Chinua Achebe Essay

The title of a story is one of the most defining things about it, it can take the actual story to a whole new level. Things Fall Apart is a novel by Chinua Achebe. It takes place in Africa around the 1900’s. It is a story about a village and a family who undergo many challenges as well as changes when the white men (British) come and try to convert them to Christianity whilst they struggle to hold onto their old culture and traditions. The title of this book is very important considering it is…

childish story lays an important lesson, slow and steady always wins the race. Aesop uses animals to compare them to humans through the use of metaphors which reveals much about human culture and morals. The notable and interesting Igbo culture that Chinua Achebe describes in his novel, Things Fall Apart, has specific beliefs in which they connect animals and creatures to their theories. Specifically, the role of animals such as cats and pythons are used to express the Igbo culture through…

Fear of Weakness and Failure Born in a village in Nigeria, author Chinua Achebe received English education. He had a multicultural upbringing. Growing up, he indulged in English literature but he also developed interest in his native Nigerian culture. He realized the necessity of more literary work about Africa and its people to showcase the true story to the foreign readers who viewed Africans as an uncivilized backward people. He makes an attempt to deliver an accurate understanding of the…

In “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is dominated by his fear of weakness and failure. In the tribe where Okonkwo and his family live, Umuofia, the amount of honor and respect depends on your strength. Since early childhood, Okonkwo’s embarrassment about his lazy, poor and neglectful father, Unoka, has led to his tragic flaw; being terrified of looking weak like his father. As a result, he behaves rashly, bringing a great deal of trouble and sorrow upon himself and his family.…

Chinua Achebe's “Things Fall Apart” is a historical fiction novel that is set in the early 1900’s. This novel is about the tragic downfall of the main character Okonkwo, a well respected leader within his clan in Umuofia, who is also a tragic hero because of several flaws. Okonkwo’s most noticeable flaw is that he fears weakness and failure. Okonkwo’s fatal flaw is his fear of weakness and failure. This fear was the result of the weakness and failure of his father, Unoka. He saw how nobody…

Throughout history, men have been generalized as brutes, because of certain few iconic men. Since the beginning of time, men have been entitled to positions of power and with that power comes stereotypes that men are arrogant, aggressive and egotistical. However, history has shown that these select few have dictated the overall view of masculinity. For example, historical figures like Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, and Malcolm x have displayed masculinity through aggression, violence, and…

to choose between two cultures: the culture they have always known and the culture that is being introduced to them. Okonkwo is an example because he is exposed to both the Ibo culture and European culture. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo experiences a cultural collision, which is caused by the introduction of Western ideas into Ibo culture, in order to convey Achebe’s statement that when two cultures collide, they will often clash, and one culture will overpower the…

and began to convert more and more higher ranking clan members. Notably, an elder claims “I fear for you young people because you do not understand how strong is the bond of kinship”(Achebe 96). He argues that the weakening importance of kinsmanship has allowed “an abominable religion” to settle among the clan (Achebe 96). Familial peace was progressively threatened, overshadowing the Christian conversion of Nwoye, the son of Okonkwo. This grew increasingly problematic as confrontations occur…

In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe there is a character that contains bits and pieces all the strong male characters. This character takes all the bits and pieces and comes together as a very successful character, physically and emotionally. The character of Obierika is a complex one, he is strong yet compassionate, wise but young, some say he is the “better” version of the main character Okonkwo or his foil. Obierika’s ability to adapt to the change and the collision of cultures…

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a novel set in late 19th century Africa exploring human nature and its resistance to the evils inside each man. The story follows Marlow on his journey through the Congo. During the late 19th century, the Congo was imperialized by Europeans. Marlow is working for “the Company,” a European agency that oppresses and kills the native population for valuable ivory. Throughout this journey, the perspective of the genocide is from a European. This leads to…