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Colonialism And Imperialism In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

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Register to read the introduction… The missionaries had elaborate discussions with the Ibo people regarding religion, “Then the missionaries burst into song” (Achebe 146).The persuasion of the missionaries is shown, as they attempt to convert the Ibo people to Christianity with happy, upbeat, rollicking tunes of evangelism, a sect of Christianity. The missionaries confidently state “We have been sent by this great God to ask you to leave your ways and false gods and turn to Him so that you may be saved when you die” (Achebe 145). This quote expresses the mission of the imperialists. In Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden,” he writes “Take up the White Man’s burden--And reap his old reward” (1-3). Reaping his old reward symbolizes the acquisition of resources, which leads to the installation of markets as well as the implementation of commerce. The missionaries imply that they are on a mission, as it is their “burden” to convert the Ibo people, save them, and most importantly, to colonize and imperialize the continent of Africa. With the contribution of Achebe’s utilization of the missionaries (imperialists), he establishes an accurate portrayal of imperialism, as the white men feel that they possess and carry a burden that they are trying to relieve themselves of and get it off their chest, and Achebe is able …show more content…
The Europeans thought they were improving Africa. They may have initiated new methods of transportation, improved the infrastructure, and introduced new crops to better agriculture. However, the Europeans caused new conflicts to erupt such as civil wars to begin among the different ethnic groups within a colony, forced labor, segregated families, and reaped the African resources. In conclusion, Chinua Achebe shows how drastically life changed for Nigerians (Africans in general), as he accurately portrays imperialism and Ibo culture to a high …show more content…
Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.
"An African Voice." Interview by Chinua Achebe. N.p., 2 Aug. 2000. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. <http://moodle.oakland.k12.mi.us/internationalacademy/pluginfile.php?file=%2F68302%2Fmod _folder%2Fcontent%2F0%2FAfrica%20Essay%2FAchebe%20Interview%20An%20African%2 20Voice.docx&forcedownload=1>.
Arinze, Francis A., and Kalu Ogbu. "Igbo Religion." Www.ic.galegroup.com. CENGAGE LEARNING, 2005. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
"Feast for New Yam in Igbo-Ukwu." Www.ic.galegroup.com. N.p., 20 Oct. 2008. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Kipling, Rudyard. "Internet History Sourcebooks." Internet History Sourcebooks. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
"The White Man's Brden." International Academy: Login to the Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. <http://moodle.oakland.k12.mi.us/internationalacademy/pluginfile.php?file=%2F68302%2Fmod _folder%2Fcontent%2F0%2FAfrica%20Essay%2FThe%20White%20Mans%20Burden.docx&f

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