Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart - The Downfall of the...

One of Chinua Achebe’s goals in Things Fall Apart is to portray Ibo culture vividly and honestly. Unlike European perspectives of the Africans – such as Conrad’s Heart of Darkness – Achebe’s representation explains intricate customs, rituals, and laws and develops individual characters. Things Fall Apart shows Ibo society to be fully functioning and full of life. However, Achebe maintains his objectivity and avoids giving the Ibo any undue sympathy, painting some of their customs – such as the mandatory abandonment of infant twins – in a questionable light. While it is easy for us – especially in this age of political correctness and multiculturalism – to place upon the white man all the blame for the downfall of the Ibo, Achebe†¦show more content†¦And they might have noticed that Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the row of egwugwu. But if they thought these things they kept them within themselves† (90). The villagers remain silent out of respect for the ancestors represented by the egwugwu and out of reverence for the ritual. In addition to laws, Okonkwo’s world is also shaped by a social hierarchy, which sheds light on the values of his people. Achebe notes, â€Å"Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered† (8). And it is through the strength of his own achievements that Okonkwo gains his prominent social position. Originally gaining fame through his wrestling prowess, he proceeds to distinguish himself in a war, become a successful farmer, and gain some of the overt signs of social position: wives and titles. Okonkwo’s history shows that the Ibo value strength, bravery and success. Other Ibo traditions described in the novel include the Week of Peace, in which no work is done (31), and the New York festival, which honors the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan (36). The Ibo also have a highly developed mythology, including stories such as the tale of Mosquito and Ear (75) and the tale of Tortoise and the birds (97). These many facets of culture show that the Ibo are not just a bunch of savages in a jungle but an intricate, functionalShow MoreRelated Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart - Internal Conflict Leading to the Downfall in the Ibo Culture757 Words   |  4 PagesIn Chinua Achebe’s 19th century Nigerian novel Things Fall Apart, the Ibo culture has internal problems, which ultimately cause of the downfall of the clan. These problems include a poor social system, superstitious beliefs, and a lack of suitable decision-making. These few problems are essential. One of the flaws inside the Ibo culture that eventually leads to their downfall is the social system. The weaker people join the church as a way to gain acceptance. The osu, or outcasts whoRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesIndifference: Reactions to Missionaries in Things Fall Apart In Things Fall Apart, post-colonial author Chinua Achebe is effectively telling two distinct but related stories. The first establishes the traditions and customs of the Ibo people, particularly those living in the powerful village of Umuofia, while the second documents the culture clash between the old ways of the Ibo clan and the newly arrived white man, all of which is connected by the common thread of the fall of the tragic hero, disgraced warriorRead MoreThings Fall Apart Biblical Style Essay1407 Words   |  6 PagesChinua Achebe in his novel, Things Fall Apart, writes in a way that Erich Auerbach would describe as biblical style. Biblical style involves suspense, biblical allusions, the ambiguity of purpose, and gaps leading to interpretation. Achebe uses this biblical style to focus on the downfall of Okonkwo, the main character. One passage that exemplifies this biblical style is in Part One with Okonkwo in the sacrifice of his adopted son, Ikemefuna. Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna out of fear of what the otherRead MoreAnalysis of Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart1579 Words   |  6 PagesChinua Achebes 1958 novel Things Fall Apart marked a significant turning point not only for literature, but the world, because the novel is an attempt to blend the conflicting identities and ideologies of Africa in the wake of colonization. The novel depicts the destructive tension that arises between the traditions of the Igbo people and white colonizers, but, perhaps contrary to the readers expectation, it does not present either side as holding the ethical high ground. 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As events unfold, Okonkwo’s carefully constructed world and the Ibo way of life collapses. The story of Okonkwo’s fall from a respected and feared leader of the Ibo tribe to an outcast who dies in disgrace dramatizes his inability to evolve beyond his personal beliefs, affecting the entireRead M oreThe Collision Of Cultures : Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart2071 Words   |  9 Pagesand the tribes, as well as internal problems between once amiable members of the Ibo culture. With the introduction of the foreign Western Society in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the tribe’s life and ideals are drastically altered as the new ethics and principles collide with the old traditions and laws, causing the members of the society to either adapt or be crushed underneath the foot of colonialism. Achebe’s character, Okonkwo, was impacted immensely by the cultural collision, as his previousRead More Essay on the Downfall of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart824 Words   |  4 Pages The Downfall of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart nbsp; Chinua Achebes novel, Things Fall Apart, uses the changes in African tribal culture brought about by European colonization to illustrate the evolution of the character Okonkwo. As Okonkwo leads his life, his experiences, personality and thought are revealed to the reader. The obstacles he faces in life are made numerous as time progresses. Okonkwos most significant challenge originates within himself. He also encounters problems not onlyRead MoreEssay on Investigating Why the Book is Entitled Things Fall Apart1149 Words   |  5 PagesTitle Analysis of Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart I believe that the title Things Fall Apart refers to the fact that without proper balance, things do fall apart. The notion of balance in the novel is an important theme throughout the book. Beginning with the excerpt from Yeats poem, The Second Coming, the concept of balance is stressed as important; for without balance, order is lost. In the novel, there is a system of balance, which the Ibo culture seems to dependRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1388 Words   |  6 Pageswriter who was known by many as one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language? Chinua Achebe, the author of the great African novel,  ¨Things Fall Apart ¨ argues that Joseph Conrad s book  ¨Heart Of Darkness ¨ was a false depiction of Africa and the writing was too racist and made the white race seem superior to the native Africans. The novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe is about the Ibo people and how they have to face the threat of colonization and the white people’s religion