Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe An Introduction

“Although I did not set about it consciously in that solemn way, I now know that my first book, Things Fall Apart, was an act of atonement with my past, the ritual return and homage of a prodigal son.” --Chinua Achebe

About the Writer… Born Albert Chinualumogu Achebe in Nigeria November 16, 1930 Father was a converted evangelist and leader in Christian church in Ibo village of Ogidi Father was raised by his uncle, Isaiah who believed in the Ibo religion Chinua dropped the British portion of his name when he began college Influenced by both cultures in his family British Christianity & Ibo Religion Understood and participated in rituals and activities for both

…Writer, cont’d Following WW2 political dissention began in Africa, Achebe felt that the British should fight racism in their own colonies in Africa as well as other places around the world Felt that no outsider could tell the story of the people of Nigeria he felt compelled to write and found success Wrote about Ibo in northern Nigeria and the struggles of the Ibo people Became visiting professor for numerous universities and colleges

Writer, Cont’d Pioneered literary style in which traditional idioms, folk tales, and proverbs gave Africans a unique identity as English language writers Developed a vernacular style Been nominated for Nobel Peace Prize Works translated into 45 languages TFA sold over 3 million copies

Nigerian History Became political entity in 1914; united three colonial administrations into one territory Gained its independence 1960; became member of British Commonwealth

European Influence Began before Columbus Christianity became a major part of Nigerian life because of Anglican missionaries in mid-1800’s 1807 British Parliament outlaws slave trade Once slave trade stopped British merchants began trading palm oil and other goods

European Influence. Cont’d With increase trade and people, rise of Christianity grew; many trying to convert Africans British claimed political control in 1861 with town of Lagos (Achebe hometown) 1886 Nigeria became British colony TFA takes place during this early period of colonization

Ibo Culture Ibo (Igbo) third largest ethnic group in Nigeria Located in the southeastern portion of Nigeria Tropical rain forest, with a rainy season dominated by the dusty harmattan wind

Ibo Culture, Cont’d Primarily subsistence farmers Raise crops for their own consumption Yams, cassava, taro are main staple Corn, pumpkins, okra, melon, and beans

Ibo Culture, Cont’d Yams Traditionally grown by men Other foods grown by women Staple of the diet Potato variety, several variations Important festival with yams the end of June Celebrates a myth that the first yam grew following a human sacrifice during a famine in Iboland

Ibo Family Structure Ibo live in villages based on lineage Male as head of household; wife went to live with husband and paternal family Man might have two or three wives, each would live in her own hut within the family compound Villages were loosely organized into clans or groups No single leader; decisions made by discussions and consensus of all adult males in clan

Ibo Religion Believed that the will of the deities was revealed through oracles and divine ceremonies Personal guardian spirit for every individual called a chi Chi affected person’s destiny; could be influenced through actions and rituals Enormous value of hospitality to keep paternal and maternal sides of family close

Literary Context Achebe integrated European and African literary voices Achebe “skillfully melds two diverse literary perspectives- the formal novelistic structure of European fiction and the storytelling tradition of Ibo oral culture” Two effects of this bridging Unusual depth, simplicity and complexity Humane tone representing strengths and flaws

Achebe’s Philosophy Concerning writing fiction: “Literature, whether handed down by word of mouth or in print, gives us a second handle on reality, enabling us to encounter in the safe, manageable dimensions of make-believe the very threats to integrity that may assail the psyche in real life, and at the same time providing through the self-discovery which it imparts a veritable weapon for coping with these threats whether they are found within problematic and incoherent selves or in the world around us. What better preparation can a people desire as they begin their journey into the strange, revolutionary world of modernization? Hopes that writing will help to improve the individual and collective lives of African people today.

Novel’s Title Taken from poem by William Butler Yeats “The Second Coming” Achebe implies that social breakdown is not limited to Ibo society, but is universal Breakdown of society and individual

Plot and Setting Tragic Hero Divided into three parts Okonkwo, wealthy and respected member of Umofia clan of the Ibo Divided into three parts One-focuses on Ibo culture Two-focuses on exile and encroaching cultures Three-focuses on conflict between two groups

Cont’d Setting at the end of the nineteenth century when British were just beginning to colonize Nigeria Story of tragic hero, Okonkwo, but also about social issues such as justice, social norms, and individual conscience

Style and Point of View Omniscient Narrator Literary Forms Combines narrator with African tradition of oral storytelling Uses repetition and detailed literary descriptions Literary Forms Fables and proverbs for symbolism Flashbacks and foreshadowing for character understanding and perspective

Major Characters Okonkwo Ekwefi Ezinma Values strength and hard work His fear led to his destruction Ekwefi Okonkwo’s second and favorite wife Ezinma Okonkwo’s favorite child, his daughter by Ekwefi

Cont’d Nwoye Ikemefuna Okonkwo’s oldest son Disappointment to Okonkwo because he resembled Okonkwo’s father Gentle and compassionate Converts to Christianity Ikemefuna Comes to live in village as hostage Very masculine in contrast to Nwoye Favorite of Okonkwo; calls Okonkwo father

Themes Balance of traditional masculine and feminine values Okonkwo represents view of masculine power Women play an important part but not primary or power role Continual and inevitable change Dynamic between individual and society

Irony Tragic Hero Historical tragedy Religious implications Okonkwo brought down by his own flaw Resents his own past and roots Allows pride to take over Historical tragedy Religious implications