Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

676 Words2 Pages

Over the years, there has always been differences among cultures. The fact that what one culture views as ¨right¨, may be considered ¨wrong¨ by another culture. As well as customs and traditions which are then passed down to the newer generations amongst themselves, but they may be viewed as abnormal among other cultures. For example, the customs and traditions practiced in Africa, are viewed quite distinctly between the Igbo culture and European culture. It is all how their practices and learnings have taught them as they were passed down to them.
In the text, Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, contains a religious, strong, impulsive, character in which who is used to demonstrate the effect of cultural collision when European colonization first began to force itself onto the Igbo Culture. On page 178, it mentions, “The white man had indeed brought a lunatic religion, but he had also built a trading store and for the first time palm-oil and kernel became things of great price, and much money flowed into Umuofia.” A man who had just returned from a seven-year-long exile, to his surprise, has found his village already being influenced by the Westerners. The Europeans are not seen right away as a threat because of their contribution to the land’s economy. On page 185, it …show more content…

On page 195, it includes, “At night the messengers came in to taunt them and knock their shaven heads together.” These actions only show neglect which will cause anger among the victims. This is no way to persuade a culture. On page 198, it mentions, “The District Commissioner spoke to them again about the great queen, and about peace and good government. But the men did not listen.” It is clear the Igbo people are being fed up with the Europeans meddling in their culture and lands. It was due to the differences and pressure of the European

Colonialism In Things Fall Apart
590 Words | 2 Pages
Throughout history, British imperialism has influenced many countries’ culture and heritage for the worse. The competition for resources and markets made empires colonize different parts of the world to systematically spread their influence and force the colonized to forget their heritage. One of the most important African writers, Chinua Achebe was strongly concerned with political and social effects of British colonialism in the Igbo society. His novel, Things Fall Apart, is not an exceptionally positive one, utilizing the story to delineate a pioneer control that enters and afterward realizes the demise of the Igbo society (How Does Chinua Achebe Portray Colonialism Using Things Fall Apart?essay). Achebe paints a picture of how the colonizers treat the colonized and to what the local people are forced to accustom to the new culture that was forced upon them. Throughout the whole book, you can see diverse impacts on the tribe and the connections between the white and dark man (Colonialism in Things Fall Apart). The constant question of "Does the white man understand our custom abou...
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Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
1018 Words | 3 Pages
In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Obierika and Okeke bring a peace to the community and themsel and religious lives around them, while Okonkwo and Enoch strike fear and confusion into the communities around them. Okeke and Obierika are from two different worlds but their balanced character makes them similar to one another. Okeke is of Igbo descent but has begun to work as a translator for the Christians.
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Igbo Civilization In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
943 Words | 2 Pages
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.") (Achebe 176). This quote deeply explained “white men” coming to their native and spreading their religion. The “white men” also known as the Europeans were asking to build a church in the land that the Igbo resigned. They were not so sure with this decision at first and came over very hesistant and then they agreed to let the white men build the church in The Evil Forrest of the Umofia
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Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
1112 Words | 3 Pages
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.
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culture collision
642 Words | 2 Pages
When the Europeans arrived in Africa during the late eighteenth century the culture and the lives of the people of Africa are altered. Colonialism and Imperialism in Africa has adversely changed the way of life of the African people, and changed their culture, that had developed for so many years, unscathed by any distraction from the outside world. This dominant European influence has led to poverty in the African continent for the next 100 years, because of the institutions that were put into place by Europeans. In Things Fall Apart, it becomes clear that the Ibo culture responds in a distinct way to the European colonization; when compared to other villages and ethnic groups in Africa. These foreigners had such an enormous effect on the Ibo tribe that many of the clansmen decided to abandon the traditional ways or were too afraid to rise against the takeover of their tribe by the Europeans since the natives lacked the adequate technology to fight off the Europeans. The culture collision between Europe’s culture and the Ibo culture causes Nwoye’s sense of identity to be challenged and causes him to distance himself from his family and his tribe because of the introduction of Christianity and western ideals.
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Analysis Of Things Fall Apart
546 Words | 2 Pages
The book Things Fall Apart shines light on the traditions, culture, and struggles of tribal Africa. Through the use of the Igbo people in the Umuofia clan, this book touches on everything from racism, the oppression of the African culture faced by the Europeans, to the effect that colonization had on Africa as a whole. By using these characters, the author conveys to the readers what life was like in the Igbo culture, and with that is able to show the readers the fact that Africa has a beautiful past, far older than just the times after colonization. This book, as well as the video from Dr. Basil Davidson, contributed to a recurring theme of change in the Igbo culture and in African civilization during this time.
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Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
865 Words | 2 Pages
Planet Earth harbors seven billion independent human minds, living seven billion independent, equally complex lives. Even more impressive, each mind contains unique perspectives and opinions. With so many different minds interacting, conflict between individuals’ perspectives and opinions becomes inevitable. Unfortunately, no single perspective, held by a single mind or a group of minds, dominates as the correct perspective. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the meeting of different cultures creates conflict between perspectives, in which both parties assume righteousness but neither is entirely correct. Though Okonkwo may draw a readers’ sympathy for his role as the tragic hero, the author’s sympathy sits with Obierika, who is positioned between the missionaries and Okonkwo as the most humane balance of the two cultures.
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Igbo Culture
1394 Words | 3 Pages
Analysis of the Igbo Culture Pre- and Post-Colonization The Igbo people lived in Nigeria long before the arrival of European colonists, peacefully existing with a well-established governmental, social, and religious system; however, the arrival of European colonists led to a massive shift in the lives of the Igbo people and caused a ripple effect throughout Nigeria. Europeans brought with them their Western ideals, which included their religious beliefs: Christianity, which they tried to spread throughout Nigeria, trying to convert Igbo peoples with multiple methods. These methods ranged from violence to introducing new educational systems to living like the natives, and they had been in practice in many countries around the world before European
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Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
739 Words | 2 Pages
How can an author use a fictional character to make a statement about culture? Chinua Achebe in his novel Things Fall Apart answers this question by telling a story of british colonization through an african point of view. In this work of historical fiction, Okonkwo wants his honor back after it is lost. But the British took over then he makes a plan to get it back when he returns, so when he cant get it back because the clan is scared to fight and the british has to much power finally he killed himself. Okonkwo illustrates that encountering a new culture can be bad even though the initial change may be good.
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Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
904 Words | 2 Pages
In the book “Things Fall Apart”, evidence of a social structure was apparent within the Igbo community. This rigid social structure served as a purpose to balance the life of the people within the society, as well as promoting the downfall of the clan. The social structure was important in keeping a centralized society and preventing any sign of corruption within their clan. The social structure had advantages in keeping a balanced and equal society, supporting a division of labor, providing a surplus of food, individual huts, a communal society, and the development of some kind of government. In contrast, this social structure led others to reject to cooperate with the new religion and aided the lack of unity among the people. It also promoted a more patriarchal society, the inferior rank of women, and the lack of strong bonds between family members.
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A Safer Waterfront In Lagos, Nigeria
1119 Words | 3 Pages
Throughout the novel, Christian European colonists act as catalysts for change in not only Umuofia but the entire Ibo culture. The legacy of colonialism is still visible today within Nigeria’s government
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Igbo Culture
805 Words | 2 Pages
The principles of which they live by may seem strange and irrelevant to those of an outside society. In Achebe’s novel, the European white people intensively integrate themselves into the Ibo’s land and bring their own culture with them. The white’s standards of living are of course divergent and very foreign to the Ibo people, but the Europeans permeated themselves with such sovereignty that many of them
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The Effects of Colonialism in Things Fall Apart
349 Words | 1 Pages
In the novel, Things Fall Apart, the effects of colonialism were extremely evident in the Igbo society. As the white Englanders moved into the native's land, their cultural values changed. Examples of these changes were evident in all aspects of the Igbo people's lives, in their religion, family life, children, and the dead. Many of the Igboians were upset by the colonialism of their society, but in the end they were completely incapable of doing anything to reverse the changes that had already taken place in their society.
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The Destruction of the Igbo Indigenous Culture in Things Fall Apart
1683 Words | 4 Pages
In Things fall apart, Chinua Achebe showed us the richness of the Igbo traditional culture as well as the destruction of it through the activities of British missionaries. The appearance of Christianity on the Nigerian tribal land led to the disintegration of belief in the Igbo society, and made way for British colonization. Were the British the only cause of the destruction of the Igbo culture? The appearance of a new religion was not the sole reason for the loss of a tradition. The Igbo people also lost their culture because of many unreasonable conceptions in their spirituality.
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Discuss The Impact Of Imperialism In Things Fall Apart
948 Words | 2 Pages
All ancient traditional customs are destroyed, new customs are forced upon the Igbo people, and every individual will be effected and whether it 's in a positive or negative way depends on your willingness to adapt to cultural changes in your environment. Through the migration of two distinct cultures, Chinua Achebe teaches us that there must be some middle ground between two opposites where they can exist, and excel, as equals. This lesson can be applied in our society today as Achebe explains that there is a balance between two differences, whether it be in literal context of the novel indicating a balance between what we believe and what another culture teaches, or a metaphorical balance between two opposites such as race, gender, economic class etc. Never the less, until we are able to accept our weakness, and treat one another as equals we will all end up like
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Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Colonialism In Things Fall Apart