Things Fall Apart Essays

Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, born November 16, 1930 and died March 21, 2013, was an author, poet, professor and critic best known for his novel Things Fall Apart. Considered by many teachers and critics to be the most influential African American writer of his time, Chinua Achebe lead an academically acclaimed life, winning multiple scholarly awards, until his death at the age of 82. Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, more commonly known as Chinua Achebe, was born in Ogidi, Nigeria and died in Boston, Massachusetts. Though he endured many difficult struggles throughout his lifetime, Achebe went on to affect many people’s lives, young and old, with his writings and teachings.

Nigeria, the African nation as we know it in the twenty-first century, as it came to be in the late twentieth century, is a young nation. The history of Nigeria, however, can be traced back to the prehistoric era, with settlements existing as early as 11,000 BCE. Until the arrival of colonialism in Africa, the idea of the nation did not exist. Rather, communities formed and flourished on the basis of tribes and / or feudalism. A number of independent kingdoms, each rising and falling and existing independently, were forcibly grouped together by the British to facilitate their exit, under the guise of granting Africa Independence, and to create geographical entities comprehensible to Western systems of governance. These independent kingdoms now comprise most African nations today. Nigeria is made up of about twelve different tribes / empires, but the chief among them concerning the history of independent Nigeria are the Hausa, the Fulani, and the Igbo people. The conflict between the Muslim peoples of Nigeria, the Hausa and the Fulani, and the Igbo people caused a civil war. The bloodshed that has littered the history of African nations throughout their independent existences has often been considered a direct consequence of the forcible and careless unification of tribes into nations without any understanding of the politics that govern their relationships.

Throughout Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, the authors' claim of "balance" within the Igbo tribe is invalid. Although one may view that women and men existing in this society as balanced due to the fact that both the men and women have a particular part in the general public; The men hunt for dinner, while the ladies prepare the meals and care after the kids. However, through close reading, the society is actually imbalance. While the women are living oppressed, the men are holding positions of high power. The women in the tribe not only being socially oppressed by men of high authority, but also physically and emotionally abused by men in their home who likewise holds power. Achebe created a patriarchy society where women's' freedom is

It is evident that Chinua Achebe’s Thins Fall Apart is a reflection of his context. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart uses setting and characters to reflect the author’s own context. This is shown through the characterization of Okonkwo, the setting of pre colonialist Ibo society and the effects of colonialism on Umofia. Through the use of description, pre colonist and post colonist setting it is clear that setting influences characters in the novel as well as Chinua Achebe himself.

Okonkwo is a man whose fame is spread throughout the nine villages as he wins a competition with ‘Amalinze the Cat’. Okonkwo is a man who fears weakness and failure. He hated everything his father, Unoka, did which by the way was being gentle and idle, so he tended to be harsh just to not appear like his father. He, on the other hand, is a very respected warrior and has a great family, but he tends to get too overconfident in his way of thinking and beliefs.

The novel “Things fall apart” is written by Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian author, in 1958. A wrestling champion, Okonkwo is set as the focus of this book, in the village called Umofia. The novel is considered as a major example of African literature that presents the clash between cultures and people that occurred across the African continent as a consequence of European colonization. From all chapters of “Things fall apart”, chapter 20 had most clearly exhibited the relationship between Okonkwo and Ezinma, that Okonkwo wishes that Ezinma were a boy. In a passage from the chapter, Chinua Achebe utilizes metaphor, rhetorical question, characterization, and dialogue to portray the idea of relationship.9

Things Fall Apart is one of the first novels by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe and is the most popular book in modern African literature. The novel was first published in 1958 and is very popular all around the world. The novel follows the life of Okonkwo, leader of the Ibo tribe and local wrestling champion in the fictional Nigerian village of Umuofia. Chinua Achebe was himself a part of the Igbo (Ibo) tribe.

The book “Things fall apart”, takes place in a African village called the Igbo clan. The igbo clan have many beliefs, and rituals, which they choose to stand by. They also contain roles in their village to determine he or she’s ranking. This is established by what they own or have accomplished in their lifetime. All is going well in the clan until the village starts to undergo in many tragedies. Relating to deaths. This then leads up to an invasion of the “white men”. Which, white people are referred to as in the novel. The collision of culture is what stirs up a intense, yet coming of age from the igbo people. They’re unsure of how to resolve their differences. Due to the diversity the conflict ends in nothing but wart. While this is taking place their is a man who is strongly affected by this minor era. His name was Okonkwo. Okonkwo was honored by his people and was thought highly of everywhere he went. Sadly, his

order to give his people back the pride that they once had, Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart.

Everyone 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.

Imagine being destined for greatness, but doomed to a tragic end. “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia,” (Achebe pg. 208). Okonkwo lived an ironic life, he was born with no noble status and gradually earned fame and wealth. He was a noble warrior, and had achieved great things, yet his tragic flaw took a toll on him. He realized too late that his fears, the forces that drove him towards success were also the reasons that brought him to his tragic end. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe illustrates Okonkwo as a power-hungry and determined individual with a negative attribute of his character. However, he is stubborn and impulsive; in the end, his fear of weakness ultimately leads him to his downfall.

Throughout Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, literary devices such as foreshadowing, irony, and others are used to give the reader a deeper understanding of the text, and convey the author 's ideas and points. Examples of these occurrences include how Okonkwo is often described in terms of fire and flames. Okonkwo’s nickname was even said to be “Roaring Flame” (Achebe. Page 153), because to him, the image or thought of fire symbolizes masculinity, potential, and life.

Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart is an attempt in literary form to reinstate the dignity of the Igbo (and African) culture and people that had been become absent and restrained with the advent of colonisation of Nigeria by Europeans. Achebe demonstrates in the novel that, in a world where white colonists find the traditional customs and practices of the Igbo people as savage and primitive; the culture of this society is one of depth and dignity, where the traditions and practices of the people throughout their history demonstrates a solid and civilised structure in their own right. Analysing three episodes that occur in Things Fall Apart, this essay aims to discuss how Achebe tries to accomplish his aim of restoring dignity and self respect of the African people.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a story about colonials bringing Christianity and colonizing the people of Niger also known as the Ibo. Nwoye, Okonkwo’s son, is a confused child that is trying to find his way while battling the effects of two cultures. His own culture is full gods and customs, that to a Christian is utterly unethical and wrong. Nwoye realizes this and decides to join the Christians, but at a high cost. Furthermore, Achebe uses Nwoye to display how he changes as a character through his actions, how western culture clashes with Ibo culture, and theme.

“He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. It was this man that Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights.” (Achebe,1958, p.1053). This is a groundbreaking moment for Okonkwo, because he threw a man that is a champion who ruled the arena for seven years., Chinua Achebe, uses the setting and the plot to illustrate the theme of giving. Although, giving is viewed as generous and terrific trait, but there are times when constant giving can lead to selfishness. Achebe uses characters, setting, and plot to illustrate the theme of giving.

“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, 153 Online). This was about a character known as Okonkwo, he spent his life devoted to his clan, to improve it and himself, yet in the end he ended his own life, a disgraceful act to his clan. Okonkwo is the protagonist of the novel Things Fall Apart. Introduced as a strong and respected man, Okonkwo starts as such, but throughout the book many of his choices lead him down a path of tragic events. He is part of the Ibo society and culture, the native African culture of the story, which praises strength and masculinity while dejecting vulnerability and femininity from its men. The overarching theme in the novel Things Fall Apart is that clinging to strong devotions can cause one’s life to fall apart, exemplified through Okonkwo’s conflicts with himself, Ibo society, and Christian society.

As Peter Drucker once said, “Management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right things”. An effective and successful leader has many qualities that help the audience and create positive results and outcomes. In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo, one of the leaders of Umuofia, was very strong, cold, and he reinforced Igbo traditions and culture within the tribe. Although he had the right qualities, he was not amiable towards his people which didn’t allow him to be a good leader. In order to be an effective leader, there have to be many attributes that define how distinguished and proficient of a leader someone is, which is clearly conveyed not only through this novel, but the articles “The Difference Between

Many 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.

In the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, it showed that Okonkwo was always struggled throughout his life. Okonkwo’s strong personality is what led to his fate. First, Okonkwo’s harsh childhood started to led him towards his fate. Next, Okonkwo was selfish and took the highest titles and wanted to be at the top of his clan. Then, he was always worried about everything around him, which also led him to his fate. After, another characteristic that led to Okonkwo’s fate was how he was always self-centered; everything had to go his way. Finally, the last reason that led to his fate was Okonkwo’s lack of acceptance; he could not take on something new. His fate all starts with his harsh childhood.

“But stories were already gaining ground that the white man had not only brought a religion but also a government.” (Achebe 155). In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe the main character Okonkwo lives in Nigeria, Africa where a group of white missionaries come to convert the Nigerians to Christianity. The Christian Missionaries believed that their set of beliefs were superior to other beliefs and that they were the only ones who should be followed. They pushed their religion upon other people in the Nigerian tribes, and they successfully converted a few. The majority of the tribes didn’t believe in the missionaries beliefs or want to follow their ways. Throughout this novel Chinua Achebe portrays a collision of cultures between the Christian missionaries and the Nigerian tribes, this collision resulted in Okonkwo questioning his