Colonialism changed the lives of both the colonizers and the natives. In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad the readers see colonialism through the eyes of the invaders, and in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe the audience sees how the natives feel about their culture being altered. While each of these books tells the story of colonialism, Conrad only shows his readers a racist view that Africans are savages with no culture, but Achebe shows the true nature of the Africans.
Marlow, Conrad’s main character, witnesses the Africans preforming a ritual and he describes the scene, “They howled and leaped and spun and made horrid faces” (Conrad 36). Marlow never tries to understand what the Africans are doing, and describes the ceremony in a way that makes the Africans look like savages. People in societies have religion. Societies are built by people, not brutes. Achebe writes many times about how the religion of Umuofia influences the villagers’ decisions, for instance, “there were indeed occasions when the Oracle had forbidden Umuofia to wage a war” (Achebe 9). Umuofia villagers respected their oracle’s decision enough to not go to war. If the villagers were just savage beasts, they would never not go to war. Not only was the religion of Umuofia respected, but also the religion was complicated. However, the …show more content…
The villagers helped each other in times of need. When Obierika’s daughter is getting married, all the village women who are able come and help prepare good. After Okonkwo is banished, his best friend, Obierika takes care of his yams and brings Okonkwo money. Achebe shows his audience over and over that the villagers are able to have productive, civilized relationships. Conrad, however, does not show his audience anything about African village live; he only insults the Africans and never tries to understand what the Africans are
Marlow, Conrad’s main character, witnesses the Africans preforming a ritual and he describes the scene, “They howled and leaped and spun and made horrid faces” (Conrad 36). Marlow never tries to understand what the Africans are doing, and describes the ceremony in a way that makes the Africans look like savages. People in societies have religion. Societies are built by people, not brutes. Achebe writes many times about how the religion of Umuofia influences the villagers’ decisions, for instance, “there were indeed occasions when the Oracle had forbidden Umuofia to wage a war” (Achebe 9). Umuofia villagers respected their oracle’s decision enough to not go to war. If the villagers were just savage beasts, they would never not go to war. Not only was the religion of Umuofia respected, but also the religion was complicated. However, the …show more content…
The villagers helped each other in times of need. When Obierika’s daughter is getting married, all the village women who are able come and help prepare good. After Okonkwo is banished, his best friend, Obierika takes care of his yams and brings Okonkwo money. Achebe shows his audience over and over that the villagers are able to have productive, civilized relationships. Conrad, however, does not show his audience anything about African village live; he only insults the Africans and never tries to understand what the Africans are