A Civilization Falls Apart Essay - 1167 Words

Most of what we know to be African Literature, talks about the changes from an un-dignified lion-chasing culture to that of a semi-dignified European society. The novel Things Fall Apart by Nigerian-born author Chinua Achebe, tells the story of a Umuofian villager named Okonkwo, and how Okonkwo has to come to grips with the changes that are happening in everyday Ibo life. The novel Things Fall Apart is not your typical tall African tale. The novel is a story, a story not just about one person, but about an entire civil-society circa 1890s that becomes overwhelmed with the ideas and beliefs of the European colonizers, or as some like to refer, the white man. Author Chinua Achebe witnessed this invasion first-hand, so who better†¦show more content†¦It is this dignity that many African peoples all but lost in the colonial period...The writers duty is to help them regain it by showing them in human terms what happened to them, what they lost. (Achebe/Killam Eds. Pg. 159.) Chinua Achebe shows the reader the change of Africa as seen by the main character of the novel, Okonkwo. Okonkwo has the hardship of living in an ever-changing society. It is thru Okonkwo that the reader is able to visualize a society of immense cultural standing, and not as European colonizers would say, a society of savages. The main theme of culture is present in all areas of the novel, which helps to show to the reader all of its underlying themes, themes of tradition and themes of religion. Achebe sees the themes of culture, tradition, and religion in one bright light and European colonizers see those same themes in a totally different, somewhat snobbish dim light. However these themes are viewed, one thing is certain, change is on the horizon. The changing of Umuofia can be viewed in many different ways, the most important of which are, religion, culture, and domination through white (British) rule. The most important part of the story is when the white (British) men come to the tribe. These men, theseShow MoreRelatedThe Civilization Of Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1305 Words   |  6 PagesCivilization of Nigeria in Things Fall Apart Africa was always a savage place with no civilizations or so the white man thought. When the British first came to Africa to colonize it, the British writers wrote about how it was a savage land and had no makings of a civilization. That was completely wrong. A group of people cannot survive for thousands of years without some aspects of civilization. The novel Things Fall Apart (by Chinua Achebe) talks about and shows examples of all seven elements thatRead MoreCivilization is most often defined by its prevailing culture. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart,600 Words   |  3 PagesCivilization is most often defined by its prevailing culture. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, this connection is still apparent. 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Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware! - Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 11 It was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth, like learning to become left-handed in old age. - Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 14 if one finger brought oil it soiled the others. Chapter 13, Pg. 111 It was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth, like learning