Comparing Invictus And Things Fall Apart

Everyone knows and learns about the winners in a situation and their story but one never cares to learn the other side, the losing side. In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart cultural differences are the core of why things were destined to fall apart in Nigeria. Okonkwo, the main character of the novel has impacted the results negatively of the colonization of Nigeria’s territory. Umuofia is the home to many Igbo people but later would be overcome by the Europeans. Okonkwo with his very violent tendencies never wanted to appear as a weak person. Okonkwo denied failure because his father was a failure and he was determined to be the opposite. Never would he realize his stubbornness would cause failure for him and his community. Achebe has used the novel Things Fall Apart to demonstrate how colonization affected Nigeria and how conflicts and misunderstandings resulted from two cultures colliding.

Of the many themes that appear in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, individuality versus nationality becomes a central topic as the story progresses and develops. With the invasion and colonization of the European missionaries, Okonkwo’s nationality and contributions to society are called into question. Achebe explains the idea of nationality over individuality by showing that society is the precursor to individuality. Examining the life of the protagonist, Okonkwo, before and after his resistance exemplifies this key idea in Things Fall Apart.

There are many recurring themes in the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe; however, for the purpose of this paper a detailed analysis from a specific quote would be conducted. “The story of Okonkwo is in a way the story of our culture; he pays a price because he places too much emphasis on strength and manliness.” Strength and manliness can promote an array of translations in order to justify actions within the novel and within today’s American society. If it’s comparing an egotistical mindset of a character of this novel or certain beings that tend to portray these features, there are always certain characteristics that are consistent. It isn’t coincidental that strength is in association with manliness, however asserting these words in extreme forms of actions is far from powerful.

In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Nwoye, Okonkwo’s eldest son, faces an internal conflict throughout the story as a result of the pressure of forced gender roles and his father’s expectations which then motivates him to abandon his family. In Igbo culture, people are taught to act a certain way based on their gender from the beginning of their childhood. For instance, girls are taught how to cook and do domestic work while boys are taught to be violent and aggressive. Nwoye’s personality do not match with the gender roles that were assigned to him, therefore, he faces an internal conflict. “Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent,” Achebe writes, “but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell” (Achebe 53). Nwoye’s desire to listen to his mother’s stories indicates that there is a part of his character that is thought to be sensitive and “womanly” in their society.

The only thing he (Okonkwo) fears most is not ending up like his father, Unoka. However, Achebe ‘‘makes an insightful comment on the nature of masculinity through his representation of the tribal leaders. Achebe basically, was conducive in creating four alter egos of Okonkwo: one of which were the masculinity; next of his fatherly abilities; and the last of his family progress and four of his likelihood of success’’ (Achebe.179). My paper will explain how Okonkwo’s Masculinity from Achebe’s Things Fall Apart will be characterized by his fears, beliefs, and emotions for several reasons.

William Ernest Henley faced a challenging life growing up due to being constantly ill and caught in an endless battle with diseases. At the young age of 17 a disease forced the amputation of one foot and radical surgery on the other leg. While recovering at an infirmary after the amputation and surgery, he began to write the poem “Invictus”. “Invictus” is written in Henleys point of view as encouragement to the readers that they are strong enough to overcome any hardship in life. The first clue in understanding the message from Henley is through the poem’s name itself, “Invictus” is Latin for unconquerable, invincible and undefeated. Henley refused to be defeated and he wrote to inspire his readers to have this mindset as well and as encouragement.

Chinua Achebe’s first novel, “Things Fall Apart” takes place in Umuofia, Nigeria in the 19th century. Okonkwo, the protagonist, was a respected, strong leader of the Ibo clan providing for his three wives and their children. His father was a failure, making Okonkwo’s greatest fear being seen as a weak failure, but this also makes Okonkwo strive for success. “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness“ (2. 12). With his drive to succeed, Okonkwo managed to make many poor decisions resulting in unwanted consequences. Okonkwo is an exact representation of a western tragic hero in the novel, “Things Fall Apart.”

In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, rising modern ideals challenge the traditional values in Ibo culture. These confronting principles influence changes formed through chaos and disarray. While some Ibo people are more welcoming to the newer concepts, Okonkwo, a strong warrior, famous wrestler and well known leader in the Umuofia clan stays true to his traditional ways. The devout man assures himself to not stray from the traditional path due to haunting memories of his lazy father Unoka. At a young age Okonkwo concluded to vigorously work on not become his disgraceful father. In the end, Okonkwo’s life becomes dictated by his conscious will to oppose to his father, contributing to several problems with his family, friends and

The first debut novel of Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, is a post-colonial novel written in 1958 that mainly describes a varying perceptions of masculinity. Although Achebe uses Okonkwo as a main character to depict how fear may serve as a motivation for success, Okonkwo’s hostile actions precipitate his own downfall and the breakup of his family.

The seventh chapter of Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” presents a father murdering his own son due to his fear of losing his masculine reputation. Although it was necessary for Ikemefuna, the son, to be killed, Okonkwo, the father, was strongly advised to abstain from being part of the murder for obvious reasons. The situation in chapter seven causes readers to feel abhorrent. At the same time, Achebe’s tactful use of literary devices creates an atmosphere of suspense in this scene that captivates readers.

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,” CHinua Achebe describes the life of Okonkwo, a village leader, and displays how the altering world around him affects his decisions. In order to do this, he first had to establish the things that were tradition so that he could show was being altered. Achebe’s use of literary items assists in revealing their traditions and it challenges.

Achebe named his book “Things Fall Apart” after a line from the poem “The Second Coming” by William Butler. The reason he did this is because this line embodies the entire concept of the book. The Second Coming describes a chaotic world that can’t hold it’s own because of it’s own inner conflict. In addition to this coincidence from the book and poem, both show a shift between eras, old to new. Yeats writes “Turning and turning in the widening gyre the falcon cannot hear the falconer”. This refers to the idea that change is essential and people cannot go back in time. In Things Fall Apart, Umuofia has many major changes throughout the story.

Ernest Gaines once said, “I write to try to find out who I am. One of my main themes is manliness. I think I'm trying to figure out what manliness really is.” Indeed, every society or culture has its own understanding of an ideal man. Even though these characteristics are different in various parts of the world, the significance of masculinity can never be overestimated. “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is considered as one of the best examples of a rise and fall of a man who strives to meet all requirements of an ideal masculinity. This paper will prove the manliness of the main character of the novel, and analyze the reasons of his downfall despite the fact that he lives in a society where masculinity is worshiped.

Both Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Obi in No Longer at Ease represent departures from two worlds, left in a kind of limbo which offers no way out and no salvation. Okonkwo rejects the new religion of the Christian missionaries, even though it is evident that the ancient customs which he wants to continue to practice are out of favor. Obi rejects both the ancient customs (one should not marry an osu) and the modern principles (one should not take bribes) in order to try to reconcile the varying aspects of his life which are in conflict with one another. Thus, the titles of both works reflect the condition of a decaying tribal African culture which suddenly collides with the decaying culture of a Western world. It is no accident that Achebe chose a phrase from the Irish poet W. B. Yeats' "The Second Coming" it is a poem which encapsulates everything the novel seems to say about the modern world, whether it is Western or African: something is lacking "the centre cannot hold." This paper will analyze the problem of center which could not hold in Achebe's Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease by putting two significant lines from the novels into context and explaining their importance.