European Influence in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

A writer who wants to create a suspenseful story never introduces a character into a novel without a meaning or a purpose. The main reason writers include side-characters is to fill in plot holes, create contrasts to the protagonist, or have the character represent a bigger picture. In Things Fall Apart, a novel based in Nigeria, a group of nine villages experienced European Imperialism. During this time period, there were three groups natives, peaceful European missionaries, and several European law bringers. Each one of these groups had varying beliefs and views over what was happening during the start of imperialism. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe uses three characters named: Obierika, Mr. Brown, and The District Commissioner, to help portray how each group acted during the time.

Culture collision is not something that you hear about everyday. Culture collision is the clash of cultures or values. This can be triggered by many things and the way we react to it is due to our personality. When this does occur it can impact our lives in such a great way. It can have an affect on who we are and what we stand for. In the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe we take a look at the character Okonkwo and see how he is affect by his Culture collision and see that his personality is the the factor in the way he reacts to it.

Change is a reoccurring theme throughout history. It destroys and creates. It displaces and introduces. It can cause death and life. The movement of imperialism in Africa brought great change to the native tribal life. Forcing the indigenous people to turn away from their century-old traditions caused violent rifts between the European settlers and the tribes, as well as internal problems between once amiable members of the Ibo culture. With the introduction of the foreign Western Society in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the tribe’s life and ideals are drastically altered as the new ethics and principles collide with the old traditions and laws, causing the members of the society to either adapt or be crushed underneath the foot of colonialism. Achebe’s character, Okonkwo, was impacted immensely by the cultural collision, as his previous way of life was pulverized before his eyes, and he found no reason to live any longer.

The novel “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe, is a tale based on the traditional beliefs and customs of an Ibo village during late 1800’s Africa. Through the telling of this story, we witness the remarkable depth of Igbo culture through its functions of religion, politics, judiciary and entertainment.

Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” chronicles the life of Okonkwo, a strong man whose existence is dominated by fear and anger, and the Ibo tribe, a people deeply rooted in cultural belief and tradition. As events unfold, Okonkwo’s carefully constructed world and the Ibo way of life collapses. The story of Okonkwo’s fall from a respected and feared leader of the Ibo tribe to an outcast who dies in disgrace dramatizes his inability to evolve beyond his personal beliefs, affecting the entire Ibo tribe beyond measure. The “things” that fall apart in Achebe’s novel are Okonkwo’s life – his ambition, dreams, family unity and material wealth – and the Ibo way of life – their beliefs, culture and values.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a novel about the fictional village of Umuofia that experiences the drastic changes brought by the arrival of white missionaries from Europe. The protagonist, Okonkwo, is a well-respected native warrior of the Umuofia clan who must face the challenges that are forcefully brought to his village, while witnessing the changes that unfold around him. Though the narrative itself is fictional, Achebe bases Things Fall Apart on the numerous stories from 19th century Nigeria, which also serves as the setting of the novel, at the time of European colonization. Coming from a Nigerian background, Achebe establishes a message against colonialism through the utilization of rhetorical devices, which, in turn transforms the novel into a staple in postcolonial literature. Things Fall Apart is a staple in postcolonial literature as Chinua Achebe presents his argument against colonialism through the utilization of setting and characterization.

Of Imperialism, English writer and composer Anthony Burgess once said, “Colonialism. The enforced spread of the rule of reason. But who is going to spread it among the colonizers?”. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe chronicles the life of underdog turned successful clansman Okonkwo, as well as the complexity of the Ibo culture in pre-colonial Africa. With the arrival of British missionaries, Okonkwo’s world crumbles as their cultures clash, and more African people begin to join the church. The Ibo people at first greatly underestimate the power of the colonizers, yet they make a deep and lasting impact on their culture. These missionaries completely change the lives of the Ibo people. Achebe’s main message is to communicate this clash of

Chinua Achebe gives us a glimpse of the Ibo tribe in Nigeria during the late 19th century in his novel, Things Fall Apart. The book teaches us about the Ibo culture and the effect of missionaries in Africa through the eyes of protagonist, Okonkwo. Okonkwo, a traditional man, has his life turned upside down as the Christian missionaries unleash their authority upon the Ibo tribe. Although once a well-reputed and honorable member of the tribe, his many flaws overwhelm him and bring him to his impending doom. Okonkwo’s hamartia, fear of failure and weakness, leads to a moral breakdown and eventually his decision to commit suicide.

When I read Things Fall Apart, I had a clear mind of what a life could be like Okonkwo’s. For the rest of the reading, a question was contacting me in different places of the novel. Okonkwo was an angry man in front of his Nigerian tribe and changed when Christian missionaries came to the Ibo village; also, I responded to the book, and my personal applications to a different culture were related to a missionary trip that was a powerful one back in 1956 in Ecuador.

The novel Things Fall Apart was written in 1958 by a late Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe. Things Fall Apart alludes to the effects of European Imperialism on Igbo culture. This novel begins in a fictional town called “Umuofia”, on the boundary of modern day Nigeria. European missionaries arrive in Umuofia, uninvited and especially unwelcomed. Upon the missionaries arrival, Umuofia’s cultural tradition is shaken to its core and tampered with by the Europeans. The effects of the Europeans on the Igbo culture in Umuofia alter the village’s religion, political structure, and the Igbo peoples way of life.

Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, is a story of a traditional village in Nigeria from inside Umuofia around the late 1800s. This novel depicts late African history and shows how the British administrative structure, in the form of the European Anglican Church, imposed its religion and trappings on the cultures of Africa, which they believed was uncivilized. This missionary zeal subjugated large native populations. Consequently, the native traditions gradually disappeared and in time the whole local social structure within which the indigenous people had lived successfully for centuries was destroyed. Achebe spends the first half of the novel depicting the Ibo culture, by

When distant and unfamiliar cultures interact, the exchange that ensues is either one of benevolent coexistence or malignant clashing. The key factors to having a mutually beneficial exchange between two societies is open-mindedness, acceptance, and constant effort to overcome ignorance present in cross-cultural interaction. These values, or lack thereof, are demonstrated in Things Fall Apart when European culture first collides with the Ibo people in their Nigerian homeland. The two societies meeting has a profound effect on many characters, however Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, has the most drastic and impactful change in identity after being with the missionaries. His imbedded personality and desires lead him to stray from his upbringing and his transformation helps display the message behind Achebe’s book: two varying cultures can coexist given the right mindset by both groups.

A question someone would more than likely not ask themselves is what they would do if they invaded a culture or had their own culture invaded. For most, this question seemingly does not apply to them because of the “civilized” world in which they live in at that moment; however, it is that specific mentality and cause-effect consequence that author Chinua Achebe explores in his novel Things Fall Apart. This novel follows the main character, Okonkwo, of an Igbo tribe, through his life’s story. A major theme that presents itself at the end is the consequences of not caring for another’s culture regarding colonialism. So, the question is set: what would someone do if they were trying to invade a culture or had their own culture invaded? In the novel Things Fall Apart, one possibility is explored, and that is the people whose culture is being threatened will act violently which causes the perpetrators to act violently as well. Kwame Appiah discusses a cosmopolitanism’s view of the world and uses common ideas such as do to others what you want done to yourself, and pursuing conversation with people who are not like oneself. These two ideas will be used to explore an event in Things Fall Apart, so that an alternate view can be offered on a situation if it were in the context of a cosmopolitan’s world. In a cosmopolitan world, the people of Abame would have had conversation with the colonialists to try and negotiate a mutually beneficial setup whereas the colonialists would have

The Igbo people live a happy and peaceful life. WIth their own traditions and customs however odd to an outsider, sane in their minds. However as European countries begin to explore the inner depths of Africa, great culture clashes occur. European colonialism introduces Christianity to the Igbo people, the one true religion with the help of missionaries. While different and unusual to the indigenous people, Europeans set up order in the land, as similar in their mother country. They force said people to follow or else face severe punishments. Okonkwo ignorantly fights change, which leads to his ultimate downfall. He is unable to deal with the introduction of Christianity and all around colonization, as it changes those around him. Okonkwo strictly believes in the traditions and customs of the Igbo people. In Chinua Achebe’s fiction novel Things Fall Apart, he illustrates the effect on European colonialism, through indigenous societal views and traditions of the Igbo people as it clashes with the culture of European foreigners.

Fear is a powerful tool that if used incorrectly, can control how one lives. Okonkwo’s life is one that is dominated by fear. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart follows the Ibo people, set during the time of the colonization of West Africa, in the town of Umoufia. The protagonist, Okonkwo, is a strong follower of his culture’s rigid expectations and practices. While Okonkwo’s steadfast adherence earns the respect of the townsmen, many detest the cultural expectations and practices they are forced to follow. When Christian missionaries introduce Christianity to Umoufia, many of the Ibo people are quick to convert, including Okonkwo’s own son. This new religion slowly undermines the Ibo culture and religion Okonkwo firmly believes in, leading to his downfall. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s fear of weakness along with the arrival of Christianity causes Okonkwo’s downfall.