Things Fall Apart 2
Achebe makes an important point throughout the novel that the Ibo culture believes in lending a hand when someone is in need. Sometimes helping a person in need becomes deadly and even fatal in Things Fall Apart. The white missionaries who come to Africa, honeslty believe that they are "helping" the Ibo village by converting them to Christianity. However, their presence in Africa is harmful to the lives and culture of the Ibo people. The men that come to Umuofia basically destroy the balance of faith and religion that the Ibo have centered their lives around for years. These men introduce a new religion and government that is extremely different from their own. Lacking the solid foundation of the old religion and tradition, the Ibo tribe is helpless. People in Umuofia strongly depend on gods and ancestors in their culture. It is a belief and tradition that these two figures govern every aspect of their lives. Even Chielo, the priestess dedicated to the Oracle of the goddess Agbala, "Was full of the power of her god, and she was greatly feared" (16). The Ibo believed that their customs and traditions kept chaos and violence from evolving. Trust, peace and cultural beliefs are interrupted and
Even though the missionaries bring hesitation to the traditional Ibo culture, they help the tribe to progress some ways. Achebe acknowledges the help of the missionaries, "They are building a trading store and for the first time palm-oil and kernel became things of great price, and much money flowed into Umuofia" (146). The missionaries create a stronger economical structure by improving Ibo villages with hospitals and schools. Education from the outside world becomes more accessible, and the quality of people's lives improve physically and spiritually. The missionaries rescue twin babies that are thrown in the forest, "...welcome twins and such abomination" (130), and save them from cruel deaths that the Ibo believe in. People who are considered outcasts in the Ibo culture begin to have a feeling of hope with this new religion. This new society receives outcasts and twin babies with warm and loving hospitality. Uncertainty and doubtfulness of opinions and decisions begin to appear among the Ibo tribe. Cultural values that have existed for many generations are pulled apart and laughed at by the missionary's sermons. Although the missionaries come to Africa with an intention to help the underdeveloped Ibo village reach their full potential, the effects are upsetting to th
Some common words found in the essay are:
People Umuofia, Africa Achebe, Fall Apart, Ibo Ibo, Moves Achebe, District Commissioner, ibo culture, ibo village, twin babies, fall apart, missionaries africa, missionaries bring, apart white, reach potential, torn apart, ibo people,
Approximate Word count = 869
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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