Things Fall Apart ~ Chinua Achebe

 

THINGS FALL APART

Introduction:-

               Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, which was released in 1958, is arguably the most accurate account of life in Nigeria around the turn of the 20th century. Even though the book's initial publication came two years before Nigeria gained its independence. Stage, radio, and television adaptations of the book have all been made. The book is used as a textbook in many different sorts of anthropological classes by teachers in high schools, colleges, and graduate schools. The title of the book, which combines history and social studies with comparative literature, is taken from a line in the Irish poet, essayist, and dramatist W. B. Yeats's poem "The Second Coming" -

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre

 The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”

 

Brief History Of Nigeria:-

               Nigeria is a country on the west coast of Africa, just north of the equator and south of the Sahara Desert, above the inner curve of the elbow. Today's Nigeria is home to more than 200 ethnic groups, each of which has its own language, worldview, and culture. In the west, the largely Protestant Yoruba, in the east, the Catholic Igbo, and in the north, the predominantly Hausa-Fulani are the three largest ethnic groupings. 

              Within 1904, The British moved into Nigeria with a combined motive of government control, religious mission, and economic incentive. In the north, the British ruled indirectly, with the support of the local leaders, who collected taxes and administered a government on behalf of the British. In the south, however, where communities (such as Umuofia in Things Fall Apart ) were often not under one central authority, the British had to intervene directly and forcefully to control the local population.

               World War II gave rise to a class of young, nationalists who agitated for independence from Great Britain. The British agreed to the Nigerians' demands and, in 1947, instituted a ten-year economic plan toward independence. Nigeria became an independent country on October 1, 1960, and became a republic in 1963.

 

About Things Fall Apart:- 

               "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe is based on the life of an Igbo man named Okonkwo and the traditions of his people. The story is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s in what is now Nigeria. Achebe provides a comprehensive representation of the Igbo people's rituals, traditions, values, and beliefs as well as the challenges they face. The book is a powerful account of the clash between traditional Igbo culture and the forces of colonialism.

               Okonkwo is a respected and powerful man in his village, but he is also a man of extremes. He is a warrior who has killed men in battle, but he is also a sensitive artist who takes great pride in his craft. Okonkwo is a man who lives in the shadow of his past. He is adamant about creating a prosperous life for himself and his family, but he also feels intense shame over his father's frailty and failure. The British colonizers' arrival in Okonkwo's hamlet causes a complete upheaval in his society. The old Igbo culture is in danger of being destroyed by the new way of life the Colonialists bring with them. Although Okonkwo is prepared to battle to save his people and way of life, the British finally triumph against him. Okonkwo's suicide at the end of the book serves as a tragic allegory for the decline of traditional Igbo culture.

                I enjoyed reading "Things Fall Apart" because it provides a unique perspective on the clash between traditional cultures and colonialism. Achebe does an excellent job of portraying the Igbo people and their culture, and he raises some important questions about the effects of colonialism. Because of the book's excellent writing, it is simple to relate to the characters. Overall, "Things Fall Apart" is a superb book that is unquestionably worthy while for reading.

 

Motivational Quotes From This Novel:-

Ø    “Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.”

Ø    “A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches”

Ø    “To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength.”

Ø    “…., if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”

Ø    “Never make an early morning appointment with a man who has just married a new wife.”

Ø     “Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life.”

Ø    “As our people say, a man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.”

Ø    “Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”

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...."About 'Chinua Achebe' and 'Things Fall Apart' "....