HIstory and Achebe

The personal history of an author can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his/her writing. Comment on specific instances of such influence in Things Fall Apart.

Achebe though “Things Fall Apart” was trying to to cub the influence of the western world on traditional culture and values, Chinua Achebe, and other African writers sook to preserve the African heritage by tell stories through African eye. This is what motivated secondary characters such as Mr. Brown to appear. Mr. Brown is a reflection of Achebe and how he wants his religion (christianity) portrayed. Part of what motivated Achebe to write Things Fall Apart was the desire to capture the voice of indigenous African identity. Achebe is trying to communicate the similarities and the differences between Igbo religion and christianity. In the novel it shows that both religions have a supreme god however the Igbo religion also has minor gods which are worshipped whereas in the christian religion there is only one. Achebe is trying to show that despite the religions’ differences, they are also quite similar and thus alludes to the idea of both religions coinciding with one another.  Achebe communicates that Igbo culture is seen as inadequate in the eyes of the missionaries and the tribesman that have converted to christianity. Achebe is trying to show that christianity has influenced Igbo people to desert their religion and thus it displays the tensions within the Igbo society. 

IOC link

 https://youtu.be/txnXpOcopqo 

Okonkwo and Big Ideas

In the novel, “Things Fall Apart”, we see the main character Okonkwo as a brave leader of Umafia. His motivation to work as hard as he does comes from the built up guilt within him, due to he failures of his father. Due to how the novel ends, Okonkwo’s character is considered to be a tragic hero. He has great influence on Umafia. He is known for his heroic actions as he right at the beginning of the novel, we see him defeat the Amalinze Cat. With this piece on information given to us, Achebe characterises Okonkwo to hold much power and prestige. Although we see that the strengths in Okonkwo we can also understand his weaknesses. As every tragic hero, there is a weakness that eventually leads to his downfall. In OKonkwo’s case this was his fear of being known as weak and as a failure. This all branches from his fear to turn out like his failure of a father. Okonkwo very much represent the people of Umafia and their traditions. Even though throughout the novel we see him break tradition,  for example when he goes against the igbo people and their traditions by killing Ikemefuna when he was advised not to, we do see great remorse in doing so. Okonkwo is very much dedicated and quite stubborn about keeping the Igbo culture living, we see this with the cracking of the Kola nut. When Obierika tried to disregard that tradition Okonkwo thought he was crazy and said it was wrong to break the sacred tradition. From this we can see how Achebe was trying to symbolise the igbo people and culture through Okonkwo.  

Okonkwo is very significant to this novel, as he is the one to carry the plot along, and create tension throughout the book. Without his character the reader would have a hard time understating the beliefs and customs of the igbo people. Furthermore, through him we are able to understand the suffering and the hardship that came along with colonisation. We see how tough it was for Okonkwo to accept the english and christianity. This is another time where we need Okonkwo in order to see that. Also, realising that this novel is going to be read and anaylized by readers all around the world, not just the igbo, it is very crucial that we have a character in the book that will give us that understanding and help us relate to a culture that we are not familiar with. By being able to relate to the novel and feel sympathy towards Okonkwo and Umafia, Achebe’s purpose of raising awareness is carried out. 

One of the big themes in this novel is destiny. We see this with Okonkwo’s tragic fate as the arrival of a new culture comes upon Umafia. This occurs because of Okonkwo destiny to self-destruction, due to his inflexible nature. Through his thick skull and his inability to accept change he drives himself to commit suicide. 

Important Moments in Things Fall Apart

The most important events in my events include:
1. Okonkwo killing Uzendu's son by accident
2. When the missionaries arrive to Umafia
3. Building the church and conversions

I believe these are really crucial moments in the play. Firstly when Okonkwo kills Uzendu by accidentally firing his gun and the bullet hits the son, the result of this is Okonkwo's family being banished to Mbanata. When they are away this gives great opportunity for havoc to wreak in Umafia as their leader is now gone. We do this happen when the missionaries arrive to Umafia. They take advantage and the whites start forcing their ideologies and christian beliefs to the people of Umafia. With the building of churches and ideas being spread, this catches the attention of Nwyoe (Okonkwo's son) after being threatened by his father, left his house and converted. He then ended up even changing his name to Isaac. This represents and shows the influence that the missionaries have had on Nigeria and how their ideologies are being spread in a rapidly fashion.

The Context of "Things Fall Apart"

Achebe wanted to write the novel in order to be able to remind the people of Igbo why it is important to have their independence back. He wanted to raise awareness on the oppression that is being held in his homeland. Not only to the people of Igbo, but also to the oppressors. He shows how the people if Igbo are brave and confident and able to hold their own country together until the oppressors came along and rid their culture. The novel, thus, could serve as a reminder of the importance of unification because only then, will they be able to counter the superior hegemonic force implied by the British.

The novel is written in the eve of colonization, Achebe choses to write the novel two years before Nigeria gains its independence from Britain, in 1958. Achebe was part of the movement advocating for an independent Nigeria, that he was motivated to provide an accurate representation of the complexity of his culture in English literature and he was personally concerned with exploring his hybrid identity as a proud Igbo and also being a Christian. 

Secondly, it could be said that Achebe chose to write about that historical context because of the power narrative– the winners get to tell the story whilst the losers never do. In a way, what could be implied by this, is that regardless of the independence movement outcome, Achebe could have at least secured the prevalence of a ‘single story’ of Nigeria. As an African author, he was providing an authentic cultural perspective as to what colonization was for those being colonized.

Also while writing in English he ensures that the story not only reaches the ears of other Nigerians, showing that their culture is valuable and worthy of having its story told– but it also ensures that it gets to people outside of Nigeria. It ensures that those that have never made contact with Nigerian land hear an authentic perspective of the colonization experience, and hence, avoid falling into the close minded perspective of a single, stereotypical story. Achebe wants to see the nation moving forwards with a new, constructed Nigerian identity, rather than moving backwards to how the nation was before colonization.