What Is The Rise Of Social Classes In Things Fall Apart By Karl Marx

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The rise of social classes and the equating of physical labor equaling success are the theories of Marxism and the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The main character, Okonkwo’s obsessed with ascending social classes, and overcoming his father’s shames. Achebe uses the tribe’s views on success, Okonkwo’s fear of failure, and the missionaries’ imperious colonization to demonstrate the application of Karl Marx’s theories in Igbo society. The Igbo see success as the ownership of goods including cowries and compounds, which Marx describes as “the less you are, the more you have”(Economic 51). “A wealthy man in Okonkwo’s village… had three huge barns, nine wives, and thirty children... had taken the highest but one title.”(Achebe 27). …show more content…

Reverend Brown’s benevolent teachings change the tribesmen’s thoughts of how to prosper. “Mr. Brown’s mission grew from strength to strength, and because of its new link with the new administration it earned a new social prestige”(Achebe 169). Through Reverend Brown, the Igbos learn that they do not need items to gain success, and that classes aren’t true in God’s eyes, which conforms closer to Marx’s ideals. The changes from the church caused forms of chaos to breakout amongst the clan, most notably, Okonkwo’s suicide. “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog”(Achebe 191-192). The poignant death of Okonkwo describes the shift in how to gain power. It has changed from physical labor to knowledge, and with Okonkwo’s loss of power, he was driven to kill himself. The Igbo’s beliefs of success, Okonkwo’s dread of failure, and the Church’s colonization exhibit the views of marxism in their civilization. The tribe believes physical labor and ownership are successes, and lead to titles, and ascending social classes. Okonkwo’s afraid of becoming his father, and will go lengths to not be disgraced. The missionaries change the way the Igbo society success is gained, which drives Okonkwo to suicide. Marxism is apparent in the novel Things Fall Apart, and is a large part of the society’s failing, and “falling

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