Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 8

Are you struggling with writing your thesis for your "Things Fall Apart" essay?

Crafting a thesis
statement that effectively captures the essence of your analysis can be a daunting task. With the
complexities of Chinua Achebe's masterpiece and the need to convey a unique perspective, many
students find themselves overwhelmed by the process.

Writing a thesis requires more than just summarizing the plot or stating the obvious themes. It
demands critical thinking, careful analysis, and the ability to articulate your ideas concisely. It's about
delving deep into the text, uncovering nuances, and presenting a compelling argument that adds
value to the existing discourse.

From exploring the cultural significance of Igbo society to dissecting the character development of
Okonkwo, there are countless angles to consider when formulating your thesis. Every word counts,
and finding the right balance between specificity and breadth is crucial.

If you're feeling stuck or unsure about how to proceed, don't despair. Help is available. At ⇒
HelpWriting.net ⇔, we understand the challenges that students face when tackling complex literary
works like "Things Fall Apart." Our team of experienced writers specializes in crafting custom theses
that meet your unique requirements.

By entrusting your thesis to ⇒ HelpWriting.net ⇔, you can save time, alleviate stress, and ensure
that your paper meets the highest academic standards. Whether you need assistance with thesis
development, research, or polishing your final draft, our experts are here to help.

Don't let the difficulty of writing a thesis hold you back from achieving your academic goals. Order
from ⇒ HelpWriting.net ⇔ today and take the first step towards academic success.
This of course furthers the understanding of this incredibly persuasive aspect of the “white men,”
which in many regards leaves the villagers completely perplexed of their own teachings. For instance,
the idea that a child should be murdered or that the spirits of the dead must be appeased can have
grave consequences for some characters For this essay, examine the role of customs and traditions in
“Things Fall Apart” and consider why these might be important to this culture. You should focus on
only one specific thing in the main argument. This novel is a native representation and condemnation
of the culture and institutions of a disparaged people with emphasis on both their strong points and
flaws, and devoid of any trace of regret or shame. In this, the author displays the extent to which
Nwoye is willing to go in desire for this religion and this faith. The conquering of the society
allowed the White man to steal resources, whether manpower or natural resources, that might have
been used to benefit the community of Umuofia.Work CitedAchebe, Chinua. Okonkwo approaches
them teeming with rage and in a split second, pulls out his machete and completely decapitates the
kotma who ordered the stop. This is found in the story of Sleeping Beauty, for example, when the
witch offers the beautiful princess a red apple. Consequently, despite the fact that he manages to
reach supremacy in his society, he becomes alienated from that society. In an odd twist of fate, the
minorities who were looked down on by the society would serve as the vehicle for its final
disintegration. Okonkwo believes that grumbling about women will lead his son to become a more
successful men and his son will have the power to take care of Okonkwo’s after he passed away. It is
the fear of unknown and unknowable gods that makes people respect the traditions of Umuofia.
They had built a court where the District Commissioner judged cases in ignorance. Report this
Document Download now Save Save Things fall apart essay For Later 100% (1) 100% found this
document useful (1 vote) 255 views 2 pages Things Fall Apart Essay Uploaded by Toyosii Cool-
Beans Devaghn AI-enhanced title essay of things fall apart focusing on resistance. The people are
often at the mercy of a number of gods and must try not to offend them or pay heavily for their
impudence. We use cookies to create the best experience for you. As a result, people were hesitant to
lend him money as time went on. And get a reward for writing the main ideas of things fall apart
essay race in britain, the secondary application may be covered pro life essay in this feat since, by
giving others help back online custom essays. It is this “force” that Achebe is trying to emphasize, in
saying that the words of the missionaries are forcefully thrown at the villagers. The District
Commissioner thinks to himself about putting the events of Okonkwo into a book he is writing, he
first wants to set aside a whole chapter about him, but instead decides to just put him into a single
paragraph. It would appear that the residents of Umuofia merely waited for signs from elsewhere
before they could make changes. These changes are very much foreign to the African way of life as
the author describes it. Okonkwo questions Nwoye of his acts, and in a rather coarse and frightful
tone roars “answer me, before I kill you!” (107). However, the Edwugwu are also not entirely
impartial, as we have already seen in the case of Mgbafo and her husband Uzowulu. He is the one to
keep the peace between the clan and the converts. Even if the author doesn't consciously identify an
intended theme, the. The tribe had been completely wiped out by white men. The arrival of the
Christian missionaries who not only looked down on the Igbo’s beliefs but also disdained their
numerous gods signaled the beginning of the end of Umuofia. He must necessarily take a number of
titles in order to be respected by his friends. By depicting the various facets of just one character,
Okonkwo, Chinua Achebe informs us so much about the African Culture and lifestyles prevailing
then, and their customs and traditions.
By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. As a result, people were hesitant to lend him
money as time went on. With this example Achebe proves the point that tribal people of Africa,
through fierce in nature and known for their superstitions, were also practical men in the art of
political and administrative governance and a war-like situation was amicably settled. Okonkwo
believes that grumbling about women will lead his son to become a more successful men and his son
will have the power to take care of Okonkwo’s after he passed away. In this, the author displays the
extent to which Nwoye is willing to go in desire for this religion and this faith. To the surprise of the
elders, as well as the villagers, it quickly becomes known that “the white man’s fetish had
unbelievable power” (106). In Things Fall Apart, the only thing that falls apart is Okonkwos life,
because of his stubbornness to adapt. The true and utter power of this foreign religion is felt strongly
by Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye, who had felt that the words that “spewed from the mouths of the
missionaries was something felt in the marrow” (104). In Achebe’s depiction of life in Nigeria, as
compared to Europe, he appears to criticize both the Christians, and the customs and traditions of the
Nigerian people. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our. Things Fall Apart. Things did
not fall apart for the better of the community as a whole, though. The true and utter power of this
foreign religion is felt strongly by Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye, who had felt that the words that
“spewed from the mouths of the missionaries was something felt in the marrow” (104). Yet, some of
the decisions made by the Oracle are questionable. He retaliates by taking his life, hence, Things Fall
Apart. Realization dawned on the thinking Achebe that the untold story about the Africans must be
told by an African writer, and not by the white-skinned historian or the novelist, through their
colored glasses and biased pen. Obierika goes to visit him, bringing bags of cowries. This is
evidenced in the trial of Uzowulu against his wife Mgbafo. His approach to converting the clan is to
not try and get more, but to give the ones they have a deeper understanding of the religion. The
missionaries kindly approach the high-titled elders of Mbanta in search of land to build their church.
Sometimes women also have a say when it comes to choosing a husband-Okonkwo's second wife
Ekwefi runs away from her first husband to be with him. Last example of social is Bride Price and
The Kola Nut. “We had not thought to go below thirty. This is made apparent by Okonkwo's
treatment of his wives. In their culture, fathers are proud when their son grumble about women. The
setting includes elements such as traditional African beliefs and customs, a patriarchal society, and
the impact of colonialism on the community. A man's pride depends on his status among his peers. In
spite of these discrepancies, the people continue to place their faith in the laws put down by their
forefathers. Not only is Achebe in an attempt to further his expression of captivation, but he also
attempts going for the core of the missionaries’ rhetoric. The men of Umuofia go into a spree, but no
one tries to run after the four remaining kotma. However, Igbo culture does not lack in human
mistakes, vulgarity, disasters, sanctions, and severity. This becomes evident when the death of
Ikemefuna is ordered.
To a large extent it is this notion of change and adaptation of a just civilization which Achebe forces
upon his readers, while at the same time giving the reaction on the African front. Analyze this with
specific examples from the novel.Culture is always dynamic. The arrival of the Christian missionaries
who not only looked down on the Igbo’s beliefs but also disdained their numerous gods signaled the
beginning of the end of Umuofia. Obierika goes to visit him, bringing bags of cowries. For example,
“Ancient silk cotton tree.” For example, “on ordinary days young women who desired children came
to sit under its shade.”. The Igbo community began a slow collapse because it had false foundations
and actively destroyed the lives of all citizens who were not male and ruthless. Young children could
be killed by their fathers with no retribution, as happened with Ikemefuna, because they were
viewed as being the property of their fathers. So, back then planting was a really complicated
decision. It is as a result of this that the first three converts had been won. This is 100% legal. You
may not submit downloaded papers as your own, that is cheating. Also you. Things Fall Apart.
Things did not fall apart for the better of the community as a whole, though. The protagonist
Okonkwo, despite his fury and apprehensions, completely values the Igbo way of life by which the
Umuofia tribe had to stand for. Okonkwo realizes that because the men have escaped, Umuofia is
not going to be waging war against the white men. This shows that indeed Okonkwo's actions did
have severe consequences which lead him to his downfall but also for his clan. Okonkwo gathers his
children together and tells them if they want to be women, they can go follow in Nwoye's footsteps,
but he will haunt, disown, and curse them. During their time, they often believed in the Spirit of
good and the Spirit of Evil. They had built a court where the District Commissioner judged cases in
ignorance. The disdain with which the poor and the women were treated caused them to turn away
from loyalty to the community. One of those this was gentleness and another was idleness”. (p.13)
Achebe is never tired of providing the rare insights about the tribal life of Africa and he mentions
one incident that would have resulted in war between two tribes owing to a murder incident. Achebe
has to be credited for his mysterious capacity of writing a novel that not only deals with history, but
with the present and future, foreseeing things to emerge. Okonkwo is furious they would kill a man
who said nothing. In many ways, the society is a cruel and harsh one. Achebe’s novel does not only
dramatize the whole Igbo civilization. British colonists have arrived in the area, and Okonkwo must
grapple with the changes they bring, as well as his own personal issues. But he suffered
psychologically, always reminded of the thought that he was the son of an unsuccessful father, not
respected in his society for his wayward ways of borrowing from all and sundry, without thinking
about the repayment options. Okonkwo brings huge amounts of food, so much that it's comparable
to a wedding celebration. The protagonist Okonkwo, despite his fury and apprehensions, completely
values the Igbo way of life by which the Umuofia tribe had to stand for. Free essay sample Things
fall apart and more Essay Examples on Chinua-achebe topic from NewYorkEssays com is a great
source of ideas for writing the paper We will write a custom essay sample on Things fall apart or any
similar topic specifically for you. Describing the physical prowess of Okonkwo, Achebe writes, “He
was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. Achebe shows that the sense of
justice is not universal, rather it is a social construct.
The true and utter power of this foreign religion is felt strongly by Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye, who
had felt that the words that “spewed from the mouths of the missionaries was something felt in the
marrow” (104). We see the previous economic aspect reflects through the main character Okonkwo,
and the mirror version of it of his father Unoka. The Umuofia also follow a tradition by Breaking
The Kola Nut. And get a reward for writing the main ideas of things fall apart essay race in britain,
the secondary application may be covered pro life essay in this feat since, by giving others help back
online custom essays. Other emotions are concealed even from their own wives and children. The
core issue articulated by the author is that Africans writers are eminently suited to write the history
and cultural life of Africans, and not the biased and ill-informed European historians. The clan is not
given to hasty or impetuous decisions. For instance, the idea that a child should be murdered or that
the spirits of the dead must be appeased can have grave consequences for some characters For this
essay, examine the role of customs and traditions in “Things Fall Apart” and consider why these
might be important to this culture. With remarkable economy and simplicity of language, Achebe
describes the fragmentation of this ancient culture and the alienation suffered by its people due to
colonization. He is the one to keep the peace between the clan and the converts. So, back then
planting was a really complicated decision. Receive a tailored piece that meets your specific needs
and requirements. These people are to send their children to the school to convert. The European
writers would not have the writing skills to create a character like Okonkwo, because they are unable
to gauge the depth of the inner world of the African tribal life. Their decision seeks to preserve
Uzowulu's pride, not Mgbafo's safety. However, his poor father was not even accorded a decent
burial but carried to the forest to be eaten by wild animals. While the society’s respect of masculinity
might give an impression of it being strong, it crumbled without the community members even
staging a small war to chase away the missionaries. It is also in this that the author plays both sides of
the argument. By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. It could be said that Umuofia
had a skewed system of Justice- which insisted on serious dedication to gods they could not see, but
supported deep cruelty being meted against more than half of the members of society. We use
cookies to create the best experience for you. This is seen in chapter thirteen when Obierika mourns
Okonkwo's crime and questions it including his own. There are several actions that could trigger this
block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. In an odd
twist of fate, the minorities who were looked down on by the society would serve as the vehicle for
its final disintegration. The narrator states “Grumbling about women, that showed that in the time he
would be able to control his women folk.”. The Edwugwu each impersonate an ancestral spirit and
therefore all their decisions are the result of divine inspiration. To a large extent it is this notion of
change and adaptation of a just civilization which Achebe forces upon his readers, while at the same
time giving the reaction on the African front. Report this resource to let us know if this resource
violates TPT’s content guidelines. Okonkwo hold great power in his clan, “the first cup went to
Okonkwo, who must taste his wine before anyone else.”. In this, Achebe questions the very means
by which a culture can maintain its validity, through a clear and imminent contrast between the ways
of life of the western people, and the peoples of Africa.
Obierika tell Okonkwo about the events in their village and says he is going to keep harvesting and
selling yams off of Okonkwo's farm and give him the cowries from it, and that is why he carries the
bags of them. So even though women seem powerless, Chielo's position as priestess gives them some
power over the men. In many ways, the society is a cruel and harsh one. The description of his
physical strength is symbolic of the physical strength of the African tribal communities as a whole.
Achebe has to be credited for his mysterious capacity of writing a novel that not only deals with
history, but with the present and future, foreseeing things to emerge. The clan is not given to hasty or
impetuous decisions. It is only after the colonization of Umuofia that the final breakdown of the
society begins. Describing the physical prowess of Okonkwo, Achebe writes, “He was called the Cat
because his back would never touch the earth. It is more about knowing who you are and what our
connection with fish world. It could be said that Umuofia had a skewed system of Justice- which
insisted on serious dedication to gods they could not see, but supported deep cruelty being meted
against more than half of the members of society. It should be only one or two sentences long and it
should be in the first paragraph. And get a reward for writing the main ideas of things fall apart
essay race in britain, the secondary application may be covered pro life essay in this feat since, by
giving others help back online custom essays. We see conflicts between the missionaries and the tribe
near the end of the book. Okonkwo's crime takes place at Ezedu's funeral, when Okonkwo
accidentally shoots and kills Ezedu's youngest son during the farewell dance. Although Nwoye is
utterly captivated, the true test leaves all that the Nigerian people have ever known and relied upon
to be truth in the good times and the bad, overridden by this new found power. It was this man that
Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of
their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights.”(p.3)Achebe cleverly
articulates the familial tradition and mindset of the African tribes by stating that “Age was respected
among his people, but achievement was revered” (p.8). The author is referring to the fame of
Okonkwo and his achievement at the young age. With just one wife and nothing to leave behind to
his only son, Unoka was. It is as a result of this that the first three converts had been won. He then
thanks Okonkwo for his show of generosity. Almost every society has a strong cultural and religious
tradition. In this novel, Okonkwo’s character deliberately broke down and his numerous layers of
identity became clearer.Okonkwo has experienced a lot of hardships throughout his life including
being dealt with inadequately by his dad who he sees as a hostile to good example in a way which
has intensely affected the way he is presently and how he treats himself, and his clan mates. Even
though individuals were able to benefit from their acceptance of Christianity, the society would be
converted into a machine that benefitted the White man and his economic purposes. He used to be a
great wrestler, a fierce warrior, and a successful farmer of yams in Umuofia. Nwoye, Okonkwo’s son,
towards the end of the novel, is seen by his father’s cousin Amikwu among the Christians, and is
dragged home to his father. And get a reward for writing the main ideas of things fall apart essay
race in britain, the secondary application may be covered pro life essay in this feat since, by giving
others help back online custom essays. They had built a court where the District Commissioner
judged cases in ignorance. To a large extent it is this notion of change and adaptation of a just
civilization which Achebe forces upon his readers, while at the same time giving the reaction on the
African front. That way of life embodies bravery, prudence, control, impartiality and compassion.
Report this resource to let us know if this resource violates TPT’s content guidelines. There were
numerous laws on what could be done or was viewed to be taboo.
There was a strong patriarchal system in place which presumed that men were more important than
women and children. Okonkwo blames his chi and bad fortune for all of this, while telling himself
Nwoye wasn't worth helping. Their release is at two hundred bags of cowries, they do not respond
and are thrown in jail. Captivating as it is, the novel’s title of Things Fall Apart is confusing, for the
reason that Umuofia does not really fall apart. In the same regard, it is the rhetoric of the missionaries
in their faith, and the trust in their God that Achebe uses as a driving force behind the impact which
is seen among the African people of Umoufia. The clansmen believe this is their gods fighting back,
so they don't take any further actions against them, as they believe the gods will settle this whole
conflit for them. He then thanks Okonkwo for his show of generosity. The people who were cast
aside were the first ones to compromise the society by joining the church. But Unoka was such a
man that he always succeeded in borrowing more, and piling up his debts.” By doing so, Unoka’s son
Okonkwo rejects everything for which he believes his father stood. In one particular segment
towards the end of the novel, the “White Men” are referred to as “locusts,” which have come to
poison the minds of the villagers (98). By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our. Things
Fall Apart. Things did not fall apart for the better of the community as a whole, though. The
European writers would not have the writing skills to create a character like Okonkwo, because they
are unable to gauge the depth of the inner world of the African tribal life. Things Fall Apart Essay
Many societies have beliefs rooted deep in ancient religion They had completely absorbed and
accepted the ideas of the colonizer which established them as “racial inferiors” and imitators of their
colonial masters. In one particular segment towards the end of the novel, the “White Men” are
referred to as “locusts,” which have come to poison the minds of the villagers (98). Describing the
physical prowess of Okonkwo, Achebe writes, “He was called the Cat because his back would never
touch the earth. Each character is portrayed by their voice and actions. Okonkwo questions Nwoye
of his acts, and in a rather coarse and frightful tone roars “answer me, before I kill you!” (107). In the
Igbo Society, bride price was used to help ensure a marriage’s stability. The true and utter power of
this foreign religion is felt strongly by Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye, who had felt that the words that
“spewed from the mouths of the missionaries was something felt in the marrow” (104). Every year,
before the harvest begins, the people pay obeisance to Ani, the Earth Goddess and the ancestral
spirits of the clan during the Feast of the New Yam. Okonkwo, Uchendu, and Obierika converse in
Okonkwo's hut and Obierika brings news of a tribe's downfall, Abame. The time of year where
“men, women, and children left their work or their play and ran into the open to see the unfamiliar
sight” and only the old people had seen them before. “It was a tremendous sight, full of power and
beauty.” The locusts was very rare because, there isn’t a specific time that locusts will arrive and it
does not appear every year. Things Fall Apart is the story of a proud man's inglorious fall. According
to the narrator this is a guests tradition used to symbolize intimacy. This essay discusses that referring
to the aforementioned excerpts, the use of proverbs in Things Fall Apart was evidently sequenced.
Okonkwo is furious they would kill a man who said nothing. Okonkwo again wishes that Ezinma
was a boy, with how well she listens and the potential he sees in her. And get a reward for writing
the main ideas of things fall apart essay race in britain, the secondary application may be covered pro
life essay in this feat since, by giving others help back online custom essays. In fact, pride is the most
visible trait that most men display.
The hero of the story, an Igbo man kills a white colonist. He sees religion as Christianity or nothing,
so he has no respect for any Igbo practices or beliefs. Things Fall Apart Term paper While the free
essays can give you inspiration for writing, they cannot be used 'as is' because they will not meet
your assignment'sIn Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the idea of the religion or mythology
according to the ancient Africans was a major theme in the book. As time went on, the missionaries
who had come to Jump via harmless and powerless began to gain more converts and more control.
Our experts will write for you an essay on any topic, with any deadline and requirements from
scratch. All the villages of Umuofia are governed by the Edwugwu and everyone worships the same
gods. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies. This novel
visualizes the life of the Igbo people in Umuofia, its culture, values, beliefs and social structures. We
see the previous economic aspect reflects through the main character Okonkwo, and the mirror
version of it of his father Unoka. Obierika goes to visit him, bringing bags of cowries. Scholars can
use them for free to gain inspiration and new creative ideas for their writing assignments. He had
three wives and had built separate cottages for them. The true and utter power of this foreign religion
is felt strongly by Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye, who had felt that the words that “spewed from the
mouths of the missionaries was something felt in the marrow” (104). In the Igbo Society, bride price
was used to help ensure a marriage’s stability. Their minds were already set against the society, and
all some of them needed to move against, was an opportunity. However, his poor father was not even
accorded a decent burial but carried to the forest to be eaten by wild animals. It is unlikely that
practices such as the murder of newborn twins would have ceased if the missionaries had not come.
Almost every culture's literature has produced a similar tale. Their release is at two hundred bags of
cowries, they do not respond and are thrown in jail. It was this man that Okonkwo threw in a fight
which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of
the wild for seven days and seven nights.”(p.3)Achebe cleverly articulates the familial tradition and
mindset of the African tribes by stating that “Age was respected among his people, but achievement
was revered” (p.8). The author is referring to the fame of Okonkwo and his achievement at the young
age. The elders make all Christians outlaws to the land. During their time, they often believed in the
Spirit of good and the Spirit of Evil. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to
manage cookies. Brown realizes that directly attacking their gods will not yield any success, and
instead gives positions to those that do convert. Umuofia people or Igbo tribe are constantly
searching the common sense of what they do and why, measuring up to the neighboring
communities, and history. The protagonist Okonkwo, despite his fury and apprehensions, completely
values the Igbo way of life by which the Umuofia tribe had to stand for. Not only is Achebe in an
attempt to further his expression of captivation, but he also attempts going for the core of the
missionaries’ rhetoric. The five different types of conflict in Things Fall Apart are: man vs. In one
particular segment towards the end of the novel, the “White Men” are referred to as “locusts,” which
have come to poison the minds of the villagers (98). Every year, before the harvest begins, the people
pay obeisance to Ani, the Earth Goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan during the Feast of the
New Yam.

You might also like