...Things Fall Apart is based in nine villages in Nigeria, Africa, mostly in Umuofia. It tells about Okonkwo’s life being successful and being known in each of the villages. Though, it does not just tell the story about his life and being executed of his village because of an accidental crime, it also tells about two cultures coming together and creating something different that the people are new to seeing. It talks about how white missionaries come to spread their religion, Christianity, around the villages. In White Man’s Burden, it is written that they are looking for the best of their people to come civilize and educate the Africans. In Things Fall Apart, the white missionaries come to spread Christianity. “But the missionaries persevered, and in the end they were received by the rulers of Mbanta. They asked for a plot of land to build their church” (Achebe 148). The first thing the missionaries did was build a church. The villagers gave them a plot of their land in the Evil Forest to build it on, in hopes that they would die just like all the people they had sent there. Though, days passed and they were still alive, starting to introduce them to Christianity. They also started to build more things for themselves and bring in more people to educate the Igbo people. The white missionaries did...
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...Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” is a twentieth century work of art that serves the purpose of conveying the intricacies of African culture while at the same time giving voice to the underrepresented and exploited inhabitants of Nigeria. This work was written in response to Western writings on African culture, which treated Africa in a cultureless and subhuman light of view. “Things Fall Apart” portrays the conflict between the White colonial government and the indigenous Igbo people in Nigeria, illuminating the European and African perspectives on Colonial control, race, religion and culture. The Igbos believed that each man was responsible for his fate or destiny. They believed that a man has the ability to change his life and achieve status through economics and military accomplishments, the latter being through agriculture, and that all of this results solely from hard work. The Nigerian society, unlike European societies, was characterized by a Darwinian society in the way that people who achieved great feats were rewarded, rather than a caste-like system where there was no chance of improving one’s status. The ability to move up in rank in Nigerian culture is portrayed in the story of Onkonkwo. Born to an indebted and effeminate father, Okonkwo strives to rise through the social system and achieve everything his father could not. He is intolerant and biased towards women to the point where he describes weak men as women. Okonkwo views emotion as a weakness and thus...
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...Britain, France, Italy, and Germany, showed African nations many new ideals and tools that spread like a cultural virus. One very well-known story of this part of history is a book written by Chinua Achebe, titled Things Fall Apart. The book tells a fantastic story of a tribe in Nigeria which becomes a victim of the European imperialists. Achebe does a remarkable job of giving the reader the vivid change from the African tribe before and after the Europeans arrived. Things Fall Apart centers around a Nigerian tribe leader named Okonkwo. Known for his strength, courage, and most of all, pride, Okonkwo is looked up to by most the people in his tribe. Okonkwo doesn’t handle the European invasion as well as others due to his large sense of pride, which ultimately leads to his downfall and death. Christian missionaries were one of the main forms of imperialization used by Europeans. The two missionaries in Things Fall Apart were Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith. It is common in African communities that there are outcasts existing. Outcasts could be anyone that has a disability, a criminal, or anyone that has been exiled. These missionaries would accept anyone that is an outcast and take them under their wing, showing them very appealing tools and technology. Also, the missionaries would give these outcasts an opportunity to work for them. Seeing these outcasts working with new tools,...
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...In the novel, “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe first shows us the structure of the Igbo society and importance of men’s role in the clan. Igbo people are very organized and have great mindset on the structure of things when it comes to Religion and order of the society. These little things set the scene and show a cohesive society but can also lead to things falling apart. Okonkwo, being a successful man with many titles thought little of his father, Unoka, who had claimed no titles and was thought to be an ‘agbala’ which meant woman or man with no titles. Throughout the novel, we constantly see that Okonkwo’s need to not resemble his father festers and he has a desire to instill it in his oldest son, Nwoye. However, this was to no avail as we see that later on in the novel, Nwoye is attracted to Christianity when the missionaries arrive because he never agreed with his father’s views as he always had views of his own and of the Igbo religion. Upon hearing the news of Nwoye’s conversion, Okonkwo felt disheartened and decided to threaten his other sons in hopes of them not being like Nwoye and his ‘failure father’ , Unoka, who have disregarded the aspect of manhood. Religion is an important part of the dark continent which was depicted throughout the novel in different aspects. The little things that held the society together, in this case religion, also contributed to the Igbo society’s downfall. For example, in the case of Ikemefuna’s death, the Oracle demanded that the...
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...that are not moldable, adaptable, or flexible. The missionaries, which promotes Christianity, come into Umuofia to both of these actions: having strong beliefs and considering themselves like a family. This novel, Things Fall Apart by Achebe, demonstrates that Christianity destroys but also helps guide the Ibo culture in Umuofia. To put it another way, the advent of Christianity destroys families. Religion is not a personal belief in Umuofia, but it is their way of life. Although the missionaries come to Umuofia without any intention to cause conflict, that is exactly what they...
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...The novel Things Fall Apart is a classic novel that was written in 1958 by African author Chinua Achebe. This timeless novel about the Ibo people of Nigeria mirrors society in many different ways. Two recurring themes in the novel are colonization and superstition, and they each mirror society in their own individual way. Many of the superstitions that we are familiar with today do not seem to be as far-fetched as the ones depicted in the novel, and yet the society we live in is still very superstitious. One may argue that colonization is a thing of the past, but the affects of colonization are still being felt in many places around the world to this day. Colonization and superstition are major themes illustrated in the novel Things Fall Apart and they also mirror life in our society today. The affects of colonization in Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart are very prominent towards the end of the novel. After the missionaries have settled in Umuofia, the dynamic of the villages change. Obeirika, Okonkwo’s closest friend comments on the smarts of the “white man” in this excerpt from the novel: “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on things that held us together and we have fallen apart” (Achebe, 176). This quote heavily demonstrates the effects of colonization on the Ibo people. The...
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...English Dr. Swaralipi Nandi 18-09-2014 Theme of Colonialism in ‘Things Fall Apart’ Introduction : Poet and novelist Chinua Achebe was one of the most important Africanwriters. He was also considered by many to be one of the most original literary artists writing in English during his lifetime. He is best known for his novel Things Fall Apart (1958). Born Albert Chinualumogo Achebe, Chinua Achebe was raised by Christian evangelical parents in the large village Ogidi, in Igboland, Eastern Nigeria. He received an early education in English, but grew up surrounded by a complex fusion of Igbo traditions and colonial legacy. He studied literature and medicine at the University of Ibadan; after graduating, he went to work for the Nigerian Broadcasting Company in Lagos and later studied at the British Broadcasting Corporation staff school in London. During this time, Achebe was developing work as a writer. Starting in the 1950s, he was central to a new Nigerian literary movement that drew on the oral traditions of Nigeria's indigenous tribes. Although Achebe wrote in English, he attempted to incorporate Igbo vocabulary and narratives. Things Fall Apart (1958) was his first novel, and remains his best-known work. It has been translated into at least forty-five languages, and has sold eight million copies worldwide. Chinua Achebe’s “African Trilogy” : Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God captures a society caught between...
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...are referred as weak, frail, and unimportant in the Igbo culture and many other cultures around the world. Achebe demonstrates in Things Fall Apart that women are not treated like the women in our culture. Women are not as important as men. Although women bring new life, women do not get proper treatment. Wives are beaten by their husbands, the punishment of their husbands only occurs in the Week of Peace, such as when Okonkwo beats his second wife for not making him dinner one night. When women are treated equally, the Earth Goddess is responsible, for being the judge of mortality and creation. The roles of women are not as far-reaching as the men in the Igbo culture. The most significant act of women is the Role of Priestess. Acknowledged in the novel as Chika. To all the...
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...The Incandescent Darkness Within Africa Imperialism in Africa was a dark time to say the least. Many novels are set within this time period in history due to its polemic. Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness are both set in the era of imperialism; they are constantly read together in order to obtain two different perspectives on imperialism within Africa. Reading the novels one after the other is a practical way to understand the messages each author is trying to convey to their readers. They both complement and enhance each other. Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness are two novels from which lucid similarities and differences can be found through the sense of community, the depiction of the Africans, and the vitalness of language found within both. The sense of community is a very important aspect throughout both novels. When the white missionaries start to appear in Things Fall Apart, the Ibo people are confused and reluctant to change. In the village of Mbanta, the first white missionary and his followers start talking about their god and how the gods of the Ibo people cannot harm anyone; a lot of the people listening to these men considered them mad and some of them began to go away (Achebe 146). It is human nature to resist change and hold on to what a person is accustomed to and already knows. The Ibo people were no exception. On the other hand, in Heart of Darkness, the white imperialists felt united only through race. Marlow leaves the first station he goes...
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...African American History: Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is about the heartbreaking fall of the novel’s protagonist Okonkwo as well as the Igbo Culture. The protagonist is a respected and prominent leader in the Igbo community of Umuofia in Eastern Nigeria. His personal distinction and fame comes when he successfully beats Amalinze the Cat, in a wrestling duel. This earns him much honor. This novel is a demonstrative explanation of the culture of the Ibo clan as narrated from an insider's point of view while focusing on the life of Okonkwo. The customs and religion of the Ibo village comes out with simplicity and sympathy. This creates a sense of reminiscence for a way of life that is, no doubt, completely unusual to Western sensibilities and practices. This influences the reader to experience the strength and sense of a traditional culture as seen from within. The book is a vivid description of how rich African culture was before the invasion of the missionaries and colonialists rather than a bad portrayal of supposedly barbaric practices as has been claimed by some critics. For instance, Achebe describes a marriage ceremony of the Ibo community which paints a clear picture of their social and cultural aspect. There is so much socialism that an event such as marriage is a reserve and responsibility of the whole community. Achebe writes, “Women and children began to gather at Obierika’s compound to the bride’s mother in her difficult but happy task of...
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...introduction of the British missionaries to the Ibo people and to the book has an enormous effect on the characters and plot in the novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. Along with the introduction of the British comes Christianity leading to some of the characters clashing with the new foreigners, and others to accepting the foreigners and their beliefs. The introduction of Christianity also leads to the book finally earning its title; when things literally start to fall apart for the main character, Okonkwo. Okonkwo’s response to this new foreign religion and his reasonings behind that response are quite prevalent in the text. However, Nwoye’s response to this new religion and his reasoning behind it is quite interesting, as there...
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...Interference: The Western Way Throughout History there has been a desire for main stream white culture to explore and expand to new areas with many different objectives in mind. Many were looking for new lands that had untold riches while others were spreading cultural or religious beliefs in an attempt to gain support for their beliefs. Sometimes this was a welcomed addition to foreign societies bringing them new technologies and ideas to improve their life, except it was just as likely that these new additions to their culture and society would have a negative effect causing many people's lives to be changed forever. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a perfect example of what the effect foreign interference and new ideas-technology can have on societies that have been isolated for generations and have created a unique culture. There were many changes that occurred when the white explorers came to Niger Area, now known as Nigeria. Umuofia Mbantu and the other local clans have been living in an isolated society and culture for generations giving them plenty of time to adapted and live in their environment efficiently. They had developed many different religious beliefs that were different from the white Christian culture that settled the area. "You say that there is one supreme God who made heaven and earth," said Akunna on one of Mr. Brown's visits. " We also believe in Him and call Him Chukwu. He made all the world and the other gods." (Achebe, 179). Even when trying...
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...BOOK REVIEW Title and Bibliographic Citation: Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1996. Things fall apart is a book written by Chinua Achebe to serve the purpose of answering inaccurate stereotypes which colonial countries have about Africans. Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian born author who is widely known and recognized as the father of African literature. He was born on November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, a large village in Nigeria and recently passed away on March 21st 2013 at the age of 82 years old. He was the child of a protestant missionary and received early education in English. His upbringing was multicultural where he got to understand some of the cultural aspects of the inhabitants of Ogidi who still had some aspects of Igbo culture. Achebe was one of the founders of the Nigerian literary movement formed in the 1950’s which had a goal of identifying traditional oral culture of its indigenous people. In 1959 Chinua Achebe published the book things fall apart. The book was to serve as a response to Joseph’s Conrad book “heart of darkness” which portrayed Africa as a primordial and cultureless foil for Europe. Achebe sort out to set the record straight and clear the air from any misconceptions that Africans were a primitive, socially backward and language-less. He sorts to give room to the understanding of the African culture and give a voice to the underrepresented at a time when the continent was still suffering from colonialism. In the book Achebe...
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...Latria Stridiron Dr. Hendricks HIST.350.020 September 27, 2012 Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Chinua Achebe a Nigerian native wrote Things Fall Apart a groundbreaking novel as a response to European writings about Africa such as Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness and Joyce Cary Mister Johnson. Indignant at the way Africans were portrayed in those novels, Achebe looked for a way to show the world the richness of African culture, and in so doing, give his people a voice in the global society. Achebe announced that one of his purposes was to present a complex, dynamic society to a Western audience who perceived African society as primitive, simple, and backward. It was also a response to the Western beliefs that the Africans were uncivilized and barbaric. Achebe got most of his view from his own culture through the writing of Europeans. At first he related to the European writings, but as time went on, he felt they were poor caricatures and stereotypes of the actual people, and he tried to show this through his writing. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe illustrates this vision by showing us what happened in the Igbo society of Nigeria at the time of its colonization by the British. Because of internal weaknesses within the native structure and the divided nature of Igbo society, the community of Umuofia in this novel is unable to withstand the tidal wave of foreign religion, commerce, technology, and government. Unless Africans could tell their side of their story, Achebe...
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...Persephany Magdaleno Mr. Lopez July 23, 2014 AP Lit Things Fall Apart "The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart"(pg.176). Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, a historical fictional novel, was written to present a complex, dynamic society to a western audience who perceived African society as primitive, simple, and reversed. I strongly recommend this novel because of its differentiated perspectives of two intertwining stories for example: Okonkwo, a respected and powerful figure in the Ibo village, Umuofia, was also warrior whose major weakness in the novel is the inability to accept change. This ends up destroying him in the finale of the book. Chinua Achebe's other story described the influences of white missionaries on African tribes. Chinua Achebe also addresses the clash of cultures in the second part, especially within their religions, but implies that there is no right or wrong in their differences between their cultures. Fear is an emphasized theme throughout the novel because fear is what drives Okonkwo terror by the wrath of god's, guilt, and his community disapproval upon them. This theme is also looked as symbolization to Okonkwo's dedication to be a successful man because the fear was so fierce that it controlled...
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