“ Things Fall Apart”
In the world today it is roughly estimated that 7,000 languages are spoken. Each language is exclusive. There are no two languages that are the same. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe shares a story in his own way. He shares his message through the words of his African fiction, Things Fall Apart. Chinua Achebe speaks to the reader, not only through the words on the pages, but also through the rhetorical devices he uses to tell the story. He frequently uses symbolism, figurative language, and imagery to take the readers into the world of the people in Things Fall Apart.
Humans often use symbols to describe items without going right out and saying it. In his African fiction novel, Chinua Achebe uses many events to
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symbolize the life of the tribes. At first Chinua uses a simple vegetable to symbolize an important part of the clan’s leaders. In Okonkwo’s time it was very important to be viewed as superior and not part of the lower class. In his caste, the more yams a human owns shows how lofty up they were in the clan. The yams were considered, “ the king if crops” (Achebe 33). This shows how the people felt about their crops. Okonkwo was considered affluent because, “[h]e was a wealthy farmer and had two barns full of yams” (Achebe 8). Since Okonkwo had two barns full of yams, the people in his clan esteemed him as a leader. Symbolism shows up again when the locust come. In Umuofia, the cicadas had not come for many years, but at last they descended. “They settled on every tree and on every blade of grass” (Achebe 56). The people of Umuofia had been anticipating the influx of the cicadas and they had subsequently come. Finally, Chinua uses symbolism to describe Okonkwo. In Umuofia, Okonkwo was termed the name, “Roaring Flame” because he was like a,” flaming fire” (Achebe 153). When Okonkwo got distraught and could not speak, “ he would use his fists” (Achebe 4). Okonkwo had coined the name of Roaring Flame because he was like a fire when agitated. In his writing, Chinua Achebe uses emblems to create a different meaning of his work. Achebe uses yams to embody the idea of wealth and prosperity: locusts to exemplify the coming of the colonizers and explorers: and fire to epitomize Okonkwo’s anger. Achebe uses symbolism to express different ideas but he also applies figurative language. Many human beings use prevalent terminology to describe situations.
Chinua Achebe uses similes and metaphors to make his work engaging. The first instance of figurative language is when the locust were descending upon Umuofia. They, “ appeared on the horizon a slowly- moving mass like a boundless sheet of black cloud[s]”, and soon the mass, “ covered half the sky” and then the horde was broken up by, “ tiny eyes of light ike shining star dust” (Achebe 56). This simile is used to describe what the firmament looked like when the cicadas were arriving. Next, Achebe uses a metaphor when describing the emotion of the people when they found Ezinma’s iyi-uwa. Okagbue was the person who was digging in search of Ezinma’s iyi-uwa. Suddenly, “ Okagbue sprung to the surface with the agility of a leopard” (Achebe 84). Okagbue was so euphoric about getting close to unearthing Ezinma’s iyi-uwa that he jumped straight out of the hole with the dexterity of a leopard. Lastly, Chinua Achebe uses a simile to describe Nwoye’s mental state when the hymn was played. The hymn, “ poured into his parched soul” (Achebe 147). The words from the the song, “ were like drops of frozen rain melting on the dry palate of the planting earth” (Achebe 147). Nwoye was listening to a hymn and the hymn made him feel like his soul was getting the water that he was longing for. Chinua used two forms of figurative language to help the reader better understand what was going on. He used a simile to describe what it looked like when the locust came; a metaphor to describe the emotion of Okagbue when he felt the presence of Ezimna’s iyi-uwa; and another simile to describe Nwoye’s emotional state when he listened to a hymn. Not only does Chinua Achebe use figurative language, but he also uses
imagery.
“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.
Okpewho, Isidore. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print.
When you think of the word “culture” what comes to mind? Many elements can contribute to
For instance, the story that Ekwefi tells to all of Okonkwo’s children is about a tortoise manipulating birds to get food from their party in the sky, and then the birds coming together to get back at the tortoise (Achebe 96-99). In the story, the tortoise symbolizes the missionaries and the birds symbolize the Ibo because like the missionaries, the tortoise is very selfish and acts as if he is doing nothing wrong by his actions, until he fools the birds. Both the missionaries and the tortoise take what is rightfully someone else’s for personal gain. Achebe uses this story to warn readers that in order for the Ibo to salvage their culture and unity, they must communicate with each other like the birds. He also foreshadows the arrival of the missionaries later on in the novel with the tortoise. In essence, Achebe uses the story to convey not only how complex the Ibo culture is, but also just how important it is to be saved. He proves that through cooperation and unity, a group can come together as one to save what is rightfully theirs and limit excess conflict with just a few actions. What Achebe is telling the reader and the tribe themselves, is that sometime there is going to be something that tries to tear them apart and shatter their culture, but the worst thing they can do is separate themselves from each other. Despite the
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe tells the story of how one unified Umuofian community falls due to its own inner conflicts, as well as to the arrival of Christian missionaries. Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart to change the brutish image of Africa, for the Western world. The use of changing perspectives greatly aided Achebe in accurately portraying Africa as colorful, diverse and complex. For Westerners, viewing Africans as more than tribal and barbaric was a new concept, of which Achebe helped usher in. The story is told through the eyes of many Umuofians, which gives the reader a personal sense for the individuals within the tribe. When all the individual pieces of the story are brought together, the sifting perspectives creates a vast overview of the community, while also deepening the readers since for the tribe by allowing personal details to show through. Achebe captures the complexity of the Umuofia community by changing the perspective from which the story is being told frequently.
Cook, David. “The Centre Holds: A Study of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.” Critical Insights: Things Fall Apart(2010): 124-144. Literary Reference Center. Web. 30 Jan. 2014
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.
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.
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 his work Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe tells a story describing the decay and destruction of ancient African tradition caused by the invasion of white culture. His tone in the book seems to side and sympathize with the Africans and their religion. Interestingly enough, though, he uses biblical allusion, as well as onomatopoeia and symbolism to bring the book to life and captivate the reader. The following will describe how he uses these.
Ari Brace Mr. Liepa Honors Global Literature 4 May 2014 Adapting to Change Chinua Achebe’s book, Things Fall Apart, is a story about a society on the verge of a cultural change. The main character, Okonkwo, is driven throughout the story by fear and a drive for success. He relied on the village of Umuofia to stay the same because he used the structured culture to feel safe and appreciated. He lives in a constant state of fear because he wants to find his own meaning in life.
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.
... only used by Achebe to further enrich the common theme of clash of opposing cultures, but they also are what make Things Fall Apart a universal human experience that is common to all people. Achebe uses these symbols because all cultures can relate to them: drums are seen as a celebration of culture, locusts are unwanted invaders, and fire is destructive. Things Fall Apart is written from the unique African point of view, and it shows how Europeans have destroyed important parts of African culture. Perhaps Achebe uses universal symbols not only to make it more relevant to all cultures, but also to seek increased humanitarian missions to Africa. Nevertheless, Achebe’s use of figurative language and common elements not only highlight the most profound changes that Umuofia experiences, but it also causes people to question their preconceived notions on society.
Throughout Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, struggle between change and tradition is one of the most relevant issues. The Igbo villagers, Okonkwo, and his son Nwoye all experience this problem in many different ways. The villagers have their religion defied, Okonkwo reaches his breaking point and Nwoye finally finds what he believes in. People have struggled to identify and cope with change and tradition throughout history, and will continue to struggle with this issue in the
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...