Who Is Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart?

The book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe brings to light the treatment of native Africans during the 1800s by missionaries that claimed to liberate and modernize the culture that had stood in Africa for hundreds of years. The book begins by explaining the traditions and rituals of the native people then it goes on to explain the changes in culture that occur because of European influence on the region.

Things Fall Apart tells the story of a man named Okonkwo and his experiences during this time period. Okonkwo is described as an angry man with insecurities based on the fear of being weak like his father. In his culture he feels that it is necessary to raise his sons to be strong, manly, and successful. Okonkwo’s eldest son Nwoye grows up with his mother as this is the custom of the Ibo people. At mid age Nwoye is introduced to a brother-like figure named Ikemefuna.

In the new village, Okonkwo, Nwoye and others learn of Christianity for the first time. Though Okonkwo immediately discounts the religion, Nwoye is interested in the ideas that the missionaries are proposing. Still confused how his culture could approve of the murder of Ikemefuna, Nwoye thinks that this new system of beliefs may be for him. The text states “there was a young lad who had been captivated. His name was Nwoye…” (Achebe 147). Feeling like Ibo culture had failed to match his beliefs Nwoye was curious if the ideas of one “God, creator of all the world and all the men and women” (Achebe 145) were for him.

The book uses the simile “The words of [the missionaries] were like the drops of frozen rain melting on a dry palate of the panting earth” (Achebe 147) to express that the Ibo culture has left Nwoye parched for quite a while. The new western culture is represented by the refreshing drops of frozen rain that quench his thirst for