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.