Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
analytical Essay
566 words
In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, he openly goes against the colonizer’s idea of the African native. Within the Nigerian culture, which Igbo tribes would fall under, there are four different aspects of culture; the aspects are: material, institutional, philosophical, and creative (Chinyere Ohiri 49-50). In this story, the colonizer commonly goes against the philosophical aspect of the Nigerian culture. With this essay, the philosophical aspect of culture will be defined; the way that the colonizer goes against the ideas of the Igbos; and finally how Achebe shows that he goes against the ways of the colonizers.
According to Chineyere Ohiri, the philosophical aspect “is concerned with ideas, beliefs, and values” (49); in this time period, the Europeans commonly thought of the African people as uncivilized and uneducated heathens. The Africans did not have a formal education system where students sat in a classroom and listened to a lecture or even attend college; usually, the Africans had little formal education or “book smarts” but far more “street smarts”. These people knew how to properly plant and maintain land, along with survival hunting skills. Many of these people spoke in proverbs, as well. Little did the Europeans know, but the African people were actually quite intelligent when it came to survival skills.
Not only did the Europeans look down up the Africans because of their lack of “intelligence” but they also looked down upon them because of their religious views, which was another philosophical aspect of culture. In African religion, the Africans generally put a lot of emphasis and “belief in mystical forces – such as amulet, charms, herbs, sorcery, witchcraft and medicine” (Essien 237). Along with this, the Africans hav...
... middle of paper ...
...the readers through the story that the Africans are actually very intelligent. He wants his audience to realize that these people are not stupid but actually very smart, especially when it comes to farming and survival.
Works Cited
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Sarah Lawall and Maynard Mack. 2nd ed. Vol. F. New York: W.W. Norton, 1984. 2922. Print. The Twentieth Century.
Chinyere Ohiri, Innocent. "Promoting Aspects Of Culture Through Theatre-Related Establishments And Organizations." Culture & Religion Review Journal 2012.2 (2012): 49-50. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.
Essien, Essien D. "Notions Of Healing And Transcendence In The Trajectory Of African Traditional Religion: Paradigm And Strategies." International Review Of Mission 102.2 (2013): 236-248. Academic Search Complete. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how achebe goes against the colonizer's idea of the african native in things fall apart.
- Explains that the philosophical aspect is concerned with ideas, beliefs, and values. the europeans thought of the africans as uncivilized and uneducated heathens.
- Explains that the europeans looked down upon the africans because of their lack of intelligence and religious views. both these ideas go against christianity's ten commandments.
- Analyzes how achebe defies the colonizer's notion of african people. he shows that the igbo people, although often thought of as unintelligent, are intelligent.
- Analyzes how achebe writes his story from a point of view that the colonizers are irrational and evil, but he uses western ideas. he makes the connection between igbo religion and christianity.
- Concludes that achebe writes this story in a way that shows he is against the colonizer’s motives and actions.
- Cites chebe, chinua, and maynard mack in the norton anthology of world literature.
- Analyzes essien's "notions of healing and transcendence in the trajectory of african traditional religion: paradigm and strategies."
Related
- argumentative
- analytical
- things changeargumentative essayThe book Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe tells the story about a native living in Africa during the period of European imperialism. By placing the book during this time period Achebe can first explain traditional Ibo culture and then talk about the effect that the white European evangelists had on Ibo society. The book dispels the commonly held view of Africans before colonization as savage and godless beings. Achebe explains the very advanced social order in Umuofia and the complex Ibo religion. In bringing together what I have learned about Europe and Africa during the time of Imperialism I will draw a comparison between the two continents politically, religiously, and economically.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how chinua achebe's "things fall apart" dispels the commonly held view of africans before colonization as savage and godless beings.
- Explains that europe was ruled by powerful and competing monarchs during the time of imperialism. umuofia had a democratic system of government with no one ruler.
- Opines that the ibo religion was adapted to suit the agrarian-based tribal society. it contained superstition and strange rituals, which made its followers more vulnerable to christian influence.
- Explains that the economy of umuofia and the surrounding villages was a very advanced one, with yams and cowry shells being used as the main currency.
- Compares ibo and european societies at the time of imperialism. the europeans had as their goal expansion and domination with their military superiority and zealot-like religious motivation.
632 wordsRead More - Western Imperialismanalytical essayDuring the Western Imperialism era there were many changes made in Africa. One of the major changes that took place was that of religion. Most of the African tribes had their own religion and it was most of the time, polytheistic, with many Gods. When the Europeans came to these villages they brought the religi...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that western imperialism began in 1880, when european countries wanted to expand and control their rule. they would change the entire government, religion, market, and behavior of most of the african nation and affect almost every person living there.
- Explains that during the western imperialism era, there were many changes that took place in africa, such as the change in religion.
- Analyzes how the europeans brought with them their governments and enforced them as if they were the new governments of the africans. in things fall apart, the elders of a village dress up as gods and give laws and direction to the villagers.
- Analyzes how the market and behavior changed in africa. the europeans brought their culture with them and their belief of what was right or wrong.
- Analyzes how the europeans changed the religion, government, market, and behavior of africa and as a result, changed african culture into an extension of european culture.
532 wordsRead More - Themes In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apartanalytical essayThings fall Apart In the book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe certain themes are present in the the novel. Themes like Good and Evil, customs and tradition, and the one I picked Alienation and Lonliness. The story begins with the main character Okonwko who is the son of Unoka, a lazy sensitive guy, he has grown up to be very different than his own father. Okonwko is manly, strong, and is competitive opposed to anyone who is weak.
In this essay, the author
- Explains gender roles are set of societal norms dictating behaviors.
- Analyzes how chinua achebe's "things fall apart" features themes like good and evil, customs and tradition, and alienation and lonliness.
- Analyzes how okonkwo beats his wife ekwefi for doing nothing wrong. he is careless and a profound believer in gender roles.
- Analyzes how women are forced to wear long black cloaks and headdresses to cover themselves up. in "things fall apart" okonokwa is sexist and feels the need to beat all of the women he is married to.
- Opines that gender roles are not right and males should not be in charge of what women can do.
- Analyzes how oknowko and his tribe are stuck in gender roles along with stupid traditions and customs that have no way of ever changing due to fear.
562 wordsRead More - Imperialism In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apartanalytical essayThe fictional novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is about Okonkwo and his Ibo tribe, Umuofia, known now as Nigeria. This novel describes the beginning of the colonial transformation of traditional society seen in a political, economical and in a socio-cultural form. Furthermore, in this fictional story, the colonization process can be represented as it was used during the scramble for Africa, which took place in the late 19th and early 20th century (Akram-Lodhi, Colonization); back in that time colonization was justified. However, modern analysis have had demonstrate that the scramble for Africa was a colonial and imperialistic practice, these views helped to facilitate the end of colonization that began around 1950 (Hobsbawm 217). Although,
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the fictional novel things fall apart by chinua achebe describes the beginning of the colonial transformation of traditional society.
- Analyzes how achebe's depiction of ibo tribes highlights the significance of faith and tradition in all aspects of life.
357 wordsRead More - Tragic Hero In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apartanalytical essayThe concept of a tragic hero is one of the most notable and widespread literary tropes, having been in existence for over some 2000 years. As defined by Aristotle in his Poetics, a tragic hero is someone who undergoes a struggle far more potent than deserved. Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, exhibits a tragic hero through its protagonist, Okonkwo. Achebe achieves this status through his tragic flaw of excessive pride, his ultimate demise caused by said pride, and his ability to evoke fear and pity within the audience.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how chinua achebe's novel, things fall apart, exhibits a tragic hero through its protagonist, okonkwo.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's tragic flaw comes in the form of excessive pride, something loosely established through his personality.
- Analyzes okonkwo's demise in things fall apart. his pride causes him to take his own life and is buried like a dog for it.
- Analyzes how the rise and fall of okonkwo leaves the audience with conflicting emotions, most notably pity and fear.
- Argues that okonkwo represents a tragic hero, although not the typical one. between his complex, multilayered sense of pride, his collapse at the hands of his unbending will, and his pitiful background, one can easily understand why
1141 wordsRead More - African and African American according to Achebe and Douglassanalytical essayAlthough Achebe conveys many different themes in his writing Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe expresses the importance of tribal beliefs in African Culture.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how chinua achebe, fredrick douglass, and ann petry portray the true image and struggle of the negro through various writings and narratives.
- Analyzes how chinua achebe expresses the importance of tribal beliefs in african culture in things fall apart.
- Analyzes how achebe's work shows the value that the community has for the powers that be. he also shows that igbo religious authorities, such as the oracle, possess supernatural insights.
- Analyzes how okonkwo beats his second wife during the week of peace, once when she didn't come home to make his meal.
- Analyzes how the narrative of fredrick douglass shows the different attributes of slavery and the effects they have on africans and african americans.
- Analyzes how the narrative displays the use of knowledge as a tool for freedom. douglass learns that knowledge must be the way to freedom, as auld forbids his wife to teach him how to read and write.
- Analyzes how douglass illustrates slaveholding as a distortion of christianity. he clarifies that slaveholders' christianity is not evidence of their native goodness.
- Analyzes how ann petry illustrates the importance of african american family in the story "in darkness and confusion".
- Opines that the jones family must stick together in order to survive as a family. they must stay strong for those who are too weak to deal with society's ups and downs.
- Concludes that many books have been written about african american culture, its history, and lifestyle. few authors have pinpointed the true meaning of the rich culture that we see today.
1031 wordsRead More - Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, is certainly the world’s most widely read African novel; it focuses on the life of Okonkwo a respected male in the early 1800’s in the Umuofia tribe of the Igbo people. Things Fall Apart, has gained much acknowledgment and recognition by virtue of its unique portrayal of life in the early 1800’s in colonial Africa. It has sparked controversy and debate between scholars; as a result of it being written by an African in 1958, this type of writing had never been seen before. This particular controversy was actually what Chinua Achebe, a celebrated 20th century Nigerian novelist was anticipating, when he composed Things Fall Apart, to describe Nigerian culture and the clash between indigenous African cultures with the traditional European culture.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that chinua achebe's things fall apart, is the world’s most widely read african novel. it focuses on okonkwo, a respected male in the early 1800s in colonial africa.
- Explains that chinua achebe was born in ogidi, nigeria, to two christian parents who inundated him with traditional igbo values, as well as european values.
- Analyzes how achebe wanted the world to understand the nigerian culture through okonkwo's life. he wanted to show the greatness and positive aspects of life in the igbo culture.
- Analyzes how achebe wanted to disprove the false portrayal of africans as uncivilized and barbaric. he wrote things fall apart to demonstrate the coming of the european colonists.
- Analyzes how chinua achebe's things fall apart illustrates a nigerian igbo village and removes any discrimination against africans on account of the western african image.
591 wordsRead More - Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebeanalytical essayThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is an African novel which happened in 19th Century. Achebe narrates the story mainly about Okonkwo’s whole life in one of the nine villages called Umuofia in Nigeria and the clashes as well as influences to the village from colonization of Europeans. The clashes include reactions and misconception after the first arrival of white people and the effect which missionaries bring about to the village from many aspects such as belief, family and culture. Beyond that, there are large amount of description of the background and details of the villagers’ daily lives are provided to readers for acquainting with Ibo culture. As a consequence, the changes which white people bring about to the village are vivid and unimaginable compared with their previous peaceful life. The conflicts generate from violence and misunderstanding between the Europeans and villagers with addition of colonial process among villages which lead to replacement of Christian domination rather than the Ibo culture.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how chinua achebe narrates the story of okonkwo's life in one of the nine villages called umuofia in nigeria and the clashes and influences from colonization of europeans.
- Analyzes how violence and misunderstanding between two parties are generated since the first unexpected arrival of missionaries in umuofia.
- Analyzes how the white have an ulterior development of process by establishing their status with their stronger ambition to colonize in the mbanta village.
- Analyzes how the downfall of ibo society and the new christian religion's domination appear especially after the expelling of okonkwo.
- Concludes that the way of white people judge and educate provides a better way to survive and live.
1125 wordsRead More - Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebeanalytical essayWith 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.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how okonkwo's story exemplifies the altering role of the state as the marching boots of colonialism enter his village, iguedo.
- Explains that the village of iguedo, prior to the advent of christianity, was one whose system of governance operated with autonomy.
- Explains the foundation of rule by the elders, highly regarded clansmen, and the priestess enforced customary law.
- Analyzes how the success of missionaries in acquiring converts ignited the skirmish for power between the existing structure of rule and the new, monotheistic order.
- Analyzes how the colonizers, especially under the missionary work of mr. brown, became popular in their role as ity through the services and infrastructure they provided.
- Analyzes how okonkwo was misogynistic in his treatment of his wives and daughters, despite his favorite child being ezinma.
- Analyzes how chinua achebe's things fall apart illustrates the pre-colonial life of the igbo population and the alterations and institutional conflict that occurred as native traditions, values, and beliefs encountered christianity and europe.
1105 wordsRead More - Nnolim, Charles E. "Achebe's Things Fall Apart: An Igbo National Epic" Modern Black Literature. ed. Okechukwu Mezu New York: Black Academy Press, 1971, 55-60.
In this essay, the author
- Describes his life and work hard to prove to others that he was not the same man.
- Describes the responsibilities of an old man as a young boy and had the mind set of summary:
- Describes the benefits of supporting the ones close to him and the love of rest and time to relax.
- Explains that the eldest is an annual feast of offering to the goddess of the earth.
- Explains nnolim, charles e., "achebe's things fall apart: an igbo national epic" in modern black literature.
- Explains traore, ousseynou's "things fall apart; a poetics of epic and mythic paradigms."
- Analyzes how culross, melissa, and gallagher, susan, "encounter with chinua achebe."
1626 wordsRead More