Introduction
The novel under discussion is a highly valuable object for analysis both from the literature and historical perspectives. One receives a unique chance to learn about the life of the African region from the first hand. The detailed descriptions of the rural life, the skillful depiction of the local mentality, the mysterious connotations for the ancient beliefs and traditions – all this enables a reader to lose oneself in an exciting culture different from the traditional vision of the western world, yet similar from the perspective of the human wishes and needs.
Despite the fact that Chinua Achebe wrote the book in the middle of the twentieth century, the questions that he elucidated still puzzle the society, the problems that he described are currently acute. Moreover, the language employed in the narration is, likewise, interesting from the stylistic point of view. Thus, the paper at hand is aimed at analyzing the key aspects of the Things Fall Apart as a precious link to African culture.
Background
One of the most intriguing points about the story’s background is the author’s vision of the processes described in the book. On the face of it, it would be reasonable to suggest that the writer tried to create a novel inculpating the influence of imperialism. Meanwhile, such an assumption is not exactly true. Although Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria and thus belonged to the environment he depicted, his stance on the intervention of the “white” people is not as definite as one might expect.
Thus, the author admitted that the foreign mentality appealed to him more than the principles of the local life. In one of the essays, Achebe wrote, “The white man was good and reasonable…. The savages arrayed against him were sinister and stupid” (Franklin, 2008). As a result, the book was met with a mixed response with the representatives of the African literature. In the meantime, the open-minded position of the author lets one treat the text as historically objective.
Setting
The setting of the story is another curious point for the analysis. Achebe begins his narration with a description of a place that is presumably known to the readers. Thus, the first line of the book says, “Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages,” although it is only further in the chapter that one learns the author speaks of the villages of Igbo (Achebe, 2013, p.1).
It is essential to point out that this place, as well as the main setting, Umuofia, is ultimately fictional. Therefore, one might presume that the author intentionally avoids focusing on a particular settlement. Instead, he tries to create a setting that would reflect a generalized character of the local environment in the relevant epoch. The following approach prevents readers from an excessive personalization; they are encouraged to think globally.
Characters
The key focus of the study is the characters as they are the main tool that Achebe employs in order to express his thoughts and ideas. In the framework of the relevant analysis, one would like to put a particular emphasis on the character of Okonkwo and his father, Unoka. Although the two men are described as ultimate antipodes, one might assume that they represent the contradicting sides of one person.
The constant opposing of Okonkwo’s decisiveness and inflexibility to the idle and careless manner of his father lets one receive a full idea of a typical representative of the described community. On the one hand, it is a man “with the desire to conquer and subdue” (Achebe, 2013, p.7). On the other hand, this very man is a bearer of the local legends and traditions. Therefore, the local inhabitant is depicted complexly – he is neither a warrior nor a dreamer, he is both.
Conflict
One needs to note that Achebe is particularly skillful in implementing a two-level conflict in the story. Thus, one primarily gets acquainted with inner contradictions of the main character. Okonkwo seems to be in a constant fight with his own nature and heritage. His determination to be different, from what his father used to be, results in numerous external conflicts with his wife and children. From the very beginning the author explains that Okonkwo’s life “was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness” (Achebe, 2013, p.9). Achebe gradually reveals the outcomes of this conflict, turning it into a true tragedy when the man participates in murdering Ikemefuna.
Against this background, another conflict develops adding to the increasing tension. Thus, the intervention of white people along with a new religion transforms the story from family-focused into socially acute. As a result, the reader receives an opportunity to follow up the entire progress of the conflict from the moment when it refers to Okonkwo only to the time when it becomes a common concern of the community.
Stylistics
One should necessarily point out the skillful choice of the language and stylistic devices employed in the text. Thus, the author uses numerous words from the regional dialect. Due to this fact, the reader is enabled to get acquainted with such notions as “kola”, “evil chi”, “iyi-uwa” that guide one in the atmosphere of the described world and let one feel a participant of the actions happening.
Moreover, it is essential to note that Achebe employs an excessive number of antitheses in his text. One might assume that the relevant device is used in order to emphasize the contradictory character of the depicted situation and increase the general tension. Thus, when the author writes,” a sort of smile hovered, more terrible and more sinister than the anger,” the reader receives a feeling of discomfort and uneasiness that accompany the situation (Achebe, 2013, p.4).
Conclusion
In conclusion, one can suggest that the book under analysis represents a fine example of a complex and well-organized novel of the twentieth century. The multi-level structure of the text lets the reader get acquainted with an exciting family story as well as to find out more about the culture and traditions of the described community. The skillfully depicted characters along with the engrossing plot turn reading into a highly absorbing process. Achebe manages to hold the reader’s attention from the very first chapter up to the last line. The book reveals what is stated in the title, thus, throughout the entire story, one watches things falling apart whether it is a private fate or the life of a large village.
Things Fall Apart leaves the impression of pensiveness and regret as the questions it covers seems to be unsolved so far. The immortal problems elucidated by Achebe make one suppose that the book is unlikely to become out-of-date.
References
Achebe, C. (2013). Things Fall Apart. London: Penguin UK.
Franklin, R 2008, ‘After Empire’, The New Yorker, Web.