Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe Achebe about African

Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe

Achebe, about African Literature “The reason African Literature came into existence is because these things that were supposed to represent [Africans] were inaccurate. There was a vacuum, a gap to be filled” ~Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe brief biography • Born 1930 in a Christian family in Ogidi in Eastern Nigeria • Went to college, taught at university • Received the Nigerian National merit Award in 1987 • By 1995 over 8 million copies of Things Fall Apart were sold

Nigeria

Igbo Society Social & Political Structures • Lack of centralized political structures • Lived in autonomous villages and towns, ruled by their elders • Organized in patrilineages • Democracy was obtained through a council of elders, age groups, councils of chiefs, women’s associations, and secret societies

Igbo Society Marriage Customs • Marriages were discussed in depth as they brought families and entire villages together • Most husbands practiced polygamy • Igbo women lived in separate houses, cooked for themselves, and raised their own children • Unhappy women could leave a marriage

Igbo Society Igbo Religion (polytheistic) • Chukwu (the supreme being) is everywhere at the same time--therefore there are no shrines or altars for worship • Ekwensu=trickster god who caused problems • The ikenga = a wooden carving that symbolizes a man’s strength & success--a priest invokes a spirit into it and the men consult it for advice • Chi = a person’s personal god…follows you throughout life and can be either malevolent or benevolent…but chi does not control destiny

Things Fall Apart Purpose Achebe’s purposes in writing the novel 1. To celebrate and remember the Ibo cultural traditions of Nigerians 2. To address the Western perception of Africa as “the Dark Continent” and counter Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.

Things Fall Apart Background 1. The Igbo people and Okonkwo 2. The colonization of Nigeria 3. The setting and writing of the novel

Things Fall Apart Themes • Custom and Tradition • Choices and Consequences • Betrayal • Change and Transformation • Good and Evil • Alienation and Loneliness • Culture Clash

Things Fall Apart Characters Okonkwo: The proud, ambitious, and ill-tempered tragic hero Unoka: Okonkwo's father Ikemefuna: A young boy given to Umuofia by a neighboring village as tribute. Nwoye: Okonkwo's son. Ezinma: Okonkwo's favorite daughter Obierika: Okonkwo's great friend Mr. Brown: A white man and missionary. Mr. Smith: Mr. Brown's replacement.