Achebe's Things Fall Apart derives its title from a line from William Butler Yeats’ poem "The Second Coming," which foretells the end of the world. And Achebe’s novel indeed foreshadows the end of a world: the incursion of the white man into the society of the African Ibo, and the subsequent dissolution of the indigenous culture. The image of things falling apart is an extremely apt one, for we learn that from the author’s point of view, Ibo culture is held together by one string -- its own traditions. This string will not break, but when pulled it will unravel, causing everything it holds together to literally fall a

Bernth Lindfors, professor of Ethnic and Third-world Literature at the University of Texas at Austin, commented, "Achebe's proverbs can serve as keys to an understanding of his novels because he uses them not merely to add touches of local color but to sound and reiterate themes, to sharpen characterization, to clarify conflict, and to focus on the values of the society he is portraying." Uchendu’s proverb accomplishes all these things, and it does so with admirable conciseness. In speaking it, Uchendu sheds light not only on numerous aspects of the novel but also on fundamental human concepts.

Religion was also already in place in the pre-colonial times. The Ibo were deeply religious. It seems that everything they do is dictated by some religious belief. Religion was involved in the way they raised their families, the way they governed, the way they interacted, the way they decided on war and other issues, and even the way they farmed. They may have practiced what may be considered a ridiculous religion by outside standards, but it was a religion none the less. In fact, one of the things that struck me the most in this book was the conversation between Mr. Brown and Akunna. Throughout their conversation, at times they seemed to be saying the same thing. Akunna brought up some interesting points when he was comparing the religions. There were several similarities that would almost make it seem the Christian God and the God the Ibo worshiped were one and the same.

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart deals with societal changes and how they affect individuals. Resistance to change and the harm such resistance does to people collectively serve as the novel's theme. To support this theme, Achebe relies heavily on characterization, constantly focusing on how Okonkwo's stubbornness slowly destroys him. The author also concentrates on two separate conflicts: that between Okonkwo and the changes occurring around him and that between the Umuofia clan and the Christian missionaries who come to the village. Under attack by the missionaries, the traditional values of Okonkwo's people endure changes throughout the book, emphasizing the theme's relevance to Okonkwo. Achebe covers great territory over theme, characterization, conflict and values in a proverb spoken by Okonkwo's uncle Uchendu: "There is no story that is not true . . .. The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others".

Some topics in this essay:
Apart Achebe, Fall Apart, Okonkwo Achebe, Meanwhile Okonkwo, Texas Austin, Lower Niger, African Ibo, Ogbaa Igbo, Butler Yeats’, Nigeria Fascinating, fall apart, achebe's fall apart, story true, clan economy, people abomination, achebe excellent, umuofia clan, economy based, pre-colonial culture, achebe's fall, district commissioner, achebe excellent job,