English Language & Literature

Achebe’s cultural cross road of Igbo tradition and the Christian religion has majorly influenced Things Fall Apart in the way he represented both cultures in a neutral eye in order to showcase the strengths and limitations of each as his purpose is to persuade a combination of both. Chinua Achebe wrote the post-colonial novel of ‘Things Fall Apart’ in 1958 in order to teach other Africans that their past was neither so savage nor benighted as the colonizers represented it to be. Achebe also demonstrates the need for flexibility and duality with the Nigerian independence and represents this throughout Okonkwo, the protagonist, whose tragic flaw is his hyper-masculinity and inability to display femininity, stemmed from his father’s incapability to have a legacy. Achebe’s combination of both the Christian religion and being raised with Igbo tradition heavily influence his meaning throughout the novel because of the purpose of showing the importance of being flexible and balanced...

The ability to be flexible and tolerant are values that Okonkwo, the protagonist, disregards which can contribute to his overall reference to the more conservative values that Igbo land entails. Okonkwo, for some aspects, is symbolic of the society to a degree as his hyper-masculinity and fear of weakness are all values that are engrained throughout his character by his surroundings and not individual definition. These major flaws through his characterization could then be concluded are a consequence of societal impact on his personality and values as this is displayed in his stubbornness and inability to conform, which is further exemplified when he delivers the striking blow to Ikemefuna even when it is against his intuition and moral values. The osu can be representative of the weaknesses throughout Igbo society and are showcased as outcasts because of their physical differences however this is justified because these reflect the similar weakness in their society, which makes it po...

I think the three most important moments is when Okokonwko hangs himself, when Nwoye turns to Christianity and the slaughtering of Abame in order for revenge for the white man that was killed on their territory.            Okonkwo's death is an important part of the novel as Okonkwo was always showcased as a strong, a well rounded leader - atleast he wanted to be seen that way - of the tribe. His failure for him to adapt to the changes of the English and allow for it all to break him down so severely shows his weaker side that he has put off for so long. This shows the inner conflict he has, as he didn't want to die a dishonorable death like his father. This also goes to show the other side of Okonkwo's character.          Nwoye's conversion into Christianity and the changing of his name is also an important event as it shows the influence that the British are having on the people of the Umuofia. This can show a theme of power ...

Chinua Achebe’s, ‘Things Fall Apart,’ was written in 1958, prior to Nigerian independence, however, the book itself was based before and during the arrival of the colonial administration. The story is based on the life of an Igbo man named Okonkwo, and through this character, Achebe is able to base the text heavily on the Igbo tribe values, tradition and functionality of their system prior to Okonkwo’s exile and the British colonization. The purpose of this is to display a system that they based their lifestyle on, which differed heavily from the European powers, which was a functioning way of society that they were able to maintain without colonization, years before it occurred. In the time leading up to Nigeria’s independence, after the British empire gave up its colonization in Igbo land, the tribe was unsure of which values to maintain from their tradition and whether they should instil some of the British influence or not. Showcasing the Igbo values before colonization was Achebe...