Chinua Achebe's works reveal the sustaining relevance of "the sacred" to his audience and invite his readers to consider the metamorphosis of sacred tropes from traditional to colonial times. The mask in Achebe's novels Things Fall Apart and No Longer At Ease is one of a number of tropes which represent the shifting of the locus of "the sacred" from community to individual. This trope, and others like it, reflects upon the way in which European influence has directed the social significance of spirituality through the process of colonization. Through the examination of these tropes, one should develop a critical awareness of the relationship between the sacred and the profane in the Modern context of No Longer At Ease, observing the once-sacred symbols which come into being as metaphors for the displacement of traditional Igbo eschatology and the contemporary presence of a widening gulf between the individual "the sacred."
The conflict between "the sacred" as traditionally defined by the Igbo and that which has been imposed by European colonial rule can best be illustrated by MirceaEliade's suggestion that "the sacred is equivalent to a power"; and, ultimately, it is the possessor of this power who is afforded the luxury of constructing reality (12). When read critically, one notes that Eliade prompts the reader to form narrow conclusions concerning what he refers to as the "archaic," "primitive" man who, much like the community represented in Things Fall Apart, is surrounded by the essence of spirituality in every aspect of daily life. More completely, Eliade states,
The man of the archaic societies tends to live as much as possible in the sacred or in close proxim...
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...sloyal to their own traditional definition of "the sacred," and, therefore, implicate each other in a web of ambiguity and corruption.
WORKS CITED
Achebe, Chinua. "The Igbo World and Its Art."Hopes and Impediments. New York: Anchor, 1990. 67.
---. No Longer At Ease. New York: Fawcett, 1990. 20, 24, 54, 55, 120, 121.
---. Things Fall Apart. Oxford: Heinemann, 1986. 65, 100.
Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion. Trans.Willard R. Trask. New York: Harper and Row, 1961. 12, 13.
Monti, Franco. African Masks. Trans. Paul Hamlyn. London: Cameo, 1966. 9, 10, 47.
Rogers, Philip. "No Longer At Ease: ChinuaAchebe's 'Heart of Whiteness.' " Postcolonial Literatures: Achebe, Ngugi, Desai, Walcott. Ed. Michael Parker and Roger Starkey. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995. 54.
With a socially imposed and personal devotion to attain a highly regarded status in his clan, Okonkwo’s life was one that valued traditional authority, customs, and kinship. As a protagonist, Okonkwo’s story exemplifies the altering role of the state as the marching boots of colonialism enter his village, Iguedo. In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, he illustrates the societal life of the Umuofia clan prior to the arrival of and the encounter with early colonizers - offering an Igbo account of the transformation of local institutions. Once wielded by elders and the spiritually divine, the power of control fell into the hands of foreigners. Worship of ancestors, the supreme deity Chikwu, and other Earth gods transferred to the God revealed in the Bible. The interactions between the institutions of rule, belief, environmental management, and trade are each delicately reliant on each other, so that in Iguedo the ability to rule fails to exist without belief, religious believes are derived from the environment, and the mercy of environmental conditions dictates agricultural trade. Through the life and death of Okonkwo, the novel presents how the experience of the Igbo and their interaction with the state witnessed unquestionable change.
Hitchcock, Henry Russell. Early Victorian Architecture in Britain Volumes I and II. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1954.
Like Jesus overcoming Satan’s hold on man, Harry faces the evil Voldemort who threatens to destroy the wizarding community. Voldemort’s evil nature made it impossible to understand the virtues of love, loyalty, and innocence. Contrary, Harry’s inherent nature of fearlessness and his eagerness to embrace the possibility of death to defeat Voldemort is that of an honorable hero which compels the reader to join with Harry and root against the Dark Lord. Ingenious writer, Rowling, further embodies good versus evil with the virtuous Order of the Phoenix fighting against the wicked Death Eaters in order to keep wizards and muggles safe. The group calling themselves Dumbledore’s Army in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is made up of Harry’s closest friends who are willing to create havoc among the Death Eaters and Voldemort, even though their lives are at stake. These characters are not only trying to defeat the Dark Lord, but they are trying to ensure the survival of one soul ,their only hope, Harry Potter. Like Harry, Jesus also was destined to save people from the evil in this world and was willing to be beaten and ridiculed for the greater
The novel Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe highlights the many important historical events that happened during the period of colonialism, spread of religious fervor to Africa from Europe, and the importance of the native religion among African societies. Achebe shows that religion holds a major influence in many African societies and influences the daily life of the natives. Furthermore, the novel introduces a major event that happen during pre-colonial Africa, the spread of the Christian faith, which forever changed and affected the natives in Africa, more specifically the Igbo society located in Nigeria. Things Fall Apart vividly describes and explains how the Christian faith that arrived in Africa changed both the individuals in the Umoufia and society. To add on, the novel shows how the spread of Christianity ultimately leads to the destruction of the many native African cultures, and shows what redeeming qualities that arise from the destruction of their culture. Achebe describes how the Christian faith acts as a guide to the Igbo society and at the same time acts as the inevitable downfall of the Igbo society.
Just to quickly run through the two previous books; Harry Potter is a wizard, who’s parents were killed by the worst dark wizard ever known. The reason why Harry Potter is still around, is because Lord Voldemort failed to kill Harry. His spell hit Harry, but then backfired on Voldemort taking all of his powers with him. Harry is so famous for two things. Withstanding the powers of Lord Voldemort, and, taking him back in to the underworld in hiding. In the first book, Harry receives a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He’s eventually allowed to go, and spends the next six months there learning magic, getting into trouble, and trying to solve mysteries of his past, and the school. In the second book, Harry goes back to his second year at Hogwarts, and gets into more trouble, figures out many astonishing mysteries and learns loads more magic. His best friends in the two books consist of Ron and Hermione (two of his fellow wizard students) and Hagrid the gamekeeper who was expelled from Hogwarts but allowed a job as the gamekeeper.
By utilizing an unbiased stance in his novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe promotes cultural relativity without forcibly steering his audience to a particular mindset. He presents the flaws of the Ibo tribe the same way he presents the assets—without either condescension or pride; he presents the cruelties of the colonizers the same way he presents their open mindedness—without either resentment or sympathy. Because of this balance, readers are able to view the characters as multifaceted human beings instead of simply heroes and victims. Achebe writes with such subtle impartiality that American audiences do not feel guilty for the cruel actions of the colonizers or disgusted by the shocking traditions of the tribesmen. The readers stop differentiating the characters as either “tribesmen” or “colonizers”. They see them simply as people, much like themselves. With this mindset, the audience starts to reflect upon their own cultural weaknesses. Conversely, the colonizers forcefully declare their religion onto the tribesmen instead of neutrally presenting their beliefs. Achebe prevails over his anger to present his opinion without forcefulness and with open-minded consideration. Yes, the colonizers succeed in converting many tribesmen into Christians; however, their success is subjective because they destroy African culture in the process. Ultimately, Achebe is successful in delivering his political views, but he does so by encouraging open-mindedness and cultural relativity instead of forcing his individual ideals upon his readers.
In “Things Fall Apart,” Chinua Achebe incorporates the theme of marginalization. Instead of the typical scenario in canonical works, the focus is on the tribe Umuofia in Africa:
The first Earl of Mansfield, William Murray, acquired the estate in 1754. Ten years following the purchase, he hired then one of the most renowned architects to renovate and remodel the house. Much of the built structure existed prior to Robert and James Adams; however, the library they added became a trademark of "Adam style". Decorating the front façade and adding a classical portico were other more notable interventions to the Villa. Their library throughout time has always r...
Although Achebe conveys many different themes in his writing Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe expresses the importance of tribal beliefs in African Culture.
The main focus in this novel is on one man, Okonkwo, the protagonist who symbolises the many Nigerians, or Africans who were struggling against the white missionaries, who brought their religion and policies and imposed them on Okonkwo’s and the other surrounding tribes. Achebe also shows how great the effect is when something as seemingly un-invasive, such as a church, is set up in a Nigerian or African Culture. Among other issues, A...
- Kostof, S, A History of Architecture:settings and rituals, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press Ink. Publishers, New York, 1995.
Vidler, Anthony. The writing of the walls: Architectural theory in the late enlightenment. Princeton: Princeton Architectural Press, 1987.
In Chinua Achebe 's classic novel "Things Fall Apart," the development of European colonization 's lead to extreme cultural changes, leaving a lasting impact on the Igbo village of Umofia in West Africa. In the novel, Achebe displays the impacts of European colonization in both critical and sympathetic terms to provide the reader with both positive and negative factors of Imperialism to develop an unbiased understanding of what the Igbo culture and society went through. While addressing the hardship 's of life by showing the deterioration of Okonkwo 's character, the cultural and traditional changes of society, and the positive and negative impacts of imperialism, Achebe keeps touch on the overall theme of the novel, once a dramatic event
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe tries to bring back up cultural, social, and spiritual basics of traditional Igbo (Ibo) existence from the year 1850 and 1900. The novel cannot be fixed like other societal and political old times of Ibo society since it is a fictional novel. However, the novel describes disagreements and anxiety that occurred in Igbo society. It also shows changes initiated by colonial ruling and Christianity. Colonialism affected the people in the Ibo society by destroying of their family’s relationships, friendships, their religion or even created fights between the tribes.
Eventually, Uncle Vernon’s plot to conceal Harry’s true identity is discovered, and Harry finds allies in the magical world of Hogwart’s School. More so, Harry suddenly finds himself transported to fantasy world of Hogwart’s School, which is an educational institution (a private school) teaches young people how to become wizards. Ironically, Harry arrives at Hogwart’s School (on a mysterious train), and he is surprised that he is already a famous celebrity amongst his peers. More so, Voldemort’s attempt to kill Harry (after had killed his parents) makes him something of a