Essay-“Things Fall Apart”
The breakdown of African society has been steadily increasing through the last century and still continues to fall apart today as western civilization looks to extend it’s way of life. There is striking similarities between the book “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe and the poem “The Second Coming” written by William Butler Yeats, that is concerning the demise in some respect of the African culture. The two pieces of literature shows from the African peoples point of view of the disintegration of their culture and beliefs, with the assimilation of Christianity and their belief in a singular god. What leads us to question why so many African tribes would turn away form their culture and the way of
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As time goes on the ideology of the Umofia clan changes to the point where it can no longer go back to the way they used to know which is in line with the poem that “Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the second coming is at hand.” This also helps to associate the destruction of their way of life, and the changes that have occurred among them, as been one that is not totally accepted by everyone in Umofia. The village however is not totally against the Christians arrival as they have bring education for the people, hospitals, and a market that helps to increase the flow of money into the clan itself which also causes some to abandon their traditional African way of life. I feel that the poem and the novel help to capture the way some will feel among the new kinship between the traditional African society and the introduction of the “white men”. Some will embrace this change as they see benefit in the new relationship with education, health care, and profits. However some will not embrace the change among the tribe, as they see how this new friendship is causing destruction of their culture and way of life. This continuing struggle is still being waged among many African tribes today. To me these pieces of literature help capture the ongoing
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
A form of order and stability are essential for the continued existence of any society. Order and stability are often maintained through religious traditions and societal expectations. Conflicting ideologies however, can lead to a society’s stability being jeopardised. Chinua Achebe’s 1958 novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ explores the concept of societal stability in reference to the West African Ibo society. Through the use of omniscient narration, characterisation, juxtaposition and novel structure, he examines how order can be achieved through religion and societal expectations, and how instability can arise from conflicting ideologies.
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
Already falling apart due to the disparity of values such as action for power and justice, the tidal wave of foreign religion exposes the community’s battle between violence and peace. When faced with newcomers, the community answers with peace, planning to stay inactive and ostracize the Christians. On the other hand, Okonkwo immediately responds by crying out for war and turning to violence as a safehaven, saying “until the abominable gang was chased out of the village with whips there would be no peace”(139). The direct pairing of violence and peace stresses the imbalance of the community and the negative effect of individual values on the well being of Umuofia. Yet another crack begins to form in the cultural roots of Umuofia as Okonkwo takes action against the Christians while the others remain inactive and resort to
When comparing the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe and William butler Yeats poem “The Second Coming”, at first there seem to be no similarities except for the phrase “things fall apart” which is used in both. But as one closely examinee the reasons why both authors use this sentence, one realizes that both of them try to show a great change, which, in the poem is related to reality, while in the novel is related to the story.
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.
During the African colonization period, Western beliefs greatly impacted the African mindset and belief system. In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe the impact of Western beliefs is very evident. The novel focuses on pre- and post- colonial life in Nigeria. It was among the first novels to be recognized globally by an African author, and it is widely read in modern African literature. The story is about the fall of the main character Okonkwo as well as the Igbo culture. European beliefs clashed with the traditions that are rooted deep into the society of this Nigerian community. The Igbo, especially Okonkwo, at first try to fight the influence of the evangelists; nevertheless the arrival of Christianity largely affects the Igbo religion,
The book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is a fictional look at the social and cultural life of an African tribe of the lower Niger River region. It depicts the every day life of the tribe and its members. It also shows the culture and customs of the tribe.
There once was a “sweet …golden” beauty and her name, was Africa. “Africa” is a poem written by Maya Angelou which expresses the grave injustice done to Africa by the Europeans. Through her words Angelou is able to express the pain, suffering, and hope felt by the people of African during this time. The poem speaks to the beauty of Africa, goes into the injustice it has faced, and the hope that it has to one day go back to how it was. Three stanzas hold the words of Angelou, each filled with several literary techniques such as metaphors, rhyming, and personification. These several techniques gives Maya Angelou’s poem a lot of power and effect over the readers. With her constant use of imagery a vivid picture is painted into our minds as readers can see the words she wrote, and feel the pain they
A major aspect of one’s society is religion. Without it, the way people hold themselves accountable would be nonexistent. In addition, many moral standards that exist today are values taken directly from religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Currently, there exists a feud between people who believe in a god, and of those who do not. Eventually those who believe in a higher power will fight against each other. In “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe brings to light the differences and similarities of Christianity and Animism in order to demonstrate the effects of religion upon one’s society, which is exemplified by Okonkwo and his people. This is noticed in the lives of the Ibo, the missionaries, and
Chinua Achebe wrote the book Things Fall Apart in the year 1958, a time when Africa was undergoing drastic changes, and experiencing new things. Achebe wrote his first book, Things Fall Apart in a way that reflected what he had experienced and what he believed in. This is evident in the many parts of the book, Including Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity, Igbo storytelling and folklore, and with the tribal leaders of Umofia and their thoughts on the missionaries.
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.
In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, son of esteemed tribe member of the Umuofia tribe, Nwoye explicates the struggle between conforming to African social norms and his individualistic desire to follow Christianity. Nwoye’s internal conflict between socially imposed notions and personal ideals portrays his struggle to define his individualistic sense of self-identity, as he must respond to his tribe’s “effeminate” notions versus his personal regard to the Christian church. His ultimate response to this cultural collision explicates his ability to overcome societal boundaries, and his ability to define his individualistic sense of self-identity.
Umuofia is a village in Africa, and the inhabitants there are usually united. However, when the Christians arrive and permeate the village, the clan changes but also falls apart. The novel in which this story takes place is called Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The story is about a well-respected man named Okonkwo who has three wives and many children, the oldest being Nwoye. Okonkwo is banished for seven years from Umuofia, and during those seven years, Umuofia is changed fundamentally by the Christian faith. Many people are converted, but the whole clan is in conflict. This novel demonstrates that Christianity destroys but also guides the Ibo culture in Umuofia.
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.