because of his own internal character flaws meets his own demise. In the Igbo culture, family traditions are an important narrative throughout the novel. Okonkwo, the protagonist character of this story, begins with many attributes of what would be concluded as a hero with his cultural society. He is hard working, a material provider, feared and yet respected by his fellow tribesman. Yet, when dissecting the character more closely, you will in fact see that Okonkwo is not the criterion of a hero and eventually becomes an outcast within his tribe. By understanding the father-son

The classic African literary tale Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a brilliant account of historical African culture and the destruction colonialism can cause upon such cultures. As the reader follows the narrative and complexity of the characters through the novel, a sense of pride, trust, and faith in history emerges. Yet, with the introduction of colonialism the characters must learn to embrace and adapt to a new culture and set of beliefs or face termination from society. The novel explores the troubles of African cultures and their adaptation to colonialism. As the novel progresses, one can also observe the influence of religion throughout history and how it has changed the face of many societies. Although many

In Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe tells the story of Igbo tribesman, Okonkwo, and his village during the time preceding Nigerian colonization by Europeans. Igbo society is highly patriarchal and women are devalued and disrespected, regarded as possessions. The culture is built on extreme superstition that permeates every aspect of their lives and holds them back at times. Okonkwo has misplaced values that lead him to ruin. Although history has shown that there was nothing that the Igbo people could do to stop the eventual takeover by Europeans, it is possible that they could have saved themselves and, at least, delayed the inevitable. For both Okonkwo and Igbo society, things fell apart because they failed to value what was really important in favor of things that were not only meaningless, but, ultimately, detrimental.

Women have always been treated poorly and lived in a misogynist world, where men are superior to them. In Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, women are portrayed as a defenseless second-class citizen. Women are “things” to be exploited and are severely abused by their husband. In Okonkwo’s lifetime, the role of a woman in Igbo culture is portrayed through many events that happened in Things Fall Apart. In traditional Igbo culture, the role of a woman to stay at home, cook, clean, tend to her husband's’ needs, satisfy them, and care for her children. Women are portrayed as items that belonged to their father and they were sold to the person that was willing to pay the bride price. Misogyny plays a major role in Igbo culture in Umuofia; where women are inferior to men. Much of the gender theme of the book centers around the idea of balance between masculine and feminine power.

The African civilizations are often thought to be primitive, unsophisticated regions made up of barbaric and merciless people.  However, this notion is a common misconception that has been portrayed by the British to justify slavery.  The author of Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe, attempts to educate his readers by disproving the common perception of African civilizations and by initiating a process of re-storying.  He believes that the African side of the story has not been told and he must tell their story so Africans are no longer victims of other people’s accounts.  While some may believe that Achebe is ineffective in educating his readers about this fallacy, Achebe clearly shows that the Igbo had components of an advanced civilization.  After thoroughly reading and analyzing this novel, I certainly understand Achebe’s desire to portray the Igbo as civilized despite contrary British literature.  Three major elements, including an organized religion, centralized government, and complex system of communication are portrayed by the author to indicate the intricacy of the Igbo.  Chinua Achebe effectively educates his readers that the Igbo had components of an advanced civilization prior to British colonization rather than being a primitive, barbaric society.

Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, explores the complicated journey of the protagonist Okonkwo, an influential clan leader within the Nigerian village of Umuofia, and the struggles he encounters as a result of white colonist infiltration. Prior to the arrival of the colonist forces, Okonkwo is an individual that prides himself on his masculinity and success; living in direct contrast to his father Unoka, a rather lazy and cowardice man, as a result of a sense of shame he endures from his father’s pathetic life. As colonization progresses and advances into the civilization of Umuofia, particular aspects of Okonkwo’s character and belief system begin to alter and transition away from those aspects present before the colonists’ occupancy. Okonkwo, the central figure and model warrior of Umuofia, affirmed by his masculine-persona, actions, agricultural prosperity and unrivaled ability to provide for his three wives and children, symbolizes the village as a whole as he lives out the values that embody this unique society. The impact that the European colonists’ have on Okonkwo, in addition to the entire community, effect and essentially deteriorate the tradition of the culture, the values and ideals in addition to the sense of unity that once held all members of this Nigerian village together. Chinua Achebe’s choice of the title, Things Fall Apart, is a representation of the dismantling effects that imperialism and colonization have on the indigenous population and native

Things Fall Apart, the critically acclaimed novel, by Chinua Achebe brings to light the transition that occurred due to European colonization in Africa. Okonkwo, a member of the Umuofia tribe, is deeply rooted in his religion, culture, and traditions. The Umuofians are exact and precise when making decisions as they relied on their ancestors and religious beliefs to guide them. As members of the Igbo religion, they have different view point, explanations and ideals than what is commonplace in current western civilization. Using a system of retribution and repayment in order to maintain balance in their clan. But, that does not affects how they should be viewed and discussed. We see how, through the colonization of Nigeria, their religion, culture, and traditions slowly fall apart.