Theme Of Colonialism In Things Fall Apart

Postcolonial writers personify the country as an individual, and those individual’s flaws represent what the country is struggling with politically. As Fredric Jameson states in his “Third World Literature in the Era of Multinational Capitalism,” “the story of the private individual destiny is always an allegory of…the public third-world culture and society” (69). Jameson argues that “Third World” literature presents itself as “national allegories” because of the political and economic situations postcolonial authors and their countries find themselves in. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart provides an example of this theory. Things Fall Apart also represents Frantz Fanon’s theory on national culture. He states that “a national culture is

Things Fall Apart takes place in precolonial Africa and centers around the character of Okonkwo. He holds an esteemed position within Umuofia, the village in which he and his family live. He grew up under an irresponsible father and strove to surpass his father’s reputation. Okonkwo is extremely hard with his family, especially his eldest son Nwoye, and holds them to almost impossible standards. The story progresses with the introduction of white missionaries and circumstances that force the family to leave Umuofia for seven years. The novel ends with Okonkwo killing a messenger from the missionaries and committing suicide because he cannot handle how Umuofia changed. Achebe lived through the fall of colonialism and the rise of Nigerian and various African military dictatorships. He lends credence Jameson’s theory correct when he writes his novel concurrent to Africa’s politics. Achebe also argues Fanon’s point in his novel and adds that cultural influences are important to the national culture even if that influence comes from the previous colonial power. Chinua Achebe uses Okonkwo 's perception of masculinity to criticize post-colonial African politics and the solutions presented to eradicate either cultural influence on current African

Okonkwo is a great warrior for Umuofia but his ideologies for war often cross the line. Many disagree with him and think that war with the white missionaries is unwise or unnecessary. Okonkwo, in his blind bloodlust, acts for Umuofia but is wrong in his action. He is characterized in Things Fall Apart as “not a man of thought but of action” (Achebe 69). Achebe chooses this wording very deliberately. In the political world, a “man of action” is often seen as a good or necessary thing. However, this description is superficially attractive when related with dictators. In this case, a “man of action” correlates to a man of rashness. Kidane Mengisteab states that “one of the most conspicuous characteristics of the African political landscape is the proto- colonial nature of the postcolonial” (28). Independence of the African states transferred the power from colonial to native. However, this independence was littered with what Mengisteab calls the predatory “political elite” (28). The elite are the dictators. These dictators continue the colonial traditions and change nothing for the general populace of their countries. The only thing that matters is what they want. Unlike Okonkwo, dictators rarely have a higher authority to answer to. There is no filter for their whims and desires. If they wish to wage war, they will wage war. Umuofia is able to keep from warring with