`Things Fall Apart` by Chinua Achebe (1958)

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Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe sought to show the western world the reality of life in pre-colonial Africa . His novel , Things Fall Apart , was that illustration , and through it , he created a portrayal of one of the many societies which inhabited the land that most of the world knew nothing about . In his fictionalized recounting of the life of Ibo chief Okonkwo , Achebe sought to also show Africans that their history did extend beyond European involvement - that the life of Africans

had indeed been complex and meaningful . Achebe weaved the social , religious and political structures of the Ibo culture into a narrative that shows the reader a detailed sliver of Ibo life

The Ibo life and society is very well described throughout the novel Achebe shows the reader that the Ibo government is well developed . The elders of the clans , called ndichie , meet together to discuss the lives of all members of Umuofia - the name for the entire tribe , of which , the Ibo are a part

Achebe also illustrates the religion found in the Ibo culture . Religion affects every aspect of life to the Ibos . For Okonkwo , religion dictates that he must kill the young slave in his household . Also , religion controls the reasons behind and manner of war for this society

Some wars are inevitable if the clan is to survive , but war is not indiscriminant . Religion is a factor in both limiting war and in supporting it when it is just . IN the latter case , war might be seen as a deterrent to future crimes against Umuofia . \ (Rhodes 64

Okonkwo came from a family with a burden . His father had the persona of being lazy - a strong sign of weakness in the Ibo culture . To combat this , as Okonkwo grew , he put himself in position to show the rest of the tribe that he did not suffer from the same weakness as his father Through his achievements as a young man , Okonkwo then gained ranks of prestige throughout the villages

Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond His fame rested on solid personal achievements . As a young man of eighteen he had brought honour to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat . Amalinze was the greatest wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten , from Umoufia to Mbaino . In the end Okonkwo threw the Cat (Achebe 3

Following this , Okonkwo was able to increase his fame over the next twenty years . While he was an intelligent person , and seen as one of the greatest men of his time , he did often resort to physical violence if his point was unable to be put across . He had no patience with unsuccessful men . He had no patience for his father (4

Okonkwo dedicated his life to the pursuit of denying everything his father seemed to embody - such as gentleness and idleness (13 ) Because of this , he sought titles and prestige throughout his village , and over the whole tribe...