Importance Of Chi In Things Fall Apart

There is an Igbo proverb that goes, “When a man says yes, his chi also says yes” (Achebe 27). Things Fall Apart,by Chinua Achebe, is a story set in the Igbo society of Nigeria about a man who struggles with his chi and trying to change his fate. In the Igbo society, chi is seen as a personal god, almost like karma, that helps a person make the right decisions and keeps them safe if they deserve it. Chi plays a crucial role in understanding the deeper meaning of the events in Things Fall Apart, helps to illustrate parts of the Igbo society, and to show how the Igbo society is similar to western societies. In Things Fall Apart the main character, Okonkwo, has problematic chi, and it shows throughout the novel. It is illustrated when Ikemefuna …show more content…
He believes that a person’s fate is determined once they are born, and it cannot be changed. However, a person still has some control over their destiny. The decisions they make can change the path that leads to their fate, but the end result is always the same. These decisions are influenced and decided by a person’s chi. When a person has good chi, it helps them make the correct decision. But when a person has bad chi, it forces them to make the wrong decision. Chinua Achebe sees life as a game and the end of the game is determined when people start to play. Everyone gets a hand of cards, and depending on the cards that are played, the person’s life is altered. Chi is the force that makes you decide what cards to play and when. It can help you, but it can also hurt you. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, chi plays a crucial role in understanding the events in the novel, in illustrating parts of the Igbo society, and in showing how the Igbo society is similar to modern western societies. The role of chi also helps to demonstrate the author 's views on this specific idea. This helps us to understand his intent in incorporating it into the novel so much, and what he wants us to take away from the novel as