Essay on "Chinua Achebe's 1958 Novel Things Fall Apart"

Essay 6 pages (1656 words) Sources: 5

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Chinua Achebe's 1958 novel "Things Fall Apart" provides readers with an intriguing account involving concepts like African cultural values, colonialism, and exaggerated self-respect. The writer does a great job describing the fictional African community of Umofia and relating to conditions in the territory during pre-colonial times. Even with the fact that the book largely concentrates on the protagonist, Okonkwo, it also succeeds in presenting readers with cultural values promoted in Umofia and in Africa as a whole through describing the central character's interaction with people in his community. Okonkwo's life experiences make it possible for readers to learn more regarding attitudes employed by individuals in Umofia in particular circumstances.

"Things Fall Apart" is probable to influence readers in wanting to learn more about African culture and history. It appears that Achebe wanted the world to acknowledge that it is wrong to associate African traditions with savages and with communities that lack social organization. The Ibo people showed a tendency to respect hierarchy and to get actively involved in socially organizing their community. One of the primary purposes of this work is thus to provide readers with a different image of traditional African values. Through having people understand that the Ibo were especially interested in preserving social regulations, an effective economic system, and a complex religion, Achebe manages to demonstrate that the colonists were wrong in trying to impose their cultural values on communities that they interacted with.

Even with the fact that it does not initially seem this way, "Things Fall Apart" has been partly written with the purpose of changing the general public's opinion concerning African history. The novel "has also proved to be an immensely influential work for African writers, becoming the progenitor of a whole movement in fiction, drama, and poetry that focuses on the reevaluation of traditional African cultures and the representation of culture conflicts that had their genesis in the colonial era" (Whittaker & Msiska ix).

Achebe apparently chose to associate the Ibo people in his book with the real-life Igbo community in eastern Nigeria with the purpose of adding a bit of realism to the story. Even with the fact that Achebe experienced the final years of foreign dominance over Nigeria as he was writing the book he wanted to emphasize the irreparable damage that outside influences have provoked to the culture. British colonists and missionaries arrived in the country thinking that it was their duty to educate and exploit individuals there. It is probable that Achebe wrote the book with the intention of inducing nationalist feelings in Nigerians and in order for them to remember what things were like before the country came to be controlled by foreign powers.

One can actually claim that "Things Fall Apart" is written from the perspective of a social scientist. When considering that Okonkwo looks away at the time when Ikemefuna dies, it appears that the central character actually felt sorry for the boy and that his presumed savageness did not influence him in expressing no regret concerning his participation in the boy's death. Ikemefuna considered that Okonkwo was the male authority in his life and thus felt confused as a result of seeing that this individual was unwilling to help him. Instead of taking on his role Okonkwo puts across cowardice and decides that it would be essential for him to join the others in the killing ritual.

Although Okonkwo might be seen as a character that people need to associate with the African continent and colonized nations in the territory, his life experiences are somewhat universal. This person suffers greatly as a result of failing to accomplish his goals and eventually accepts that it would be impossible for him to recover from the condition that he is in. Despite this, one can understand that Okonkwo is actually Igbo in character when considering Achebe's background and his familiarity with Igbo cultural values.

Achebe does not hesitate to relate to the topic of women in Ibo and presents readers with their condition by relating to Okonkwo's three wives. Gender is one of the most important topics in the novel and this is emphasized through Okonkwo's description. This individual struggles throughout his life with the purpose of influencing others in appreciating his character. He fears that people would come to associate him with his feminine father and thus concentrates on appearing as authoritarian as possible. Even with this, Achebe manages to influence readers to put across empathy regarding this character. In spite of his violent behavior and in spite of the fact that he appears to be willing to do anything in his power with the purpose of imposing his thinking over others, readers can understand that his life experiences made him the man he was. He suffered greatly as a result of his father and felt that hard-work and determination were they key to success.

Unoka, Okonkwo's father, is probably the only person who played a major role in the central character's life. This person indirectly influenced his son to take on a hard-working lifestyle and to focus on becoming successful. Even with this, Okonkwo is sometimes inclined to perform cruel acts simply because he feels that this is what differentiates him from his father. Achebe shows the central character as a vulnerable individual who is naive enough to take advantage of every opportunity that he has with the purpose of influencing others to appreciate him.

Most male readers are probable to express little interest in Ekwefi's character as a consequence of the fact that the text tends to limit her stature in the overall story. "The characterization of Ekwefi, Okonkwo's second wife, almost seems insignificant to one reading from a patriarchal standpoint, but when reevaluated, one will find that she is a well of knowledge, love, and fierce independence" (Strong-Leek). While Okonkwo and many readers perceive Ekwefi as being nothing more than a child-bearer and a person responsible for looking out for the household, it appears that Achebe actually wants her to be much more than that. Ekwefi considers that her only daughter is the most important possession that she has. In contrast, Okonkwo is unable to appreciate his family because he is constantly stressed. The truth is that Ekwefi's problems did not stop her from being a good mother and from being a strong woman. In spite of the fact that she appears to be less important in comparison to the other two wives, she has a strong spirit and does not hesitate to criticize Okonkwo when she feels that she needs to do so.

Ezinma, Ekwefi's daughter, is very similar to her mother and she is actually appreciated by her father. Even with this, the fact that she was not born a boy greatly angers Okonkwo, but concomitantly demonstrates that he loves her very much. "At periods when he is in the greatest emotional crises, Okonkwo instinctively turns to his daughter" (Whittaker & Msiska 125). Throughout his suffering Okonkwo cannot stop thinking about his daughter and about what it would have been like if she was a boy. He is greatly frustrated as a result of her gender, but cannot stop thinking about how she is among the only individuals who are able to understand what he is going through. The fact that Okonkwo wants Ezinma to be a boy does not necessarily demonstrate that he discriminates her, as it actually demonstrates that he regrets that his society is generally unwilling to provide women with the understanding that they need. Even with the fact that he has several male children, Okonkow does not identify with them and considers that Ezinma is the only one who could actually succeed him in leading the family. "Reading the text from the male purview, one may empathize with Okonkwo who, because of the fates, has no child, except… READ MORE

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