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, 1930Father was a converted evangelist and leader in Christian church in Ibo village of OgidiFather was raised by his uncle, Isaiah who believed in the Ibo religionChinua dropped the British portion of his name when he began collegeInfluenced by both cultures in his family

British Christianity & Ibo ReligionUnderstood 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 worldFelt that no outsider could tell the story of the people of Nigeria he felt compelled to write and found successWrote about Ibo in northern Nigeria and the struggles of the Ibo peopleBecame 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 writersDeveloped a vernacular styleBeen nominated for Nobel Peace PrizeWorks translated into 45 languagesTFA 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 ColumbusChristianity became a major part of Nigerian life because of Anglican missionaries in mid-1800’s1807 British Parliament outlaws slave tradeOnce 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 AfricansBritish claimed political control in 1861 with town of Lagos (Achebe hometown)1886 Nigeria became British colonyTFA 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 farmersRaise crops for their own consumption

Yams, cassava, taro are main staple

Corn, pumpkins, okra, melon, and beans

Ibo Culture, Cont’d

YamsTraditionally 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 lineageMale as head of household; wife went to live with husband and paternal familyMan might have two or three wives, each would live in her own hut within the family compoundVillages were loosely organized into clans or groupsNo 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 bridgingUnusual 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 HeroOkonkwo, wealthy and respected member of Umofia clan of the Ibo

Divided into three partsOne-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 NarratorCombines narrator with African tradition of oral storytelling

Uses repetition and detailed literary descriptions

Literary FormsFables and proverbs for symbolism

Flashbacks and foreshadowing for character understanding and perspective

Major Characters

OkonkwoValues strength and hard work

His fear led to his destruction

EkwefiOkonkwo’s second and favorite wife

EzinmaOkonkwo’s favorite child, his daughter by Ekwefi

Cont’d

NwoyeOkonkwo’s oldest son

Disappointment to Okonkwo because he resembled Okonkwo’s father

Gentle and compassionate

Converts to Christianity

IkemefunaComes 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 powerWomen play an important part but not primary or power role

Continual and inevitable changeDynamic between individual and society

Irony

Tragic HeroOkonkwo brought down by his own flaw

Resents his own past and roots

Allows pride to take over

Historical tragedy

Religious implications