In Things Fall Apart, Achebe makes nature have human characteristics, which causes the nature to act differently in different types of situations. Some of these emotions include, kindness, dependency, anger and the expectation of receiving appreciation from others. In the novel, nature provides the people with rain, soil, “palm trees”, seeds, food, drinks, shelter, weapons and even “iba” [-medicine], which are essential for survival. In return, they are required to follow the rules of their forefathers about the land, and “work [hard on their] farms.” This portrays how the people are dependent on nature's generosity and kindness in order to survive, similar to the situation how a baby relies on his mother after birth. Mother nature is the
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Overall this, shows that when the “world is mad” it does everything in its power to teach the people of Umuofia the lesson of gratitude. Nature not only gets angry at its own people, but also to the “albinos.” The christians made their church in a place where the people of Umuofia were forced to go past it everyday. The footpath linked them to the stream, and so the people of Umuofia were forced to go every time. Usually the area was “open and sandy in the dry season” but during the rainy season, “the bush grew thick on either side and closed one path” and it was still that way, even though “it was now dry season.” (24.) This shows how the earth itself seems to be against the Christians and does not want its subjects to associate with “undesirable people.” When the christians began saving the ‘evil’ twins from the forests, the people of Umuofia hoped that the “earth goddess would not visit the sins of the missionaries” and punish their own as well. They were hoping that the villagers would be overlooked when the earth goddess handed out punishments. Overall, the emotions of anger, kindness, caring, dependency, and expectation of gratitude caused the people of Umuofia to fear nature of its wrath and power, yet also to love it and be grateful for all that it has been provided for
Overall this, shows that when the “world is mad” it does everything in its power to teach the people of Umuofia the lesson of gratitude. Nature not only gets angry at its own people, but also to the “albinos.” The christians made their church in a place where the people of Umuofia were forced to go past it everyday. The footpath linked them to the stream, and so the people of Umuofia were forced to go every time. Usually the area was “open and sandy in the dry season” but during the rainy season, “the bush grew thick on either side and closed one path” and it was still that way, even though “it was now dry season.” (24.) This shows how the earth itself seems to be against the Christians and does not want its subjects to associate with “undesirable people.” When the christians began saving the ‘evil’ twins from the forests, the people of Umuofia hoped that the “earth goddess would not visit the sins of the missionaries” and punish their own as well. They were hoping that the villagers would be overlooked when the earth goddess handed out punishments. Overall, the emotions of anger, kindness, caring, dependency, and expectation of gratitude caused the people of Umuofia to fear nature of its wrath and power, yet also to love it and be grateful for all that it has been provided for