Purposeful Complexity In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
The fifth important and unique contribution Achebe made to modern African and world literature is a literary device I call the art of purposeful complexity. The “purposeful” before the word “complexity” is intended to distinguish it from the cacophony of imagery and verbiage that, unfortunately, all too many modernist and post-modernist writers of fiction have gotten into the habit of mistaking for literature. Purposeful complexity is the literary technique of deliberately weaving together into a quilted fabric an impressive tapestry of complementing, conflicting, confirming, confounding, hopeful and disappointing stories of heroic and flawed characters, motives, aspirations, and outcomes, tying them together into a delicately balanced, ironic and powerfully evocative narrative. …show more content…
First, it is in the same novel that the power and centrality of the single most important deity in the Igbo pantheon of gods-a female deity, the venerable Earth goddess, Ani-is brought into bold relief. Second, it is in the same novel that one of the most powerful positions in Umuofia society, that of high priestess, can be, and is, held by a woman, Chielo. Third, it is in the same novel that Ekwefi, Okonkwo’s second wife, elopes from her first husband, in total contravention of tradition, to join Okonkwo’s household. Ekwefi was neither lynched nor stoned to death for her brazen and willful
Things Fall Apart And British Colonialism
889 Words | 4 PagesQuestions: 1.How does the British educational system impose white European values onto the Igbo people? In what ways, do the British seek to eradicate the indigenous cultural values of the Igbo tribe through education? 2.Why did the British government impose such absolute values in the quest to eradicate Igbo identity in the Nigerian colonies? 3.In what ways does the British government seek to sublimate Igbo identity by a focus on a “primitive state” in the Igbo tribe?
Albert Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
991 Words | 4 PagesThis novel is just one of Achebe’s allegories to the Nigerian government’s and society’s problems. Achebe became the Director of Broadcasting for NBS and helped create the Voice of Nigeria network. Chinua Achebe also founded a publishing company called Citadel Press to benefit children’s literature in Nigeria. Achebe then became a professor of English at the University of Nigeria for five years. After this he traveled attending conferences and giving speeches.
Impact Of Igbo Culture On Society
993 Words | 4 PagesFurther he adds: "Achebe seeks to produce the effect of a pre-colonial reality as an Igbo-centric response to a Eurocentrically constructed imperial 'reality ' ". The gender roles of men and women, as well as societies ' conceptions of the associated concepts are the frequent themes in Achebe 's writing. A prevalent theme in Achebe 's novels is the intersection of African tradition (particularly Igbo varieties) and modernity, especially as embodied by European colonialism. His Awards and Honures: St. Louis Literary Award
Social Status In Things Fall Apart
1027 Words | 5 PagesThe tripartite novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, published in 1958 focuses on the changes taking place in Nigeria, as a result of colonization during the 20th century. Chinua Achebe’s pragmatics when writing the novel focused on changing the perspective of Western readers with regard to African society. He mainly wanted to falsify the assertions in books such as “Heart of Darkness” which he claimed gave people of African descent a dull personality. Social status is one of the novels’ main themes. Chinua Achebe successfully incorporates the importance of social status, giving readers the impression that for the Ibo society, social structure consists mainly of a hierarchy of both skill and strength.
Change In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
889 Words | 4 PagesEveryone as a human being has experienced some form of change in our life, big or small, and it has a lasting effect on who they are and how they act. In Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’, change is a forward facing theme of the whole story, we see change in all forms occur throughout the book; the arrival of the white men and their changing of the igbo culture, the tearing apart of Okonkwo’s family by religion and traditions, and the change that occurs within Okonkwo himself when he realizes he cannot prevent change from happening in the community and culture he loved. Change is destructive in ‘Things Fall Apart’, especially to such a magnitude as we see in the story, it is destructive to communities, to families, and especially to individuals.
Literary Analysis In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
800 Words | 4 PagesImagine having a book in your hand and you are trying to read that book. As a student of literature what comes to your mind? I would immediately think of all the terms that we are learning in class. Things I remember most are aspects of stories such as setting, plot, characterization among others. These terms are what describe literary analysis.
Rudyard Kipling's Rally For Imperialism
512 Words | 3 PagesBoth Achebe’s novel and this poem demonstrate the misunderstanding between colonial and native; neither seems to attempt to understand, let alone accept, the other's way of
Point Of View In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
2054 Words | 9 PagesConrad’s novella is from a white man’s point of view who travels to the Congo. As a white man, Marlow seems superior and more privileged than other races. The story starts off with Marlow and his group traveling in The Nellie, on the Thames River: “ The day was ending in a serenity of still and exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist on the Essex marsh was like a gauzy and radiant fabric, hung from the wooded rises inland, and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds” (Conrad 18). Marlow’s description of the scenery sounds and looks very pleasant and peaceful.
Kinssmen In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
341 Words | 2 PagesIn the historical fiction novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebie explains the importance of kinsmen. The main character, Okonkwo, has a feast to honor his kinsmen because he believes that “It is good for kinsmen to meet. Chinua reveals the importance of kinsmen by making comparisons, using repetitions and simile. Okonkwo’s uncle, Uchendu, begins to speak of the significance of having a relationship with people of their land. He explains, “An animal rubs its itching flank against a tree, a man asks his kinsman to scratch him.”
Femininity In Things Fall Apart
895 Words | 4 PagesDespite Okonkwo’s respect towards these female figures, he abuses one of his wives during Peace Week - a week tributed to the earth goddess, Ani. Ezeani, the priestess of the earth goddess therefore concludes, “The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase [in harvest], and we shall all perish” (Achebe, 30). Another dominant and revered female figure is Chielo, “the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the hill and the Caves” (Achebe, 107). Chielo’s voice is described as “a sharp knife cutting through the night” (Achebe, 100), giving us a sense of power; the type that is generally associated with men like Okonkwo. Moreover, when Chielo comes for Ezinma, Okonkwo pleads for Chielo to come at another time.
Summary Of Racism In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness
1238 Words | 5 PagesConsidered “among the half-dozen greatest short novels in the English language” by some scholars, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness has been scrutinized and praised by many scholars around the world. However, beneath this glory and praise lies a certain darkness, hidden from many Western scholars by the walls of ignorance. Among those who saw through those walls was revered Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. In his essay “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness,” Achebe acutely identifies subtle patterns, word choices, and styles Conrad uses that help us presume Conrad’s attitude towards Africa and Africans, while refuting potential counterarguments. Achebe’s first issue with Heart of Darkness is the oversimplification and the barbaric delineation of Africa and the native people.
Okonkwo And Ezinma, An Unxpressed Love In Things Fall Apart
1346 Words | 6 PagesOkonkwo and Ezinma, an unexpressed love. In his novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’, Achebe presents to the reader, a story based around the village of Umuofia. Through his narration which is close to an oral tradition, we discover the culture and commodities of that village as well as of some surrounding villages. Superstitions, festivals and traditions, everything is vividly described.
Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
480 Words | 2 PagesEnvision someone telling you the false accusations about your culture. Saying that you're unequipped for intuition and need assistance from those who are “superior”. In the novel Things Fall Apart the general population of the Ibo clan felt as if their culture was being stripped from them when the missionaries came over. However, Chinua Achebe ensures that the people of the Igbo restores their dignity through the customs and special events such as the importance of the kola nut and traditional ceremonies.
Things Fall Apart Feminist Analysis
878 Words | 4 PagesFeminist Theory In Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”, they recognize the life of the Igbos which are a tribe in the village of Umuofia during European colonization. There are many topics brought up in this book like the effects of colonization, culture and tradition, religion, race, etc. It is relatively easy to read “Things Fall Apart” as an anti-feminist text due to the face that the Igbo clan’s customs and traditions seem to side towards masculine features, such as power and strength. The novel is told through a male protagonist’s point of view in nineteenth century Nigeria, while women there do not have much rights, they do wield heavy influence over the leaders of the clan.
Social Context In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
793 Words | 4 PagesMany literary works, instead of the theme, has use context as the base of their writing. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart explores the originality of Nigerian society before and the start of colonial rule by having used all types of context. Context socially, however, is most seen in the book, by having almost all of the situations be the affected by society. Social context that is seen in Things Fall Apart are what the Igbo community values as their currency, how Okonkow dislikes weaknesses and how the introduction of Christianity has gained popularity. These events that are seen in Things Fall Apart can prove the popularity of social context used in the book.
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