Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

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Things Fall Apart, a novel based on the cultures and the traditions of the Igbos depict a very strong sense of struggle between change and tradition. This story is somewhat an archetype of To Kill a Mocking Bird. Not just centered on sociopolitical views but also cultural and traditional beliefs, Achebe specifically defines each speck of this Eastern Nigerian culture, from the breaking of the “kola –a caffeine-containing nut of evergreen trees to the unmasking of the egwuegwu and spiritual sacrifices to the gods and ancestors. Kola, a very essential part of the Igbo culture is represented in so many ways; it signifies peace, blessing, wealth, abundance, and respect most especially. In this society, the contest for wealth, titles and success was very important, it was a great legacy to be left by any man. Okonkwo being the strongest and most powerful man in the village had more than set a standard in that village by conquering the greatest warrior of all time. He had a symbiotic relationship with his community, as much has he benefited from the community’s societal and cultural values, so did they benefit from his strength and will power to succeed. In this story, Achebe defines societal standards as the basis for personal status. It is evident throughout the story as we see Okonkwo, a very strong and fierce character struggle to adapt to the new changes and technology the Missionaries had to offer. These changes were not just religious based, the Europeans were there to expand the village, but in turn change and take away what it was created upon. The people of Umuofia prided themselves in their founding traditions, soon these traditions were going to be considered impractical, and these same traditions that the people saw as i... ... middle of paper ... ...de with him on his incredulous notions, he hates them. Just as important as gender variations was, so was language. When the Europeans arrived in the community for the first time, language was a major barrier as the people could not understand the white’s man linguistic and vice versa. Achebe wrote this story in English not just to play to the tune of his people, but also to educate the Westerners and emend the portrait of Africa in the eyes of the White man. His inclusion of proverbs, folktales, and songs was a way of communication in a way that everyone could understand without destroying the beauty of the Igbo language. He was able to take this book far and wide and give people an unbiased detail of what his tradition was all about; the good, the bad, and the ugly. He tried to make it as uncomplicated as possible compared to Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.

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