The book portrays a tragic ending displayed to both society and in individual because of villagers destructible bond toward the protagonist Okonkwo resulting, on to the overthrow of the Ibo society. Okonkwo mentioned “mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart” (Achebe, pg.157) meaning that due to the estrangement of the clan, their clan weakened and were unprepared to fight against the missionaries. The bond with each and every one of the clan was brittle, and it was only the clans support and cooperation which could have protected their culture and Okonkwo’s life. These types of situations can not only wipe out a clan strength, but can as well extinguish the love and bond of a family. Okonkwo’s death was an unquestionable tragedy because in the beginning of the book he was “greatest …show more content…
Nwoye’s confusion lead to the clash between him and his father because his clan’s religion taught to punish while Christianity gave forgiveness. From this conflict of knowing what religion to believe, he and his father quarreled because Okonkwo could not understand Nwoey’s “despicable son’s behavior” (Achebe, pg. 132). Separation in this case demonstrates how family support can be demolished, especially because Nwoye “struggled to free himself from the choking grip [Of his father]” (Achebe, pg. 132). Values like unity and support should not be abolished because it is what help people overcome obstacles. Okonkwo and Nwoye were unable to stay in unity and work in order to persevere. In order to maintain their own beliefs, a strong bond was necessary, but the lack of engagement with their own community was key to their separation. Things that can destroy our current society is the guttural separation of a multitude. After all, collaboration is a huge and, valuable reinforcement for
In the book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe certain themes are present in the the
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.
Imagine if you would, to be in another culture, and someone who is unwanted, unwelcome has come into it and has caused it to crumble. You and your family are plunged into failure and your life is falling apart. These people, the missionaries, arrived from England to colonize Africa during the colonial period. There were many problems faced by the native people, most of whom were not about to drop all of their beliefs to adopt a foreigners customs. Such beliefs existed in the protagonist, Okonkwo, and are the roots of the challenges faced by Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart, in which the author, Chinua Achebe, writes of the challenges to Okonkwo's sense of identity. Western ideas have clashed with his sense of family, his ideas of gender, and position of leadership within the clan, which influences and forms the meaning of the book.
“Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way. You become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, and brave by performing brave actions.” -Aristotle.
In her article, “Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart”, Diana Akers Rhoads positively criticizes Achebe’s work. She believes that Achebe does a great job of conveying the Ibo people as culturally bound and religious. Akers states, “Achebe’s aim is to present the peculiarities of the Igbo culture, especially the beauties and wisdom of its arts and institutions…” (Akers 1). It is agreeable that Achebe does present the beauties of the Umuofian culture which is later destroyed by the Europeans. Throughout Things Fall Apart, Achebe, “talking of the importance of ideals, refers to the example of village life based on a kind of equality” (2). Achebe demonstrates the importance of religion and culture in the novel by talking about the life of the native people. Akers also says which is true in the novel, that “Igbo are in some ways superior to those who comes to convert them” (4). It is true that the people of Umuofia especially Okonkwo, are superior in not following the religion and culture of the Europeans. For instance, Okonkwo tries to stop the missionaries by killing them in order to stop them from changing the religion of the Ibo people. Therefore, as Akers discusses in her article, religion and culture was worth a lot to the natives but, ironically many natives converts to Christianity due to the arrival of the
“He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.” This quote by Chinua Achebe describes the self-inflictions when a person purposely goes after another. This goes hand-in-hand with the Nigerian author’s magnum opus, Things Fall Apart. For the duration of the book, Achebe uses subtle events to create amplifying changes. He uses Okonkwo’s relationship with others, his learning about the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. Achebe also uses Okonkwo’s fear of change for the Ibo regarding to the missionaries and their spread of Christianity through the region. Creating universal and relatable characters, Chinua Achebe warns people of rash actions and their effects over time.
Okonkwo is often described as being similar to characters in Greek tragedies. Okonkwo knew that the end of his clan was coming, and that they would do nothing to prevent it from happening. He took his life out of desperation. He had struggled his whole life to become a respected member of his community, and suddenly his world is turned upside down and changed forever because of an accident. Okonkwo sees that he is fighting a losing battle, so he quits. Suicide was one of the biggest offenses that could be committed against the earth, and Okonkwo?s own clansmen could not bury him. Okonkwo?s death symbolizes the end of patriarchy in Umuofia. The last page of the book is from the point of view of the white Commissioner, who notes that he wants to include a paragraph on Okonkwo?s life in his book entitled The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of Lower Niger. Okonkwo?s struggles, triumphs and defeats are all reduced to a paragraph, much like his culture and society will be reduced.
William James, a famous American philosopher, once stated, “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives”. This quotation effectively illustrates how change in one’s attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs can alter the environment in which one lives. This concept is clearly demonstrated throughout the novel Things Fall Apart, authored by Chinua Achebe, by establishing a connection through the development of its characters and the change in traditional African tribal villages seen in the Nineteenth Century. It will be established how various characters demonstrated by the author throughout the novel exemplify how change in one’s attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs can alter the environment in which one lives addressed by William James’s quote above. First, by analyzing Achebe’s development of Okonkwo’s character through his initial character description and the emergence of outsiders, it is evident that he is portrayed as an old fashioned character that is less responsive to change. Secondly, through examining Nwoye’s character, Okonkwo’s son, it becomes apparent that the youth in the novel are more open-minded, easily persuadable and more adaptive to societal changes. Lastly, uncovering the meaning behind the arrival of European missionaries, it becomes apparent that Achebe defines this group as being a “disease”, poisoning the society in which Okonkwo lives. The author look’s at individuals as being critical and influential figures in shaping the environment to which they belong, beginning with Okonkwo.
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.
In the beginning of the story, Okonkwo’s relationship with his son was strained. Toward the end of the story, Nwoye has left is his family and will never see his father again. The elders of the village put much emphasis on family life and helping fellow clansmen. Okonkwo’s family life had increasingly gone downhill as the story progressed. This book can be related to any family, even though it was written in a different time and place. Family problems affect everyone and this story shows the reader how certain problems are dealt with. I don’t believe, however, that Okonkwo’s family took care of their problems in a productive manner. With better communication, Nwoye’s leaving and Okonkwo’s death may have been prevented.
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.
The Bible says that for everything there is a season. That means that things will change as time passes and there is no way to stop the advancement of time. This idea is clearly shown in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. This novel, set in West Africa in the late 1800s, details the violent events that occur when colonization by the white man begins and the resulting ripple effects start to spread across Nigeria. The West African protagonist is a mighty warrior named Okonkwo who has trouble accepting how his clan will never be the same after the white man’s arrival. A few other characters show strength during the chaos too. Therefore, the three strongest characters in this novel are Okonkwo, Ikemefuna, and Uchendu.
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.
Nwoye grows tired of his father and is called by the Christian faith and converts. Nwoye’s internal struggle with himself between change and tradition ultimately led him to convert against his father’s wishes. Okonkwo is extremely resistant to change, so he does everything in his power to prevent his family from converting; “‘If you turn against me when I am dead I will visit you and break your neck’” (Achebe 105). Okonkwo uses fear to keep his other children from the Igbo culture.
The Importance of Things Fall Apart & nbsp; & nbsp; The novel "Things Fall Apart", by Chinua Achebe, was an eye-opening account of the life and eventual extinction of an African tribe called the Ibo. It focuses on one character, Okonkwo, who at a very early age set out on a quest of self-perfection. Coming from a family ruled by a man who was lazy and inconsistent with everything he did, Okonkwo vowed to never accept the fate of his father. Okonkwo and his family have suffered through many hard times in their lives, but usually managed to come out on top. Through terrible crop seasons and bad judgement calls, Okonkwo usually prevailed, until the day came when he was faced with a situation that could not be resolved by his strength and character alone.