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Themes in Chinua Achebe's

            The book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is about European Imperialism. The main character is Okonkwo from a village in Africa called Umuofia. In Umuofia Okonkwo is known as being a fierce wrestler and warrior. The book tells of how Okonkwo despises his father because of his reputation and tries extremely hard to make sure that he never lives a disgraceful life like his father. The book also talks about Okonkwo's family which consists of his many wives and numerous children. All is well with Okonkwo and Umuofia until Okonkwo kills a young boy by accident and has to go into exile for seven years. Okonkwo takes refuge in his mother's village Mbanta. While Okonkwo is there major changes take place. Missionaries began to migrate to Mbanta and begin converting villagers who in turn help them to build a church. In the beginning the villagers and the missionaries are able to coexist but that begins to turn sour when their cultures and beliefs begin to collide. Okonkwo returns to Umuofia and finds that matters have become worse there also. The white missionaries have set up a government and are even trying cases in court. That's when things really begin to fall apart, hence the title of the book. Okonkwo refuses to accept the white man's government or his religion and wants Umuofia to go to war with the missionaries but few of his kinsmen agree with him. They are afraid of being wiped out like the people of a neighboring village called Abame. They are also hesitatnt to rebel because the white men made Umuofia wealthy by building trading posts. Things turn for the worst when the District Commissioner asks the leaders of Umuofia to meet with him. Okonkwo warns them to be on guard but they are taken by surprise and held as prisoners for ransom. They are beaten and starved which makes Okonkwo vow for revenge. The people of Umuofia meet to discuss what should be done. Some want to go to war but others are still afraid.


Essays Related to Themes in Chinua Achebe's

1. Dead Men's Path by Chinua Achebe

Michael Obi, the main character in Chinua Achebe's "Dead Men's Path" is the newly appointed headmaster of the Ndume School. ... In Achebe's "Dead Men's Path," symbols and character traits are used to convey the various themes of the story. First off, one of the many symbols Chinua Achebe's (the author) uses in the setting is the cultural and religious path that leads from the village shrine to the sacred burial ground of the villagers. ... The author, Chinua Achebe uses characterization to communicate to the readers his thesis statement. ...

  • Word Count: 419
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2. The Second Coming

Chinua Achebe wrote "Things Fall Apart", his first novel, in 1958, just two years prior to the establishment of an independent Nigerian state. ... The theory is one of the main themes within "The Second Coming." ... Achebe wrote, "The white man came quietly and peaceably with his religion" (Achebe 176). ... Beyond the theme of responding to "The Second Coming" trying to disprove the falsity of Africans being "uncivilized," there is another connection between Things Fall Apart and "The Second Coming." ... The reader can see that Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart relates to William But...

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3. Themes of Power - Nothing's Changed and Vultures

In the poems 'Nothing's Changed' by Tatamkhulu Afrika and 'Vultures' by Chinua Achebe, this theme is thoroughly explored, as well as showing the impact it can have on others. ... However, in 'Vultures', the underlying theme is that, similar to Yin and Yang, where there is evil, there will alway be love as well. ... This could possibly be due to the fact that Tatamkhulu Afrika was, at the time of the poem, being directly affected by the apartheid, as opposed to Chinua Achebe, who was looking at a completely different kind of power from the outside. ...

  • Word Count: 863
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4. Things Fall Apart

The author, Chinua Achebe was born and raised in Nigeria, which happened to house one of the first Christian missionaries in Africa. ... There are many themes in this book. One of the themes of the book is related to the life of Okonkwo. ... In Things Fall Apart, Achebe demonstrated his theme by revealing the truth about the consequences of the white men's arrival to a country: wherever the Caucasians (British) chose to colonize, the country's centuries-old tradition fell into demise. ... The characters that Chinua Achebe crafted possessed many complexities through the actions they ...

  • Word Count: 3003
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5. Things Fall Apart

In this book the author, Chinua Achebe, tries to demonstrate the culture clash between the Africans and the British and what outcomes become of this conflict. ... In this quote Achebe was showing that there was little tolerance when it came to the village women. ... Another meaning that could be taken from this book is that the main theme was to stress the progress of imperialism. ... In conclusion, it could be argued that the theme of the book was to try and demonstrate a culture clash between the British and the native Africans. ... Either theme could be supported by facts from the book ...

  • Word Count: 1364
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6. Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, and Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, are two of the most famous novels written in the 20th century. ... These similarities and differences are related to the different environments of the two authors, the image of Africa from their point of view, and the themes of colonialism, gender, darkness and culture. ... On the other hand, Chinua Achebe, borne in Nigeria in 1930, wrote and published his novel in the late 1950s. ... Achebe is criticizing Christianity as something that destroys communities. ... Darkness is a constant theme in Heart of Darkness; it ...

  • Word Count: 1344
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  • Grade Level: High School

7. African colonization in Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, is story that explains African colonization from the eyes of an African himself. ... In the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe the title itself hints at the entire book. ... The image and book communicate the same theme, Africa was helpless and taken advantage of. ... Chinua Achebe's, An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness, explains the effects colonization had on African lifestyle. ... In Chinua Achebe's, Things Fall Apart, the Umuofia people believe they should obey "the Oracle....

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8. Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart deals with societal changes and how they affect individuals. ... To support this theme, Achebe relies heavily on characterization, constantly focusing on how Okonkwo's stubbornness slowly destroys him. ... 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 . . .. ... This line clarifies Achebe's theme by describing the world as having "no end" and because of this, eternally progressing from the past to the future. ... In addition...

  • Word Count: 1731
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9. Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe demonstrates the idea that failure does not always correlate with weakness, which is portrayed throughout the novel through diction and irony by the character of Okonkwo, predominantly in the quote, But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness (13). As Umuofias leader, Okonkwo is portrayed as a hard working and successful man from the perspective of the clan; however, Achebes use of language shows the reader Okonkwos tragic flaw, which is the fear of failure and looking weak like his father, Unoka. ... Achebes choice of the word alone in italics ...

  • Word Count: 760
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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