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The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe discusses the rise of an Igbo chieftain who came from great poverty to power and the eventual loss of Igbo traditions, rites, and the influence of his clan through his eyes due to western imperialism and colonialism. The intended audience for this novel is very broad, but if we tried to define it would primarily be people who have not experienced the Igbo culture and westerners or people who speak English. In this essay I will be focusing on the last six chapters: chapters 20 to 25. These chapters highlight the loss of power and customs of the Igbo people who have succumb to colonial rule. I fell Achebe is rhetorically effective and

The novel Things Fall Apart was written in 1958 by a late Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe. Things Fall Apart alludes to the effects of European Imperialism on Igbo culture. This novel begins in a fictional town called “Umuofia”, on the boundary of modern day Nigeria. European missionaries arrive in Umuofia, uninvited and especially unwelcomed. Upon the missionaries arrival, Umuofia’s cultural tradition is shaken to its core and tampered with by the Europeans. The effects of the Europeans on the Igbo culture in Umuofia alter the village’s religion, political structure, and the Igbo peoples way of life.

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.

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

Starting with the first effect of imperialism, the introduction of Christianity in Umuofia, Okonkwo’s fatherland. Four years into Okonkwo’s exile, his good friend Obierika payed him a visit, informing Okonkwo of the arrival of missionaries in Umuofia. The Christian followers had to come to Umuofia to build a church and to convert locals into their anomalous religion. Most importantly, “what moved Obierika to visit Okonkwo was the sudden appearance of the latter’s son, Nwoye, among the missionaries in Umuofia.” (Achebe 143) The introduction of Christianity was one of the many effects set upon the African villages. Locals were becoming

In his novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe introduces his readers to the Nigerian village Umuofia and its culture through the protagonist, Okonkwo, a well respected Umuofian leader. Umuofian culture is centered around pleasing and respecting spiritual life. Everything within this culture and religion has a specific order; however, the Umuofian culture ultimately reaches its demise when Evangelists arrive to convert the Umuofians to Christianity. As seen through the events that transpire in this novel, from Nwoye leaving his family to letting the osu have a place in society, religion has the potential to both build and break a society. Specifically, religion has the power to break apart families, introduce new ideas into society, and bring hope into one’s life.

The novel Things Fall Apart, speaks of the life of Umuofia2, a fictional Nigerian village, and its traditions before colonization and then the changes it faces at the initiation of colonization. It is based around the life of a man named Okonkwo before the colonists come and the struggles he faces when they arrive. Just as all other regions, Umuofia

Before investigating how Igbo culture was changed by the Europeans, the novel uses the Umuofia tribe to exemplify what the established Igbo

The novel “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe, is a tale based on the traditional beliefs and customs of an Ibo village during late 1800’s Africa. Through the telling of this story, we witness the remarkable depth of Igbo culture through its functions of religion, politics, judiciary and entertainment.

Secondly, the Christians unite the converts, but this unity does not prevent the new converts from demeaning others because of their religion or beliefs. When Mr. Kiaga, the missionaries’ interpreter, persuades the converts to accept the osu, or those who are cast out of the clan, Achebe writes, “‘Before God,’ he [Mr. Kiaga] said, ‘there is no slave or free. We are all children of God and we must receive these our brothers’”(136). The people are guided by Mr. Kiaga’s words as he teaches that they are all children of God and are, therefore, equal. One might think that converts would subsequently show the other religion in Umuofia an equal amount of respect as before, but they do not. While the church is still new to the village and does not perish in Evil Forest, Achebe says, “Three converts had gone into the village and

Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, is a tragic story about the rise and fall of Okonkwo. The story takes place in Umuofia, a cluster of villages in Niger during the 1890’s. the Umuofians are known for being a notorious war clan with many members, advanced social institutions, and phenomenal traditions. Chinua Achebe educated his readers throughout the novel by capitalizing on historical importance’s in Nigerian history, like when the Europeans invaded Niger as well as basic history about African culture

The novel notes that “The Church had come and led many astray” (Achebe p.174). The many stemmed from all levels of hierarchy within the Igbo society. For example one of the converts included “Ogbuefi… who had taken two titles…” (Achebe p.176) which was very significant because of the level of importance that titles were regarded with within the Igbo society. One of the largest pieces of evidence from the novel comes from Obierika who describes the manner in which the cultural shift occurred. He says, “He came… with his religion… allowed him to stay” detailing the manner in which the missionaries came. The acculturation becomes apparent when Obrierika says “…he won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one” (Achebe p.176). This demonstrates the instability of the Igbo society as a result of the introduction and further influence of the Christian faith and its teachings. The Church’s followers being members of the Igbo people as well made it difficult for the Igbo people to fight back, thus debilitating the clan’s ability to function as a unit. The end result being the complete acculturation of the Christian faith leading to postcolonial times in which the Igbo culture like many of the other cultures existing at the time have been phased out due to the cultural shift.

Nigeria has two major religions, which are Islam and Christianity. Fifty percent of populations believe in Islam, forty percent of populations believe in Christianity. Christianity is one of the legacies that British had left. Gordon said that religion was one of the ways for Nigerians used to resolve political, economic, and social

This paper reflects the novel “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe in 1958. Achebe gives an overview of pre-colonialism and post-colonialism on Igbo, detailing how local traditions and cultural practices can “fall apart” in some scenarios through some introduced, externally created hassles elevated because of colonization. The protagonist named Okonkwo mentioned in the story is a proof showing the lifestyle of the tribe. My main objective and focus is to lay emphasis on Africa specifically the Igbo society, before and after the arrival of the Europeans in Umuofia community; the results of their arrival concerning Igbo culture, thus leading to the clash of cultures between the two categories. I will also draw on post-colonialism with respect to globalization.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was wrote in 1958 as a response to European Literature viewing Africans as savages who were then enlightened and found peace and safety by the Europeans. Chinua describes the Igbo people and showed the culture and showing the way of life of the Igbo people. This book shows this powerful and eye opening look into the complex society of these tribes and villages and how law and order is run. The major theme that is I will focus is that traditional development of the Igbo tribe alone and with the influence of the Europeans.