Culture And African Culture In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

591 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Things fall apart analysis essay

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.
Chinua Achebe was born in Ogidi, Nigeria; to two Christian parents who although were firm supporters of the Christian faith, inundated him with traditional Igbo values, as well as European values. Chinua Achebe states in an interview with Tolu Ogunlesi, his early childhood as being “at the crossroads of ...

Show More
Related

  • Cultural Differences In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    Culture makes us who we are. Each individual has their own culture from their experiences in life and is developed from societal influences. The various cultures around the world influence us in different ways which we experience at least once in our lifetime. There are occasions, especially in history, where cultures clash with one another. For instance, the English colonization in Africa changed their culture. Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart, portrayed this change in the Igbo people’s society, especially through the character Okonkwo in the village of Umuofia; the introduction of Western ideas challenged him. In the novel Things Fall Apart, the author Chinua Achebe introduces to us Okonkwo whose character’s response to the

    Read More

  • Things Fall Apart

    1974 Words  | 4 Pages

    Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart is a narrative story that follows the life of an African man called Okonkwo. The setting of the book is in eastern Nigeria, on the eve of British colonialism in Africa. The novel illustrates Okonkwo?s struggles, triumphs, and his eventual downfall, all of which basically coincide with the Igbo?s society?s struggle with the Christian religion and British government. In this essay I will give a biographical account of Okonwo, which will serve to help understand that social, political, and economic institutions of the Igbos.

    Read More

  • Cultural Change Explored in Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

    1874 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Nigerian Culture In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    1540 Words  | 4 Pages

    The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe displays a strong significance based solely on Nigerian culture and how it slowly evolved due to European immigrants. Both culture and gender play a huge role in the way of life in the Ibo village. As it was a common custom in the past, the male was dominant in the family. Achebe tells of an Igbo tribesman, Okonkwo, and his prosperous life in the village of Umuofia. Being prized of personal achievements such as defeating Amalinze the Cat, Okonkwo is expected to accomplish much more in his lifetime, but will his actions turn out to ruin his reputation and furthermore? Throughout the novel, Okonkwo displays various actions in response to the European invasion of his culture

    Read More

  • A Single Story Of African Culture In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    1675 Words  | 4 Pages

    As wise John Berger once said,“Never again shall a single story be told as though it were the only one”. A “single story” is the story of a culture that we learn from stereotypes and conspiracies developed throughout time in our society. In “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe defies the single story of African culture while still tying their native language in to show the importance between a physical differentiation of culture, and the similarities with morals and values they have in common. Through gender roles and proverbs used in the language of this book, we have a cultural insight of Nigeria through a new set of eyes given to us by Achebe that detures us from the single stories that we were taught to by our society.

    Read More

  • Tradition And Modernism In Gooboora, The Silent Pool By Chinua Achebe

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart focus on both tradition and modernity, with a tight grasp on the traditionalism. Achebe seems to write Things Fall Apart in part as a glimpse of what Nigeria could have in store

    Read More

  • Cultural Comparison Of Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    2315 Words  | 5 Pages

    Chinua Achebe is from Ogidi, Nigeria, which is in southeast Nigeria (Nnaemeka 10). The setting of Things Fall Apart is also in southeastern Nigeria, so Chinua Achebe should have a good understanding of this area’s culture. Chinua Achebe was born half of a century later than the setting of Things Fall Apart, which means he did not get to experience pre-colonization first hand (Nnaemeka 10). However, this does not mean Achebe does not have the knowledge to accurately depict the time period and culture of Igbo society in Things Fall Apart. Chinua Achebe believes artists have a role to play in social change (Nnaemeka 10). Nnaemeka the author of Chinua Achebe’s biography says “He sees the writer as a teacher, moral voice, truth-teller, and social critic and as a storyteller and a guardian of the word and memory.” (Nnaemeka 10). The key point in this quote is “truth-teller” because this shows why Achebe might have depicted Igbo culture so well in Thing Fall Apart. This information about Chinua Achebe is important to know because it gives him credibility to correctly depict Igbo

    Read More

  • A Civilization Falls Apart

    1168 Words  | 3 Pages

    his country and the people of Nigeria from the inside. "As a representative of Nigeria's intellectual elite Achebe has been especially concerned about the definition of a new African identity in the post-colonial situation. Achebe's concerns can be discovered in the novelist's literary programme:

    Read More

  • Thematic Essay: Things Fall Apart

    1285 Words  | 3 Pages

    Things Fall Apart, Thematic Essay: Humans’ natural instincts are to deny a new aspect and stick to older ones. Nevertheless, old and new aspects are intertwined. Traditions and change are ever present in society, without them society would not prosper. Traditions are the foundations of society. However, just like any other foundation, sooner or later it must be altered or changed, even in the most miniscule way.

    Read More

  • People Fall Apart in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    1669 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... middle of paper ... ... With Achebe?s words, we?re inclined to appreciate the Igbo culture in spite of it being different from our own. Achebe?s intention is not to justify western dominance over Africa, but to present Africa in such a way that we can respect it for its strengths and despite its weaknesses.

    Read More

  • Imperialism in Things Fall Apart, Thesis by Chinua Achebe

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... The "An African Voice. " Interview with Chinua Achebe. N.p., 2 Aug. 2000.

    Read More

  • Colonialism In Things Fall Apart Essay

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nwoye, Okonkwo 's son, and hisconversion to Christianity shares many similarities with Chinua Achebe 's real transition from being a Christian, to being closer to his Igbo roots. Chinua Achebe was born with the name, Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, which he kept until university. He was born into a Christian family and was taught in a Christian school, even though his grandfather and other relatives stayed true to their Igbo roots. Despite cultural difference, his family still maintained a strong relationship with their relatives. While studying at university, Albert found himself wanting to connect to the Igbo way of life, so he rejected the English name

    Read More

  • Images of Africa in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart

    2235 Words  | 5 Pages

    In 1958 Chinua Achebe published his first and most widely acclaimed novel, Things Fall Apart.  This work-commonly acknowledged as the single most well known African novel in the world-depicts an image of Africa that humanizes both the continent and the people.  Achebe once said, "Reading Heart of Darkness . . . I realized that I was one of those savages jumping up and down on the beach.  Once that kind of enlightenment comes to you, you realize that someone has to write a different story" (Gikandi 8-9); Achebe openly admits that he wrote Things Fall Apart because of the horrible characterization of Africans in many European works, especially Heart of Darkness.  In many ways, Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart can be seen as an Afrocentric rebuttal to the Eurocentric depi...

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    930 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to David Whittaker, Achebe’s work “proved to be an immensely influential work for African writers, becoming the progenitor of a whole movement of fiction, drama, and poetry, which focused on the revaluation of Africa’s history and cultures, and on representations of the culture conflicts that has their genesis in the colonial era.” This novel became a pivotal point of realization not only for Africa, but also for the world. All at once the world, afraid of what change may bring, pushed the same question to the back their mind: “What if we have it all wrong?” Suddenly, the culture of Africa was influencing the culture of America, Asia, Europe, Australia, etc. Achebe’s novel was a catalyst in the process of nationalist renewal and decolonization of African culture as a whole (Whittaker). A principle in this novel’s thematic course is the inter-generation conflict faced by not only the village as a whole, but also, on a microscopic level, in Okonkwo’s household. As the culture in Umuofia begins to shift, the predecessors of the current generation heavily rely on the cultural norms initiated by their father’s fathers. While tradition should be honored in a society, it should also be modified; this concept is not fully grasped by the older generations of

    Read More

  • Things Fall Apart: Eurocentrism

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    Achebe writes Things Fall Apart to revise the history that has been misplaced. He writes to the European and Western culture. This fact is evident because the book is written in English and it shows us the side of the African culture we wouldn’t normally see. Achebe is constantly ...

    Read More

More about Culture And African Culture In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

Open Document