Essay on The Book Things Fall Apart Text

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These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of things fall apart by chinua achebe. Gradesaver provides access to 678 study guide pdfs and quizzes, 3587 literature essays, 1196 sample college application essays, 118 lesson plans, and ad free surfing in this premium content, ldquo members only rdquo section of the site! membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders. The concept of balance in achebe's novel, things fall apart, is an important theme throughout the book. Achebe introduces this idea with an excerpt from william butler yeats's poem, the second coming. In their respective works things fall apart and the joys of motherhood, both chinua achebe and buchi emecheta depict the effects of colonialism on igbo society. Chinua achebe's things fall apart explores the struggle between old traditions within the igbo community as well as christianity and the second coming it brings forth.

An involved essay: the comparison of one hundred years of solitude with things fall apart things and societies fall apart. The novels things fall apart and the joys of motherhood both present nigeria as a competitive, consumption crazed country. Each novel, therefore, also creates a parallel between nigeria and capitalist, western societies yet each one shows that. The white man is very clever…he has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart. Chinua achebe’s novel things fall apart is a prime example of african literature that demonstrates the clash between cultures and. The south african igbo tribe of umuofia, as depicted in chinua achebe’s things fall apart, 1958 encompasses layer upon complex layer of social order. From birth to death, every aspect of umuofian culture is defined by an intricate balance of.

By comparing white teeth with at least one other appropriate text, explore the presentation of family and family relationships in postcolonial literature. The presence of sexism, both individual and institutional, runs rampant in chinua achebe’s things fall apart. It is the most constant theme in the story, more intrinsic in the plotline than even racism, and certainly more deep rooted. For many writers, the theme of a novel is the driving force of the book during its creation. Even if the author doesn't consciously identify an intended theme, the creative process is directed by at least one controlling idea a concept or principle or belief or purpose significant to the author. The theme often several themes guides the author by controlling where the story goes, what the characters do, what mood is portrayed, what style evolves, and what emotional effects the story will create in the reader.

From achebe's own statements, we know that one of his themes is the complexity of igbo society before the arrival of the europeans. To support this theme, he includes detailed descriptions of the justice codes and the trial process, the social and family rituals, the marriage customs, food production and preparation processes, the process of shared leadership for the community, religious beliefs and practices, and the opportunities for virtually every man to climb the clan's ladder of success through his own efforts. The book may have been written more simply as a study of okonkwo's deterioration in character in an increasingly unsympathetic and incompatible environment, but consider what would have been lost had achebe not emphasized the theme of the complex and dynamic qualities of the igbo in umuofia. Against achebe's theme of igbo cultural complexity is his theme of the clash of cultures. This collision of cultures occurs at the individual and societal levels, and the cultural misunderstanding cuts both ways: just as the uncompromising reverend smith views africans as heathens, the igbo initially criticize the christians and the missionaries as foolish.

For achebe, the africans' misperceptions of themselves and of europeans need realignment as much as do the misperceptions of africans by the west. Writing as an african who had been europeanized, achebe wrote things fall apart as an act of atonement with his past, the ritual return and homage of a prodigal son. By his own act, he encourages other africans, especially ones with western educations, to realize that they may misperceive their native culture. Related to the theme of cultural clash is the issue of how much the flexibility or the rigidity of the characters and by implication, of the british and igbo contribute to their destiny. Because of okonkwo's inflexible nature, he seems destined for self destruction, even before the arrival of the european colonizers. Whereas okonkwo is an unyielding man of action, the other two are more open and adaptable men of thought.

Brown wins converts by first respecting the traditions and beliefs of the igbo and subsequently allowing some accommodation in the conversion process. He does not advocate the use of force to counter the colonizers and the opposition. Rather, he has an open mind about changing values and foreign culture: who knows what may happen tomorrow? he comments about the arrival of foreigners. Obierika's receptive and adaptable nature may be more representative of the spirit of umuofia than okonkwo's unquestioning rigidity. For example, consider umuofia's initial lack of resistance to the establishment of a new religion in its midst.

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With all its deep roots in tribal heritage, the community hardly takes a stand against the intruders against new laws as well as new religion. What accounts for this lack of community opposition? was igbo society more receptive and adaptable than it appeared to be? the lack of strong initial resistance may also come from the fact that the igbo society does not foster strong central leadership. This quality encourages individual initiative toward recognition and achievement but also limits timely decision making and the authority backed actions needed on short notice to maintain its integrity and welfare. Whatever the reason perhaps a combination of these reasons the british culture and its code of behavior, ambitious for its goals of native enlightenment as well as of british self enrichment, begin to encroach upon the existing igbo culture and its corresponding code of behavior.

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A factor that hastens the decline of the traditional igbo society is their custom of marginalizing some of their people allowing the existence of an outcast group and keeping women subservient in their household and community involvement, treating them as property, and accepting physical abuse of them somewhat lightly. When representatives of a foreign culture beginning with christian missionaries enter igbo territory and accept these marginalized people including the twins at their full human value, the igbo's traditional shared leadership finds itself unable to control its whole population. The lack of a clear, sustaining center of authority in igbo society may be the quality that decided achebe to draw his title from the yeats poem, the second coming.

In the story, readers are frequently reminded about this theme in references to chi. Okonkwo, at his best, feels that his chi supports his ambition: when a man says yes, his chi says yes also chapter 4. At his worst, okonkwo feels that his chi has let him down: his chi was not made for great things. At the societal level, the igbos' lack of a unifying self image and centralized leadership as well as their weakness in the treatment of some of their own people both previously discussed suggest the inevitable fate of becoming victim to colonization by a power eager to exploit its resources.

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In addition to the three themes discussed in this essay, the thoughtful reader will probably be able to identify other themes in the novel: for example, the universality of human motives and emotions across cultures and time, and the need for balance between individual needs and community needs. Previous chinua achebe biography the bulk of the novel takes place in umuofia, a cluster of nine villages on the lower niger. Umuofia is a powerful clan, skilled in war and with a great population, with proud traditions and advanced social institutions. He lives in umuofia for three years, and during that time he lives under okonkwo 39 s roof. But eventually the oracle calls for the boy 39 s death, and a group of men take ikemefuna away to kill him in the forest.

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Okonkwo, fearful of being perceived as soft hearted and weak, participates in the boy 39 s death. Okonkwo is shaken as well, but he continues with his drive to become a lord of his clan. He is constantly disappointed by nwoye, but he has great love for his daughter ezinma. Late one night, the powerful oracle of umuofia brings ezinma with her for a spiritual encounter with the earth goddess. Terrified, ekwefi follows the oracle at a distance, fearing harm might come to her child. Later, during a funeral for one of the great men of the clan, okonkwo 39 s gun explodes, killing a boy.

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