How Does Chinua Achebe Depict Ibo Culture In Things Fall...

How does Achebe depict Ibo culture in ‘Things Fall Apart’? Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, is a story of a traditional village in Nigeria from inside Umuofia around the late 1800s. This novel depicts late African history and shows how the British administrative structure, in the form of the European Anglican Church, imposed its religion and trappings on the cultures of Africa, which they believed was uncivilized. This missionary zeal subjugated large native populations. Consequently, the native traditions gradually disappeared and in time the whole local social structure within which the indigenous people had lived successfully for centuries was destroyed. Achebe spends the first half of the novel depicting the Ibo culture, by†¦show more content†¦Even though the Ibo are described as ‘primitive and savage’ by Mr. Smith, one of the missionary church leaders, the tribesmen evidently show their etiquette through their mannerisms. Proverbs, a form of Ibo mannerisms, are used quite frequently throughout this novel as ‘the art of conversation is regarded very highly [by the Ibo], and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.’ (Achebe. P.5:1986) The Ibo people are also not as violent and savage as many of the missionaries believed. This is shown when a villager from the Mbaino village kills a woman from the Ibo village, the Ibo village elders and those with titles, instead of initiating war against the neighbouring Mbaino, reach a peaceful agreement on the reparations from the Mbaino tribe.‘†¦ [A]t the end it was decided to follow the normal course of action. An ultimatum was immediately dispatched to Mbaino asking them to choose between wars on the one hand, and on the other the offer of a young man and a virgin as compensation.† (P.8) Achebe also expands on the reflection of the Ibo peoples of being civil, depicting the civilised aspects of the Ibo religion. Another example similar to the peaceful reparation, previouslyShow MoreRelatedThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe858 Words   |  4 PagesThe definition of sexism is discrimination on the basis of sex. In many cultures sexism was and still is a controversial topic. In fact, women in America couldn’t even vote until the 1920’s. The abundant masculinity in this novel is not sexism but just how the culture functions. Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart is not sexist towards women; in fact, it shows that women are essential to the Ibo society and posses a great amount of strength. For example, the novel is not sexist because it emphasizesRead MoreThe â€Å"African-Ness† of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe1455 Words   |  6 PagesThe â€Å"African-ness† of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the African culture is depicted by following the life of Okonkwo, a rather customary and conventional African villager. Achebe wanted to write a novel that portrays accurately the African society in the mid to late 1800s in Nigeria, at the time the novel is set. As a child, Achebe spoke the Ibo language, but he was raised in a Christian home. Achebe used the knowledge he gained from the African life to putRead MoreHow Does Achebe Depict Ibo Culture in ‘Things Fall Apart’?1543 Words   |  7 PagesHow does Achebe depict Ibo culture in ‘Things Fall Apart’? Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, is a story of a traditional village in Nigeria from inside Umuofia around the late 1800s. This novel depicts late African history and shows how the British administrative structure, in the form of the European Anglican Church, imposed its religion and trappings on the cultures of Africa, which they believed was uncivilized. This missionary zeal subjugated large native populations. Consequently, the nativeRead MoreAnalysis of Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart1579 Words   |  6 PagesChinua Achebes 1958 novel Things Fall Apart marked a significant turning point not only for literature, but the world, because the novel is an attempt to blend the conflicting identities and ideologies of Africa in the wake of colonization. The novel depicts the destructive tension that arises between the traditions of the Igbo people and white colonizers, but, perhaps contrary to the readers expectation, it does not present either side as holding the ethical hig h ground. Rather, the novel suggestsRead MoreChinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Exploring the Ibo Culture1743 Words   |  7 Pagesan attempt to explore the Ibo culture and to discuss women as a marginalized group in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Things Fall Apart is a 1958 English novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Achebe is indebted to Yeats for the title as it has been taken from Yeats’ poem The Second Coming. Achebe is a fastidious, skillful artist and garnered more critical attention than any other African writer. His reputation was soon established after his novel Things Fall Apart. He made a considerable influenceRead MoreChinua Achebe, In His Novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† Masterfully1424 Words   |  6 PagesChinua Achebe, in his novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† masterfully depicts the socials changes and conflicts that occurred due to the infiltration of colonialism in the Nigerian village of Umuofia. The Meriam Webster dictionary defines the term colonialism as â€Å"Control by one power over a dependent area or people† (Meriam Webster). Achebe successfully manages to show the readers of his novel how colonialism occurred within the village of Umuofia, and he does so by revealing do wnfalls within the beliefs ofRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1798 Words   |  8 PagesINTRO Chinua Achebe’s first novel, Things Fall Apart, is a post-colonial novel that details the violent story of the British’s colonization of Nigeria at the end of the 19th century from an African perspective. Published just before Nigerian independence, the novel narrates the fall of the highly respected village leader Okonkwo as well as the destruction of the Ibo culture. Achebe’s use of English, the language of the colonizer, put Things Fall Apart at the center of the great language debate inRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1365 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"Things Fall Apart†, written by Chinua Achebe in 1958, is a book about the changes that occur to the central character Okonkwo and the Ibo culture, and the way these changes like colonisation affect the characters’ identity. Tony Harrison’s poems, such as â€Å"Them and [Uz]†, â€Å"Breaking the Chain†, â€Å"Me Tarzan†, â€Å"Book Ends†, â€Å"Currantsà ¢â‚¬ , and â€Å"Bringing Up† were written in 1940-1960 and they explore Harrison’s identity as an educated writer from a working class family. â€Å"Frankenstein†, which was written byRead MoreEssay on Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe3009 Words   |  13 Pagescolonized societies and the ways in which writers articulate that identity. Things Fall Apart is a good novel that serves as a reminder of what Nigeria once was. It shows how a society can deal with change, how change affects the individuals of that society, and how delicate a change can be; so much so that the people themselves are surprised at the change. Things Fall Apart is an English novel by the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe which was published in 1957. Throughout the book the role of customs andRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay2168 Words   |  9 Pages Things Fall Apart is a novel by Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, a Nigerian author, critic, novelist, professor and writer. He was born in November 16th 1930 and died on March 21st 2013. The novel was set in the 80 s. Things Fall Apart is generally seen as Achebe s way of taking back Africa from Joseph Conrad and Heart of Darkness.More than that, it s Achebe s way of talking back to Conrad about Africa.The novel focuses on the Igbo people in the years leading up to the arrival of the first Christian