During the mid 1800s and 1900s, the continent of Africa was being invaded by European superpower nations such as Great Britain, France, and others. The proper act was named as Colonialism which according to my lecture notes means: “a racially based system of political, economical, and cultural domination forced on an indigenous majority by a technological superior foreign minority” (Zeitler). For instance, many European nations enforced imperialism on the continent of Africa because of its recently discovered natural resources which would be beneficial for their countries, and Europeans used western education and religion as a moral “cover” for their easy access to the native African’s lands and enforce the natives to be more civilized …show more content…
Another example of political change was that the judicial system deal with any major or minor issue rather than before when it was settled by the clan leaders and village elders. For instance, if a native wants to address an issue about his marriage disputes such as divorce then he/she must hire a lawyer, so the lawyer can represent them in the court of law and they are being judge by the exact same laws that is being enforced back in Great Britain, not the law that would be similar to Igbo society. According to my lecture notes, even thought the Europeans brought their political and judicial system to Umuofia or Nigeria as a whole there was some downfall in their system such as the system was corrupted and the upper class or wealthy people had the upper hand on the society which they could bribe lawyers, judges, and other government officials (Zeitler).
Close to the end of a novel, one of the native converts such as Enoch will interrupt or ruin the ancient tradition by unmasking an egwugwu in public which considers one of the greatest crimes, but Mr. Smith thought of it as a misdemeanor and disagrees with locals (2498-2499). The egwugwu and Okonkwo were furious about their white “guest” wrongdoing and decided to punish their guest by their own political system such as to banish them from the village they set the church on fire which from native perspective looked like getting rid of “outsiders”, but from the
What would you do if Christianity came and took over your world? In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, describes a man who was affected by Christianity which not only destroyed him but also his family and his tribe. Okonkwo is the main character who faces the demise of his world when the missionaries came in and took over his world. Okonkwo is a very independent, impatient African leader and is affected by Christianity, impacting the way he is accepted back into Umofia or the way he lives. Achebe 's description of life in the village after colonization, helps to create a setting that condemns colonization. In the Caryl Phillips interview, Achebe believes that “Conrad is for the colonizing mission, and he concedes that the novel, in part,
Imagine having your lifestyle and culture by a group of unknown men who has contradicting beliefs, and single handedly changed in the course of your lifetime, some changes are for the greater good and vice versa. In the novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the people in the igbo culture lived with their culture being not tampered for quite some time with living in a polytheist religion, inequality in gender roles, and practices of ancient tribal rituals. Rumors started to arise from distant villages about unidentified white men with iron horses were roaming around land, converting and dissembling the way the igbo people lived with, but it took some years for those same white men to arrive and tamper with the village of Umuofia. Time
In the story Things Fall Apart the author, Chinua Achebe, uses the character Okonkwo to show that a man’s hubris can one day lead to a terrible fate. Achebe does this by having the main character Okonkwo struggle with keeping his life together. As Victor Uchendu talks about life in The Igbo World “is an equilibrium that is constantly threatened, and sometimes actually disturbed by natural and social calamities”(Uchendu 227). In the beginning of the story Okonkwo starts off as the strongest character when he defeats “Amalinize the Cat” (Achebe 3). This shows the reader that Okonkwo is the strongest and is determined to stay the strongest. Achebe uses certain events later in the story to foreshadow that Okonkwo will soon meet a terrible fate by having him kill Ikemefuna, by having him get kicked out of his village, by having the British change his son, and by displaying his rage and despair at the end of the story.
Growing up in an environment where one’s parents and society restrict the behavior of that individual, can be a very challenging situation to be in. This was so for Nwoye. Raised in the Igbo culture, social order was said to demand conformity. It was a culture where he was forced to act a certain way, or be punished by his father Okonkwo, which wasn’t a type of lifestyle Nwoye would want to be living all his life. The book, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe uses Nwoye to exemplify the outcomes in a relationship, of a father forcing masculine and cultural tradition values his son, Nwoye. Although, Nwoye’s curiosity on the Igbo culture and will to become the person that he wants to be, comes before him even if it calls for going against
“What is the son but an extension of the father?”-- Frank Herbert, Dune. The relationship between father and son can be difficult and sometimes strained. One notable example of this is in the story Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Okonkwo struggles with accepting his father, Unoka’s, actions as noble or even tolerable. He grows up hating his father and consciously adopts different ideals.
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
The negativity the people of Umuofia have towards the christian missionaries discouraged many others who would have liked to give Christianity a try. They seen the missionaries as a bad example that they had decided to let them build their church in the Evil Forest, thinking that the missionaries would face death. Unfortunately for the villagers, they did not die. Also, another example would be Okonkwo not being pleased knowing that Nwoye, his oldest wife’s son, wanted to convert into the new religion that may had new gods and taboos. When Nwoye finally converts due to being a efulefu, Okonkwo finally accepts his departure.
In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe conflict is almost inevitable when two cultures come into contact. Okonkwo has a normal life as a male villager he has to grow his yams and live normal but when foreigners show up conflict occurs. This is shown in the book by showing the villagers saying to the white men to build their church in the evil forest and the white men go on and do it. This attracts some of the villagers to this which leads to major conflict in the village and they start to attack each other by burning things and arresting each other. It does not have to lead to conflict right away but it does happen at some point hence the name Things Fall Apart when the Christians first arrive all is ok but later on it all breaks loose. By looking
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.
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.
Its impetrative to analyze and research the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe so as to be able to understand what the novel is all about. It involves deciphering all relevant interpretations about how one culture develops in direct competition against the emergence of another foreign culture, such as the colonialist. The novel, together with its various themes and aspects of culture therefore portray deep knowledge about the novel.
The fully functioning Nigerian society includes aspects of a civilization. A few of these aspects include organized government, religion, and social structure. In this society they have a group of select individuals called the Egwugwu that serves as the court system of the society. They serve as the government of the land and their word is final. The people of the society serve as their own police force and self-protection. When an issue arises, the Egwugwu make a decision and then the townspeople carry it out. “Below the structures of governance is a web of structures that keeps the Igbo society working harmoniously” (Ogbaa 21). This book Igbo written about the Igbo describes how the society works harmoniously, which is similar to saying it is
For the duration of the novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the role of religion and tradition is a very important part of the characters lives. It decides how they live their life and decides their fate. Some of the customs that are practiced in this culture may not be accepted and are frowned upon by the western cultures. One example of this is that they think that in some cases a child should be killed or that the spirits of the dead must be appeased. Thinking this could create a consequence with the white men. They feel the need to “save” the natives from themselves.
In 1958, Chinua Achebe a famous Nigerian author publishes one of his most famous novels Things Fall Apart. The novel takes place in a Nigerian village called Umuofia. During the time that this novel is published Nigeria is being criticized by the Europeans for being uncivilized. In response, Achebe uses his brilliance in this novel to express the valued history of his people to his audience. His focus in the novel is on the pre-colonized people of the Igbo tribe and their tribal leader Okonkwo. Achebe discuses early in the novel that the tribe is outlined by many rituals and values that they follow religiously. However, when the well-respected leader Okonkwo mistakenly
Things Fall Apart was written by a Nigerian man named Chinua Achebe in 1958, with the intentions of fully exploiting the truth and creating a new perspective about African culture. Seeing as though Achebe lived through the colonization of the Igbo people, he was able to write without stereotyping Africans and European people. Achebe purposefully wrote this novel in English instead of Igbo language because he wanted the perspective shared across Europe to defeat previously construed beliefs of the Nigerian culture and ways of life. Achebe touches on a variety of topics throughout his novel, three of which are how things fell apart through imperialism and colonization, the ideas behind tradition and change, and social construction of patriarchy & masculinities.