Yet his attitude echoes so much of the depiction of Africa; this attitude, following Achebe's depiction of the Igbo, seems hollow and savage. Digression is one of Achebe's most important tools. Although the novel's central story is the tragedy of Okonkwo, Achebe takes any opportunity he can to digress and relate anecdotes and tertiary incidents. The novel is part documentary, but the liveliness of Achebe's narrative protects the book from reading like an anthropology text. We are allowed to see the Igbo through their own eyes, as they celebrate the various rituals and holidays that mark important moments in the year and in the people's live.…
Cited: Angelou, Maya. “Africa”. Literature; Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie Krisner and Stephen Mandell. Boston: Thompson Heine, 2001. 995-996. Print…
Irele, Abiola. “The Tragic Conflict in the Novels of Chinua Achebe.” Critical Perspectives on Chinua Achebe. Eds. C. L. Innes and Bernth Lindfors. Washington: Three Continents Press, 1978. 10-21.…
In reviewing the research on immigrant women and Nigerian women as a whole for comparison I interviewed 50 women to see if these women agreed with the documented research; 15 women from Nigeria residence in US for more than 10 years, 10 women from Nigeria residence in US for less than 10 years, 8 women born in US with Nigerian parents, 10 women from different countries of Africa, 3 women from Hattie, 2 women from the Dominican Republic, and 3 women from America who have traveled or lived abroad. All of the fore mention women were asked questions gleamed from the documented writings of the cited researchers. The research supports the hypothesis that these women suffer depression and rejection due to cultural differences. The complication of trying to thrive in a society that is different from their cultural up bring and retaining their cultural identity intact posses the issues of identity. The women are faced with the vast opportunity of the western woman. In the…
In Achebe’s bestselling novel Thing’s Fall Apart, women are depicted as objects rather than actual human beings in Ibo culture. Women are depicted as utterly powerless and are beaten quite frequently if they do not listen to their husbands. Although unethical in most modern-day societies, this story takes place in Nigeria around the turn of the nineteenth century and it was normal for these things to occur in this particular setting. As the plot advances, it becomes clear that women and men are not equals in the society.…
Writings make authors. The writings that make these authors prevalent are read and appraised by a hefty group of people titled “the readers”. The readers are therefore in this framework more treasured than the authors. In light of this context, my piece of writing will enumerate and aid as a mirror to reflect on “the death of the author” and also use a popular text known as the private experience which was written by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie.…
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart depicts many details of how women shape and form the Igbo culture. However, throughout the novel women in the Igbo society are abused by their husbands due to trivial matters. Moreover, a woman in the Igbo society never has the opportunity to make a decision for herself, which makes them an object that is merely used as a pathway to success. Despite the toiling and dedication women put into helping the Igbo society, they are often left forgotten in the shadow of their husbands. Even though women are always mistreated and held at a lower standard than men, in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe displays that they help the Igbo society blossom and play a vital role in the success of the masculine figures.…
Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, is a tragic story about the rise and fall of Okonkwo. The story takes place in Umuofia, a cluster of villages in Niger during the 1890’s. the Umuofians are known for being a notorious war clan with many members, advanced social institutions, and phenomenal traditions. Chinua Achebe educated his readers throughout the novel by capitalizing on historical importance’s in Nigerian history, like when the Europeans invaded Niger as well as basic history about African culture and traditions.…
Western colonization of Africa led to rigid stereotypes of dumb, violent, and animalistic creatures that stand as humanity’s distant relatives. These stereotypes are ingrained in the subconscious of western society. Even Westerners who consider themselves above such discrimination find it hard to disassociate Africa from the image of uncultured savages created by imperialism. Despite the social implications, a postcolonial view allows the reader to analyze the methods used to combat these biases in literature. Notably, Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart stands as an example of a novel at war with preconceived notions of Africans. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart humanizes Africans though language, semblance of societies, and a focus on the…
In the fall of 1974 I was walking one day from the English Department at the University of Massachusetts to a parking lot. It was a fine autumn morning such as encouraged friendliness to passing strangers. Brisk youngsters were hurrying in all directions, many of them obviously freshmen in their first flush of enthusiasm. An older man going the same way as I turned and remarked to me how very young they came these days. I agreed. Then he asked me if I was a student too. I said no, I was a teacher. What did I teach? African literature. Now that was funny, he said, because he knew a fellow who taught the same thing, or perhaps it was African history, in a certain Community College not far from here. It always surprised him, he went on to say, because he never had thought of Africa as having that kind of stuff, you know. By this time I was walking much faster. "Oh well," I heard him say finally, behind me: "I guess I have to take your course to find out." A few weeks later I received two very touching letters from high school children in Yonkers, New York, who -- bless their teacher -- had just read Things Fall Apart . One of them was particularly happy to learn about the customs and superstitions of an African tribe.…
In the novel, ‘Purple Hibiscus’, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores an aspect of coming of age. The main character, Kambili Achike transforms from a sad child to a strong young woman as she fights her way to freedom from oppression. As she experiences new activities and events in her life, she grows and Adichie portrays this aspect of human experience through techniques such as internal monologue and first person narrative. With these techniques, the audience can see the transformations of Kambili from the start to the end of the book. By reading about a human experience of coming of age, the intended audience of adolescents and young adults can relate to Kambili. They experience very similar thoughts themselves and with the help of the techniques chosen by Adichie, the audience feels a connection between themselves and Kambili even if they are not in an abusive situation.…
Chinua Achebe has been called the founding father of African literature for his sensitive and accurate portrayal of his native African tribe, the Igbo, in his landmark novel, Things Fall Apart (Bacon handout). Published in 1959, this novel has become a cherished classic that explores the controversial topic of European colonization and presents in “sad irony” the decline and destruction of the native tribe (Coeyman handout). Maintaining a neutral tone throughout the novel, Achebe allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions of where the blame for this destruction lies. Overall, one of Achebe’s main purposes is to write a tragedy following Aristotle’s definition.…
Chris Abani a nigerian writer, was imprisoned three times by the Nigerian government due to his writings which were considered “inappropriate” and a bad representation of the country. Growing up he had witnessed much violence from his father. As a kid, he would write poems. Through poetry he tells the story of those who were born and raised in the troubled African nation. The poem “Blue” talks about how one slave has gone through many obstacles throughout her life, how she was caught in the slave trade, and in the end, how she eventually revolts against the captain. In that transition, she not only successfully kills the captain, but in killing herself also. The historical context of "Blue” by Abani is crucial information in understanding the full meaning of the work and understanding of the character's actions.…
Support for this is driven by her race and place of birth, Nigeria. The preconceived notion about her origins provides those she comes in contact with to fall back on the ill-informed stereotypes we have about African nations. The strategic steadiness of the anaphoric technique builds the foundation for her argument of the danger of making biased presumptions. Upon Adichie’s arrival to the U.S., her encounter with her new college roommate to an interesting turn. The young girl was surprised Chimamanda spoke fluent English since she was from Africa, unaware that its the official language of Nigeria, and then had the audacity to ask to listen to her “tribal music” (Adichie, 4:33). The fact that her favorite artist was Mariah Carey would likely shock most people. The danger Adichie is attempting to reveal through her anaphoric method is yet again expressed through her discussion of John Lok and Rudyard Kipling’s literary works, which depict African natives in a less than flattering light (Adichie, 6:39; 7:23). This is dangerous because there are many cultured, educated people from all continents and it seems her goal is to illuminate her audiences to bridge the cultural divides and arrive at all people are human beings with unique stories that do…
Compared to the brilliance and brashness of so much Nigerian literature, the quieter literature of Ghana may seem in danger of being overlooked. A Woman in Her Prime is a good example of what a mistake that would be.…