Indian Horse And Things Fall Apart Analysis

Marcus Garvey states, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” (BrainyQuote.com.) In history, especially during colonization, foreign powers have attempted practices to eradicate the culture and traditions of Native and African people. In the novels Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the protagonists Saul and Okonkwo are forced to integrate into the Caucasian culture, having their own cultures taken away from them. Being unable to adapt to the changes – like the adjustment of religion and language – causes the two characters to cope in different ways leading to different endings in their stories. Saul takes the opportunity of hockey that presents …show more content…
The Caucasians are stereotyped as stiff with colonial plans, while the Igbos are profoundly original and open to new ideas. When the missionaries arrive in Mbanta, one of them white, everyone is interested to see them after hearing the story of the wiping out of the Abame village. The white man has an Igbo translator and, through him, told the Igbo about Christianity. “And he told them about this new God, the Creator of all the world and all the men and women. He told them that they worshipped false gods, gods of wood and stone . . . ‘We have been sent by this great God to ask you to leave your wicked ways and false gods and turn to Him so that you may be saved when you die.’” (Achebe, 102) The man told the Igbo that worship of the Christian God would provide entrance to the God 's kingdom and that he and his people would be living with them from now on to teach them the Christian ways of life. The villagers are doubtful, but eager to learn more about the Christian message and white skin that is foreign to them and the missionaries start to alter the their religious views, practices and rooted social customs. “As Okonkwo sat in his hut that night, gazing into a log fire, he thought over the matter. A sudden fury rose within him and he felt a strong desire to take up his matchet, go to the church and wipe out the entire vile and miscreant gang.” …show more content…
Instead of saying ‘myself’ he always said ‘my buttocks’.” (Achebe, 102). This slight difference in the pronunciation of language emphasizes that there is an existence of many larger and more prominent differences that have existed and been ignored. Also, the use of words that cannot be directly translated to English – like “ogbanje” and “iyi-uwa” – insists that the changes that happen once the Caucasians arrive are so evident. Through the use of the Igbo language, the existence of diverse and distinct populations with different customs, traditions, histories and languages is