The book, Things Fall
Apart, announced and perpetuates Chinua Achebe as one of the foremost authentic
voices in modern literary enterprise. Published in 1958, the book is a
milestone in African literature and has achieved the status of the archetypal
modern African novel in English. Of all of Achebe’s works,
Apart, announced and perpetuates Chinua Achebe as one of the foremost authentic
voices in modern literary enterprise. Published in 1958, the book is a
milestone in African literature and has achieved the status of the archetypal
modern African novel in English. Of all of Achebe’s works,
Things Fall Apart is the
one read most often and has generated the most critical response, examination
and literary criticism.
one read most often and has generated the most critical response, examination
and literary criticism.
Considered Achebe’s
magnum opus, it has sold more than eight million copies worldwide. The Time
magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from
1923 to 2005. The novel has been translated into more than 50 languages, and is
often used in literature, world history and African studies courses across the
world.
magnum opus, it has sold more than eight million copies worldwide. The Time
magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from
1923 to 2005. The novel has been translated into more than 50 languages, and is
often used in literature, world history and African studies courses across the
world.
Set in Pre-colonial
Nigeria, Things Fall Apart highlights the clash between colonialism and
traditional culture. The protagonist, Okonkwo, is strong, hardworking and
strives to show no weakness. He is wealthy, courageous and powerful among the
people of his village. He is a leader of his village, Umuofia, and he has
accomplished a position in his society for which he has striven all his life.
Nigeria, Things Fall Apart highlights the clash between colonialism and
traditional culture. The protagonist, Okonkwo, is strong, hardworking and
strives to show no weakness. He is wealthy, courageous and powerful among the
people of his village. He is a leader of his village, Umuofia, and he has
accomplished a position in his society for which he has striven all his life.
However, his life is
dominated by fear of failure and of weakness-the fear that he will resemble his
father, Unoka. Ironically, in all his efforts not to end up like his father, he
commits suicide, becoming in his culture, an abomination to the Earth and
rebuked by the tribe as his father was (Unoka died from swelling and was
likewise considered an abomination). Okonkwo’s suicide represents not only his
culture’s rejection of him, but also his rejection of the changes in his
people’s culture, as he realises that the Igbo society that he so valued, has
been forever altered by the Christian missionaries.
dominated by fear of failure and of weakness-the fear that he will resemble his
father, Unoka. Ironically, in all his efforts not to end up like his father, he
commits suicide, becoming in his culture, an abomination to the Earth and
rebuked by the tribe as his father was (Unoka died from swelling and was
likewise considered an abomination). Okonkwo’s suicide represents not only his
culture’s rejection of him, but also his rejection of the changes in his
people’s culture, as he realises that the Igbo society that he so valued, has
been forever altered by the Christian missionaries.
Most of the story takes
place in the village of Umuofia, located west of Onitsha in today’s Anambra
State. The events of the novel unfold in the 1890s.
place in the village of Umuofia, located west of Onitsha in today’s Anambra
State. The events of the novel unfold in the 1890s.
Achebe writes his novels
in English because written Standard Igbo was created by combining various
dialects, creating a stilted written form. In a 1994 interview with The Paris
Review, Achebe said, “the novel form seems to go with the English language. There
is a problem with the Igbo language.
in English because written Standard Igbo was created by combining various
dialects, creating a stilted written form. In a 1994 interview with The Paris
Review, Achebe said, “the novel form seems to go with the English language. There
is a problem with the Igbo language.
It suffers from a very
serious inheritance, which it received at the beginning of this century from
the Anglican mission. They sent out a missionary by the name of Dennis.
Archdeacon Dennis. He was a scholar. He had this notion that the Igbo
language-which had very many different dialects-should somehow manufacture a
uniform dialect that would be used in writing to avoid all these different
dialects. Because the missionaries were powerful, what they wanted to do they
did. This became the law. But the standard version cannot sing. There’s nothing
you can do with it to make it sing. It’s heavy. It’s wooden. It doesn’t go
anywhere.”
serious inheritance, which it received at the beginning of this century from
the Anglican mission. They sent out a missionary by the name of Dennis.
Archdeacon Dennis. He was a scholar. He had this notion that the Igbo
language-which had very many different dialects-should somehow manufacture a
uniform dialect that would be used in writing to avoid all these different
dialects. Because the missionaries were powerful, what they wanted to do they
did. This became the law. But the standard version cannot sing. There’s nothing
you can do with it to make it sing. It’s heavy. It’s wooden. It doesn’t go
anywhere.”
Achebe’s choice to write
in English has caused controversy. While both African and non-African critics
agree that Achebe modelled Things Fall Apart on classic European literature,
they disagree about whether his novel upholds a Western model, or, in fact,
subverts or confronts it. Achebe has continued to defend his decision: “English
is something you spend your lifetime acquiring, so it would be foolish not to
use it. Also, in the logic of colonisation and decolonisation it is actually a
very powerful weapon in the fight to regain what was yours. English was the
language of colonisation itself. It is not simply something you use because you
have it anyway.”
in English has caused controversy. While both African and non-African critics
agree that Achebe modelled Things Fall Apart on classic European literature,
they disagree about whether his novel upholds a Western model, or, in fact,
subverts or confronts it. Achebe has continued to defend his decision: “English
is something you spend your lifetime acquiring, so it would be foolish not to
use it. Also, in the logic of colonisation and decolonisation it is actually a
very powerful weapon in the fight to regain what was yours. English was the
language of colonisation itself. It is not simply something you use because you
have it anyway.”
Achebe is noted for his
inclusion of and weaving in of proverbs from Igbo oral culture into his
writing. Achebe in Things Fall Apart explicitly referenced this influence:
“Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs
are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.”
inclusion of and weaving in of proverbs from Igbo oral culture into his
writing. Achebe in Things Fall Apart explicitly referenced this influence:
“Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs
are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.”
The man Achebe is
considered as the essential novelist on African identity, nationalism, and
decolonisation. His main focus has been cultural ambiguity and contestation.
Reviewers have praised Achebe’s neutral narration and have described Things
Fall Apart as a realistic novel.
considered as the essential novelist on African identity, nationalism, and
decolonisation. His main focus has been cultural ambiguity and contestation.
Reviewers have praised Achebe’s neutral narration and have described Things
Fall Apart as a realistic novel.
Much of the critical
discussion about Things Fall Apart concentrates on the socio-political aspects
of the novel, including the friction between the members of Igbo society as
confront the intrusive and overpowering presence of Western government and
beliefs Achebe’s writing about African society, in telling from an African
point of view the story of the colonisation of the Igbo, tends to extinguish
the misconception that African culture had been savage and primitive. In Things
Fall Apart, western culture is portrayed as being “arrogant and ethnocentric,”
insisting that the African culture needed a leader.
discussion about Things Fall Apart concentrates on the socio-political aspects
of the novel, including the friction between the members of Igbo society as
confront the intrusive and overpowering presence of Western government and
beliefs Achebe’s writing about African society, in telling from an African
point of view the story of the colonisation of the Igbo, tends to extinguish
the misconception that African culture had been savage and primitive. In Things
Fall Apart, western culture is portrayed as being “arrogant and ethnocentric,”
insisting that the African culture needed a leader.
As it had no kings or
chiefs, Umofian culture was vulnerable to invasion by western civilisation. It
is felt that the repression of the Igbo language at the end of the novel
contributes greatly to the destruction of the culture. Although Achebe favours
the African culture of the pre-western society, the author attributes its
destruction to the “weaknesses within the native structure.” Achebe portrays
the culture as having a religion, a government, a system of money, and an
artistic tradition, as well as a judicial system.
chiefs, Umofian culture was vulnerable to invasion by western civilisation. It
is felt that the repression of the Igbo language at the end of the novel
contributes greatly to the destruction of the culture. Although Achebe favours
the African culture of the pre-western society, the author attributes its
destruction to the “weaknesses within the native structure.” Achebe portrays
the culture as having a religion, a government, a system of money, and an
artistic tradition, as well as a judicial system.
The achievement of Things
Fall Apart set the foreground for numerous African novelists. Because of Things
Fall Apart, novelists after Achebe have been able to find an eloquent and
effective mode for the expression of the particular social, historical, and
cultural situation of modern Africa. Before Things Fall Apart was published,
Europeans had written most novels about Africa, and they largely portrayed
Africans as savages who needed to be enlightened by Europeans. It is held that
the book is Achebe’s response to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, a novel
that portrays Africans as savages.
Fall Apart set the foreground for numerous African novelists. Because of Things
Fall Apart, novelists after Achebe have been able to find an eloquent and
effective mode for the expression of the particular social, historical, and
cultural situation of modern Africa. Before Things Fall Apart was published,
Europeans had written most novels about Africa, and they largely portrayed
Africans as savages who needed to be enlightened by Europeans. It is held that
the book is Achebe’s response to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, a novel
that portrays Africans as savages.
Achebe broke apart this
view by portraying Igbo society in a sympathetic light, which allows the reader
to examine the effects of European colonialism from a different perspective. He
commented, “The popularity of Things Fall Apart in my own society can be
explained simply… this was the first time we were seeing ourselves, as
autonomous individuals, rather than half-people, or as Conrad would say,
‘rudimentary souls’.”
view by portraying Igbo society in a sympathetic light, which allows the reader
to examine the effects of European colonialism from a different perspective. He
commented, “The popularity of Things Fall Apart in my own society can be
explained simply… this was the first time we were seeing ourselves, as
autonomous individuals, rather than half-people, or as Conrad would say,
‘rudimentary souls’.”
The language of the novel
has not only intrigued critics but has also been a major factor in the
emergence of the modern African novel. Because Achebe wrote in English,
portrayed Igbo life from the point of view of an African man, and used the
language of his people, he was able to greatly influence African novelists, who
viewed him as a mentor.
has not only intrigued critics but has also been a major factor in the
emergence of the modern African novel. Because Achebe wrote in English,
portrayed Igbo life from the point of view of an African man, and used the
language of his people, he was able to greatly influence African novelists, who
viewed him as a mentor.
In 1987, the book was
made into a very successful mini series directed by David Orere and broadcast
on the Nigeria Television Authority. It starred movie veterans like Pete
Edochie, Nkem Owo and the late Sam Loco.
made into a very successful mini series directed by David Orere and broadcast
on the Nigeria Television Authority. It starred movie veterans like Pete
Edochie, Nkem Owo and the late Sam Loco.
By BRUCE MALOGO
