Culture Clash And Things Fall Apart

Often, children feel as if they have to live up to their parents and their expectations. This was not the case for Okonkwo; throughout the book, he is haunted by the incompetence of his lazy father, Unoka, who was a disgrace to him and his family. Okonkwo is the protagonist in Things Fall Apart, he lives among the Ibo people in a village in Nigeria called Umuofia. In Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, we are exposed to the depth of the Ibo culture and their beliefs through Okonwos point of view, although this all changes when they are colonized by the Europeans.

Achebe's purpose in writing Things Fall Apart was to get rid of Western world images of indigenous cultures and people in Africa, with this he portrays the advanced traditions, cultures, and social institutions of the Ibo people. To help us understand the novel he uses literary elements such as proverbs, figurative language, point of view, and structure.

Proverbs are condensed but memorable sayings that embody some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people.

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This advances the purpose by adding the essence of teaching and educating the audience. This literary device is used frequently throughout Things Fall Apart, for example, the text says, “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash” (Achebe 134). Essentially this means, if someone is arrogant and has too much of an effect/influence, then the person alongside them (in this case Nwoye) won't have the opportunity to come out as successful as that someone.

Another example would be when the text says, “Men have learned to shoot without missing their mark and I have learned to fly without perching on a twig” (Achebe 175). This states that influences a person's life can have an impact on their fate and what they can do to alter it. To help the audience understand the depth of the text the author not only uses proverbs but figurative language.

Figurative language is the speech or writing that departs from literal meaning to achieve a special effect/meaning. It advances the purpose by adding a sense of profundity and intricacy to the story. An example of figurative language is when the text says, “But he threw himself into it like one possessed” (Achebe 15). This is an example of a simile that describes what type of hard-working character Okonkwo is and emphasizes him having a strong desire to work making it evident that he can hardly make himself not work. This helps destroy the portrait of a primitive view on the Ibo culture by showing that they are driven to a wanting to be successful. Another example would be when the text says, “He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul. The words of the hymn were like the drops of frozen rain melting on the dry palate of the panting earth.” (Achebe 128). He uses this simile not only to enhance the depth of this writing but to illustrate the community of Umuofia's lifestyle.

The point of view is a type of narration that expresses the consideration/opinion of a character involved in a situation that shows us their perspective. For the majority of the book we are set in a third-person point of view, the text says, “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand” (Achebe 10). Another example would be, “Perhaps down in his heart, Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated with fear, the fear of failure and weakness” (Achebe 10). These quotes help the audience understand the perspectives of the Ibo people and the oppressors, colonizers, through the author by communicating through the thoughts, feelings, and commentary of all the characters. Also, the point of view helps structure the reader's comprehension of the text.

The structure of Things Fall Apart is segmented/fragmented. The purpose of this type of structure is to describe, introduce and educate the Ibo culture to the audience. One example of the segmented structure would be in part one when the text says, “Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen, he had brought honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat. Amaze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten, from Umuofia to Mbaino” (Achebe 1). In part one we are introduced to Okonkwo, the traditions, faiths, agricultural patterns, the Egwugwu, how they arrange their ceremonies and we see how they have a functioning and civil society. This is another example of how the Ibo people are not savages and are not less than anyone else. Another example of the segmented structure would be in part two when the text says, “It was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth, like learning to become left-handed in old age” (Achebe 113). In part two we see how Okonkwo adapts to his new life with his family and waits for the day he gets to return to Umuofia. While he is residing in Mbanta he hears about the colonization that is happening in Umuofia. Lastly, in part three of Things Fall Apart, the text says, “Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself, and now he will be buried like a dog….” (Achebe 178/179). In part three we see many things have changed during the seven years Okonkwo has been gone. His village is unrecognizable because of the incoming of the Europeans. The white men have brought in a new government and many of the villagers have converted to the new religion they brought with them, including Okonkwo’s son. Collectively, all these actions cause Okonkwo to kill himself. Disregarding everything his fellow clan members do not bury him due to the beliefs they have been brought up with.

In conclusion, Chinua Achebe uses point of view, structure, figurative language, and proverbs to help the audience understand and get rid of the western world stereotypes of the seemingly primitive cultures. Things Fall Apart shows us one example of the altercations between Europeans and other indigenous cultures during this period by emphasizing the changes due to colonization and the introduction of Christianity.