Historical Relation to Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart

Document Type:Essay

Subject Area:Literature

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It was also discovered that the Sahara Desert was once a fertile land that hospitalized agriculture and people. However, climate and the changes that came off it made the place a non-habitant area for people and animals. With this information the other world considered Africa a place that could not be lived in by people, even though it had many other parts that accommodated the African people. The information gathered was inadequate since Africa had many areas that had fertile lands. African’s adapted to these changes and lived as one with nature. It tells of the destruction that faced the village after the emergence of the colonialists. In the novel, colonialism is depicted as a traumatizing experience that many African countries underwent.

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During the colonial times, Africans were forced to abandon their beliefs and follow the more civilized way, which was the colonialist’s style of life. They had to adapt to Christianity and education methods that were brought about the colonialists. Chinua did not prevail on the cruelty and cultural disparities that affected the Igbo society. Their cultural and religious beliefs were tested and later on destroyed by these changes (Pasarel, 2016 np). Therefore, in this period Achebe rose as the best and prolific writer of the time. His English speaking was top notch and so were his books. Chinua Achebe published the book in 1958, a time when most of African countries were under colonial control. Hence, Things fall apart was written to illuminate on these times.

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He believes in personal success and wants nothing to derail this ambition. Okonkwo is said to have had the knowledge on how to kill a man’s spirit (Achebe p 34) and this is interrelated to the spirit of the African culture. The culture is threatened by the emergence of the colonial conquerors who overthrow the leadership in Africa to instill their kind of leadership. The Nigerian culture that was there traditionally was unable to resist this conquest. Okonkwo’s characteristic behaviors in being a drama queen represent a culture that is failed. Before the colonial period in African, Women had very minute roles to play in the society. They were considered as nothing but home based people who tended and cared for the homes.

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They had to cook, clean and bring up children. Their recognition was supplemented to just women and nothing more. However, with the coming of the White man, women began holding important positions in the society (Smith, 2011 np). Planting and harvesting yams were responsibilities given to men in the Igbo society. Yams were a man’s crop (Achebe p 46) and therefore, when the colonialists came and women could trade in these crops due to their influence it brought complications in the society. Women contacts with the whites gave them power and abilities to insert themselves in important meetings and could talk to the elders and bring forth their ideas. These transitions posed threats to the male gender. Okonkwo, a man in all aspects of manhood felt that the white people were gradually destroying their unity as Africans and in general the Igbo society.

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