When Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

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 story of Things fall apart tells the tragic fall of not only the Igbo people but also an influential leader in the Igbo culture, Okonkwo. Things fall apart makes it clear in the novel that the demise of the Igbo’s culture came from the arrival of the European Christian missionaries. Once the European missionaries colonized the Umuofia tribe they held views that were far different from the Igbo people. With the Europeans views being socially, culturally, religiously and politically different from the Igbos this caused harsh and unfair treatment by some of the colonizers while others avoided that sort of treatment.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a story about personal beliefs and customs, and also a story about conflict. There is struggle between family, culture, and the religion of the Ibo, which is all brought on by a difference in personal beliefs and customs of the Igbo and the British. There are also strong opinions of the main character, Okonkwo. We are then introduced to the views of his village, Umuofia. We see how things fall apart when these beliefs and customs are confronted by those of the white missionaries.

Therefore, Okonkwo’s realization of not being perfect emphasizes the lack of justification European missionaries had to completely disregard and eliminate the Igbo. Another scholar Donald Wehrs exposes the Igbo for being flawed pre-colonization-- “… we see that Igbo culture has within itself internal correctives. Just as Mosquito buzzes around Ear, so the maternal Ani forces Okonkwo, who dismisses the “silliness” of women, to take refuge in his motherland. Achebe implies that the crisis of Igbo society, the “falling apart” evident prior to the appearance of British colonizers, involves more than an imbalance between masculine and feminine goods” (Wehrs 133-164). Wehrs is implying that the troubles of the Igbo run deeper than a simple imbalance and the “falling apart” of the Igbo society cannot all be credited to the British colonizers, but rather the Igbo themselves. Issues arose internally even before the colonization occurred which is shown in Okonkwo’s exile to Mbanta. Therefore, Wehrs does not disregard the negative impact the arrival of the colonizers had on the Igbo, however, he argues that the impact isn’t as drastic as some

All over the world, cultures possess traditions that are uniquely their own. When two diverse cultures collide, there is a cultural shock that is experienced by both sides. In the novel Things Fall Apart, the colonization of Umuofia by the British created a drastic cultural clash that suppressed the Igbo tribe’s unaltered culture. The colonization influenced many people’s lives in the Igbo tribe; some members converted to Christianity, others wanted to keep the Igbo’s traditions alive, such as Okonkwo. According to Okonkwo, war was the only viable option. The British colonization fostered Okonkwo’s change to go from being a momentous man in his clan to an outcast among his village.

Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart, once said: “A man who makes trouble for others is also making troubles for himself”. This concept can be seen in the development of Okonkwo as a character throughout the book. Creating plenty of trouble for others, but ultimately creating the most trouble for himself is possibly the plot for the entire book. Generally, the creation of trouble is not a value that is appreciated in any culture, especially in Umuofia. Okonkwo breaks many of the boundaries and social norms within his culture; his tendency to be immature and unaccountable combined with being very self-concerned and the defiance of elders creates an interesting mix adjacent to the cultural standards.

Thousands of years ago there was a tribe filled with people known as the Ibo, now known as the Igbo. The Igbo were one of the first tribes to really be able to thrive and have order in their villages. Igboland is now one of the most populated countries in Nigeria. Though Igboland is now one of the most populated countries, it has managed to keep its historical charm. Igboland is now a very well thriving country, but it is still facing many hardships regarding their political system.

They needed something that stood out. The government that set the rules and the laws that they follow and the root that they stand on. The white men needed to change the way the Igbo society were running the land. They need to make a change to the society by the way they are going to rule. “But apart from the church, the white men had also brought government. They had built a court where the District Commissioner judged cases in ignorance” ( Achebe 174) The District Commissioners were the ones that judges the cases, unlike Igbo government the elders took control. While the British made their decisions with ignorance they were more strict, more harsh similar like the Igbo. Making decisions in land that wasn't theirs was a way of making the Clan see that the British is taking control and getting what they came for they were not going to leave empty handed but to colonize the land and accustom it as theirs. Civilizing the Igbo society by shrinking it and making it theirs to rule as one whole society without division. In the other hand the Igbo kept working with their government they each other were being judged by one another.

After the missionaries arrived, many Igbo people converted to Christianity; because of this, a majority of modern Igbo people are Christian, and even some Igbo people practice “a syncretic version of Christianity intermingled with indigenous beliefs” (“Igbo”). However, there were some negative effects on the religion. Christian reforms and attempts to destroy the religion caused less integration and unity between the Igbo people (Okeke et al. 9). While the religion was not completely forgotten, a majority of the Igbo have abandoned traditional

The Igbo community is developed because they have fair ideology practice. For example, when Okonkwo shot his gun on accident and hit Ezeudu's son who’s father the clan was burying it says “The only course of action was to flee from

‘’Things Fall Apart’’ novel tries to re-erect cultural, social as well as spiritual basics of traditional Igbo (Ibo) existence from the year 1850 and 1900. Conversely, the novel cannot be inferred like truthful societal and political olden times of Ibo society since it is a work of invented story. However, the novel describes disagreements and apprehensions in Igbo society. It also depicts changes initiated by colonial ruling and Christianity. The author asserts that European colonialism operates as a powerful as well as well-built mediator of the change within Ibo society (Achebe, 2000). Additionally, Christianity attracted the trivial associates of the Igbo society. Igbo and other societies were altered considerably due to this variety of deal with Europeans. A few societies expanded in dimension and authority as marketable centers, whereas others go through great losses in the course of slave invasion. Hostility get higher, and conflict tactics distorted due to the coming of weapons.

In Things Fall Apart, the Igbo culture is depicted to be a civilized society with a strong sense of morality, emphasis on wisdom, and stable religion despite being a primitive society and misogynistic virtues. However, as the novel progresses it becomes evident how their sense of “morality” is truly flawed due to corrupt leaders and bias ethics that is revered by society. Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity implies the idea how even people born into Igbo culture can see it is corrupt and run by immoral cultural traditions. The Igbo culture does demonstrate civilized forms of dealing with societal issues. In order to stabilize the hatred that would have rushed due to Okonkwo’s accidental killing of Ogbuefi Ezeudu’s son, “The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan (Achebe 74)”.

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.

In “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, the Igbo’s struggle with colonial power and an encroaching European culture brings about many problems within the Umuofian society. “Things Fall Apart” takes place in Nigeria during the late 1800s. The protagonist, Okonkwo, is faced with many trials and tribulations, however the greatest one being his encounters and experiences with European colonists. The European colonists bring Christianity to Umuofia and it brings about a major change in the ideology of the society. Okonkwo and many others struggle with the new European ideology and it leads to many problems. The colonization of the Igbo drastically changed their lives regarding their self image, as well as the loss of traditional culture.