Things Fall Apart Principle

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In David Hoegberg’s “Principle and Practice: The Logic of Cultural Violence in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart” he shows how there is inconsistency in the Igbo culture and the principles that they uphold daily aren’t shown in the what they do day to day. To convey this, Hoegberg gives examples of different situations of the incongruity of principle and practice that happened during the book. Although principles result in traditions, in Things Fall Apart these principles that the people tried to uphold were only shown when convenient.

Principles arising when convenient caused Ikemefuna to come to Umuofia as a sacrifice. The village claims that “fortunately among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth …show more content…

In fact they stated that “if a child washed his hands, he could eat with the kings” (Achebe 12). Ikemefuna, coming from another village, was already looked down on because of his father’s previous crimes. This principle was not in effect with Ikemefuna, it was only relevant when Okonkwo was growing up. At first nervous and scared, Ikemefuna soon assimilates to the Igbo culture and becomes well liked within his family. Okonkwo even saw him as his own son which was special to him, especially because he did not appreciate Nyowe considering his said weakness and feminity. As an outcome of Ikemefuna feeling comfortable in the house he “expresses his affection by calling Okonkwo “father” (Achebe 30). This along with the observation that Ikemefuna was finally adjusting was the final straw when the oracle decided to kill Ikemefuna. The villagers did not want Ikemefuna to adjust but instead wanted him to keep his culture separate. Conformity is a reason why the Igbo people were unaccepting when the Christians came over to their village. Christians had their minds already had their mind already made up about the views therefore they did not want to listen to the Igbo villagers rationales for anything. Ikemefuna even though he was reluctant tried to appreciate the culture which he was reprimanded

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