Identity in Things Fall Apart
In these heady days of seemingly daily advancement of culture and technology, the central debate of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart seems to have been answered. The advancement and the adoption of the new has superceded the desire to hold onto tradition. Around the world languages are disappearing and cultures becoming homogenized as people grasp at advancement, seizing onto Western beliefs and products. Things Fall Apart shows the genesis of this now global condition reflected in the personal struggles of its characters, in particular the main character Okonkwo. The question of whether change should be privileged over tradition involves the personal values of the characters. Okonkwo's greatness is based on the traditional methods of the Igbo; he is destroyed in the end by his unwillingness to accept the changes that were being wrought in the Igbo society. The novel does not idealize the African society nor does it completely demonize the European. Rather, it seems that Achebe's intention was to present African society in a non-stereotyped way, and to show what was lost when Igbo identity was swallowed by European incursion. Igbo tradition, represented by Okonkwo, do
Ikemefuna was Nwoye's closest companion, so it is not surprising that he is devastated by Ikemefuna's death. To him it represents everything that is wrong about the Igbo society, and he rejects Okonkwo's and the Igbo society's masculine values. Perhaps many have felt what he feels, but have not had the vehicle with which to express their rejection; they are instead just scorned within the society, as Unoka was. With the arrival of the missionaries, he has his hopes and dreams awakened. They offer an alternative to the society he despises. Despite being disowned and cursed by his father, he appears to have found peace by leaving the tyranny of his house. es not survive contact with the Europeans because it is not adapted for change. Historical identity is incredibly important to the Igbo, and this proves to be their undoing in the end, as they cling to it in the face of needed change. Okonkwo is a man dominated by fear. His greatest fear is to be like his father, who was opposed to the traditional values of the Igbo. Judged by the values of the clan, Unoka was lazy and cowardly. He took no titles and died in disgrace. In his defence, he was a gentle man and talented musician who was unsuited for the chauvinistic culture into which he was born. Okonkwo is sickened by the thought of being associated with his father; in this way he embraces with incredible passion the values of his clan. Anger, violence, and domination are the tools Okonkwo uses to deal with his life. With this approach he has achieved remarkable success, marrying three wives, taking several titles, and becoming a successful farmer. Was his suicide a symbol of the death of the traditional African? Or was it meant to show the failure of absolutism in the face of change? Achebe can be seen as rather didactic, but he leaves this image up for interpretation. The historical identity of the Igbo has its final ending with the suicide of Okonkwo, because he was the last totally unchanged member of the society, the only one left who was willing to kill to protect
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1375
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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