OLDEN AFRICAN LITERATURE
Things Fall Apart is a book written in 1958 by Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian novelist and a poet who was born in 1930 and died in 2013. Things Fall Apart was the first book written by him amongst other books that he wrote and it is one of the most widely read books. The book “Things Fall Apart” is said to have been titled after a line in a poem “The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats which was written in 1919. Things Fall Apart is a novel centered on the protagonist, Okonkwo who was a notable personality in the Ibo society of Nigeria.
There are different themes explored in the novel and one of them is the Impact of European colonialism as the story takes place in the late 19th century where European nations were expanding their empires throughout Africa and imposing their systems, beliefs, laws and customs on the people. An instance is the arrival of Christian missionaries and colonial administrators which brought about disruption in the already existing belief systems and social structure of the community.
Another example is the destruction of the village shrine which could symbolize the erosion of indigenous culture in the face of colonialism which can also be described as external pressures. The conflict between contemporary European ideas and traditional Ibo values is also a theme; the more impartial and communal aspects of European norms are directly at odds with Okonkwo's devotion to manly ideals and achievements. The Christian idea of forgiveness and compassion were not in alignment with Okonkwo's disregard for his father Unoka's alleged weakness also shows this conflict.
The struggle of Okonkwo to uphold his cultural identity while his son, Nwoye, seeks comfort in Christianity serves as a good example or illustration of this internal conflict. This contradiction draws attention to the conflict that exists between upholding tradition and embracing progress.
The complexity of colonized individuals is another important theme in the book that should not be overlooked. The author, Chinua Achebe explores the inner conflicts that persons experienced between two worlds, a character like Okonkwo, the protagonist is a good example.
Okonkwo struggles to preserve his cultural heritage and history even as he recognizes the benefits attached to the influence of the European colonialism. As characters navigate the challenges of cultural integration and resistance, this intricacy points out to the universal yearning for identity and belonging.
In summary, "Things Fall Apart" examines the breakdown of traditional African cultures under European colonialism through an analysis of the effects of colonialism, adaptability to change, conflicts between cultures, readers of this novel are able to or can understand the message being passed across in the book and how it applies in and to the world today.
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