Analysis Of The Novel Things Fall Apart - 1100 Words

Christine Kittrell Professor Harrington HUM 200: Contemporary Lit Culture 30 September 2014 American society vs. Umuofian society Values are beliefs, priorities, and or activities that people find importance in. In the 1959 novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† written by Chinua Achebe, the concentration is on the nine Ibo-speaking villages of Umuofian, which means People of the Forest†. Umuofian is the village in which Okonkwo, the protagonist, thrives in everything and is able to secure his manly position in the tribe. There are little similarities and many differences in the values of an American society and the values of a traditional Umuofian society such as marriage, religion, role of men and women, the way each handle wars and the political system. One difference of an American society and an Umuofian society is the practice of polygamy, the practice of having many wives. This tradition is practiced in the connected nine villages of Umuofian and even encouraged by most of the people. A man s wealth is partially based on the number of wives he has. As described in Things Fall Apart, a wealthy man is defined to have nine wives and thirty children. Okonkwo had only three wives and eight children. Polygamy is not something many Americans are familiarized with. American culture teaches that monogamy, the opposite of polygamy, is the proper, accepted form of marriage. In American culture, having more than one partner in a marriage is often cause for divorce and called cheating.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Novel Things Fall Apart 1435 Words   |  6 Pages ‘’Things Fall Apart’’ novel tries to bring back up cultural, social as well as spiritual basics of traditional Igbo (Ibo) existence from the year 1850 and 1900. The novel cannot be fixed like truthful societal and political old times of Ibo society since it is a work of invented story. However, the novel describes disagreements and apprehensions in Igbo society. It also depicts changes initiated by colonial ruling and Christianity. The author mentions that European colonialism operates as a powerful Read MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Things Fall Apart 1772 Words   |  8 Pages Introduction The novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† focuses on the colonization history of Igbo, an ethnic group which was crashed by Christian culture. The main character of the novel, Okonkwo, embodied the sufferance of Igbo society as well as the decline of Igbo culture. The novel is written by Chinua Achebe who was born in Nigeria. Achebe lived in an English environment and thus he was proficient in writing English. The novel is written in English regardless of its AfricanRead MoreWork1068 Words   |  5 Pages2013 Things Fall Apart: Character Analysis Research Paper In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the main character Okonkwo has only one tragic flaw; he has raised himself so that looking weak or effeminate is the worst thing to him that he could do. 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Emeka Aniagolu quotes AfricanRead MoreChinua Achebe : The Invention And Mastery Of Modern African Literature1595 Words   |  7 Pagesauthor certainly knows how to create a work of literature that transcends time. Seen expertly in his best selling novel Things Fall Apart Achebe combines narrative techniques to give a voice to the Igbo tribe of Niger, accurately depicting them in a way they never had been before. His use of an evolving narrative view, ethnographic views and neutrality on tough subjects allows this novel to become an instant success and a great view into previously unexplored cultures. Emeka Aniagolu quotes AfricanRead MoreChinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Exploring the Ibo Culture1743 Words   |  7 PagesAchebe’s Things Fall Apart. Things Fall Apart is a 1958 English novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Achebe is indebted to Yeats for the title as it has been taken from Yeats’ poem The Second Coming. Achebe is a fastidious, skillful artist and garnered more critical attention than any other African writer. His reputation was soon established after his novel Things Fall Apart. He made a considerable influence over young African writers. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in EnglishRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1308 Words   |  6 PagesIn Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the reader is taken on a literary journey to a Nigerian tribe, the Umuofia, to experience first-hand the struggles of a warrior named Okonkwo. At first glance, the novel appears to be written for a very specific audience: scholars familiar with Nigerian history, traditions, and culture. However, upon further examination the novel reveals itself to be a striking chronicle of human experiences, universal t hemes, and timeless struggles that appeal to every humanRead MoreChinua Achebe s Life Of Literature999 Words   |  4 Pages Portfolio Essay: Chinua Achebe Chinua Achebe is a renowned Nigeria novelist lauded for his work in literature. Chinua Achebe has been credited with numerous works of literature ranging from novels to journals. His work cuts across borders, making huge success and accepted globally in the world of literature. Even critics had to accept Chinua Achebe is the greatest our time, such was Charles H Rowell a literary critic issued in Callaloo a reputable