In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, the main character Okonkwo struggles to prevent his people from changing their tradition. Okonkwo’s people, the Igbo people, define their lives by the traditions and practices of their ancestors. Although Okonkwo stands firm to his traditions, fulfilling them and adhering to them can at times be a challenge for him and his people. Using appeals to pathos, tone, and allusion Achebe not only conveys traditions of the Igbo people, but the struggles of this tradition to them as well. In Igbo tradition it is proper to give back to those who have graced you with favor or kindness, as it is proper to gather your fellow kinsmen in order to give back. The line, “It is not to pay you back for all you did for me in these seven years. A child cannot pay for its mother’s milk. I’ve called you together because it is good for kinsmen to meet,” depicts that Okonkwo struggles t establish the purpose of the ceremony. It is tradition to acknowledge that he is in debt, but rather than a ceremony of gratitude, it is one just for meeting. Alluding himself to a child and his people as a mother, he shows his respect for them but must set it aside because it is not that type of occasion. Also in Igbo tradition, it is proper to thank openly for things such as feasts, gifts, etc.. While one of the oldest members …show more content…
An abominable religion has settled among you. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. He can curse the gods of his fathers and ancestors, like a hunter’s dog that suddenly goes mad and turns on his master,” is stated to explain the importance of the Igbo educating one another. Although it is tradition to hear wise words, it is a challenge for Igbo to do it without pointing out and overanalyzing flaw, something everyone
The role of men in the Igbo culture is to provide food. Meanwhile, women are given easier tasks as to just serve the men. Work is shared equally in American culture.
Nigeria has a rich culture stemming from the many civilizations that inhabited the land. In the novel Thing Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe brings light on to the great Igbo people, a society Nigeria hosted for centuries. The tale follows a man named Okonkwo as he tries to make amends for his father 's failures and a name for himself within his village. This path leads Okonkwo to become reckless and unreasonable. Through this, readers are exposed to the village’s judicial system, revealing that the clan’s laws based off sexism, superstitious nature, and deep religious ties.
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.
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.
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. When the structure of Umuofia began to change, Okonkwo found himself incapable of adapting like the rest of the villagers. He was determined to live a life that could not survive the changing world, and his dreams crumbled down. Throughout the novel, Achebe demonstrates that the lack of being able to adapt to change will leave you lost in society.
http://moodle.oakland.k12.mi.us/internationalacademy/pluginfile.php?file=%2F68302%2Fmod _ folder%2Fcontent%2F0%2FAfrica%20Essay%2FAchebe%20Interview%20An%20African%2 20Voice.docx&forcedownload=1>. Arinze, Francis A., and Kalu Ogbu. The "Igbo Religion" www.ic.galegroup.com.
The Igbo tribe has values beliefs and ideas that are strongly rooted in the gods. The way in which they communicate and interact shows a lack of respect towards woman and they are treated like slaves to men. Achebe?s novel ?Things Fall Apart? gives a good insight into the aspects a of a culture that before him had never need explored, and it gives the reader a good look at what the beliefs, values and the way the members of the community communicate and interact.
In Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, the main character’s, Okonkwo’s, sense of identity is threatened to collapse when British colonists come to colonize the Igbo to which Okonkwo’s response to is very severe and, in the end, lethal. This sense of identity of Okonkwo’s character is strong, forever working to be the complete opposite of his father, whom he considered weak and an embarrassment to both himself and to the village. How strong this belief of his was, is reflected when Okonkwo states that, “ . . . his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness,” (Ch. 2).
They provide a feeling of belonging, they brings families and communities together, and enable people to connect with each other. In Chapter three, of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is in need of yam seeds, so he seeks out the most prosperous man in his village, Nwaikibie. Okonkwo attempts to “bribe” Nwaikibie by, “[bringing him] this little kola [nut]” (19). By bringing him the “little kola” he symbolizes “As our people say, a man who pays respect to the great(s) paves the way for his own greatness”(19). Furthermore, in chapter one, the author is mentioning numerous attainments Okonkwo has achieved as a young man, illustrating that “Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered” (8). Achebe illustrates with the first quote that traditions and sayings of the elders dominate the Umuofia society by causing someone to alternate their actions to comply with the traditions of the elders. The sayings of the elders in the Umuofia tribe are equivalent to modern customs. Meaning, Umuofia clansmen incontrovertibly follow the sayings of the elders by, out of habit, incorporating them into their daily lives. For instance, whenever someone gives someone else something, they immediately reply “Thank you,” as if it were almost a reflex. There is no rule that one must say “thanks” after being given something, it has just become a well-known custom drilled into people’s minds by their elders. This quote illustrates
“Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy – inwardly of course…there was no doubt that he liked the boy. Sometimes when he went to big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts he allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him, like a son, carrying his stool and his goatskin bag. And, indeed, Ikemefuna called him father”(4.7). It’s not clear as to why Okonkwo would take Nwoye’s only pride and joy away. This shows how selfish he is, he only cared about reputation and status rather than how someone felt. This grew their father son relationship downwards. Nwoye knew the consequences of combining with the newly arrived “white man”. He was aware of how unstable their relationship was and by him converting, Okonkwo probably wouldn’t even claim him as his son. Nwoye was standing up as a real man and by this time of the plot he didn’t care what anyone thought. He wanted to explore and learn new ways on his own. “I am one of them,” replied Nwoye.“How is your father?” Obierika asked, not knowing what else to say.“I don’t know. He is not my father,” said Nwoye, unhappily”(16). Nwoye didn’t want to be associated with any negative energy, and that meant not associating with his father or his culture 's ways. The Igbo culture was harsh and a lot of deathly punishment went into it. Nwoye didn’t fit in from the beginning, he was more of a peaceful soul who was never out to kill or do harm. If Nwoye kept abiding by the laws, he wouldn’t be presenting the “Real
Okonkwo is a self-made man. He achieves greatness through his own hard work and determination. Okonkwo started his life without the benefits that other young men had. His father, Unoka, was a lazy man. He had acquired no honorary titles. When Unoka died, Okonkwo did not inherit any barn, title, or young wife. He merely acquired his father’s debts. Therefore, Okonkwo sets about to make a name for himself and to achieve greatness in his community. He diligently plants and harvests his yams, building a farm from scratch. He builds a large commune for his family. He marries three wives; one of them was the village beauty. He acquires two titles. Okonkwo is not a failure, like is father was. In Umuofia, “achievement was revered”, and Okonkwo’s achievement was immense (8). He was “clearly cut out for great things” (8). To the Igbo people, Okonkwo epitomizes greatness and success.
It becomes clear that he is undoubtedly a critical member of Umuofian society, but has many extreme behaviors that aren’t typical of that culture. When reflecting on his achievements of the past he always stresses the ferocity and heartlessness. He has "brought honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat" in a wrestling match (Achebe 3). He then begins to emphasize his impatience with “unsuccessful” men, which is clearly shown when he speaks of his “effeminate” son, Nwoye, and father, Unoka. Although a generally harsh view, Okonkwo’s actions more often than not earn him great respect in his
As the English began to colonize the Igbo society, there were few natives who opposed it, they others just felt that the English would come and go, but they were wrong. Soon, the English began to introduce "white man's religion." This new religion was completely the opposite from what the natives were accustomed to. Christianity was rather intriguing to many of the natives and many of them turned away from their families and everything they were to become a member of this new religion. Before this, they natives had been very superstious, but as they new religion flooded over the peoples, their superstiousocity began to lessen and their belief in the many gods they had previously believed in.
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
Oti, Adepeju; Ayeni, Oyebola. (2013) Yoruba Culture of Nigeria: Creating Space for an Endangered Species Cross - Cultural Communication9.4 : 23-29