Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
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Book Reviews of Things Fall Apart
Book Review: Very slowly paced, challenging despite its plain surface
Summary: 3 Stars
This novel has been assigned for the intro to literature course I teach to technical college students, most of whom are immigrants or their children, most from Asia or Latin America. I've wondered about the relevance, therefore, of a Nigerian story set a century ago, written in a rather formal, faintly Britishised English prose, which for most of the story takes a leisurely, rather episodic pace until sudden eruptions of energy--as in the night pursuing the priestess, or the fate of the foster son of the protagonist (no plot spoilers here).
The final third of the narrative, with the arrival of the missionaries--white and black, it is to be noted--starts to compress the action into a quicker, more Westernised pace, whereas the previous native sections were told in the mode of storytelling reflecting not only the author's exposure to and transformation of the English he learned at 8 and studied at university in the 1950s, to play off against the clash with the newer rush of culture and ideas and force brought by Europeanisation.
Fair play to Achebe for a balanced look at the pros and cons and the inevitability of imperialism as it sought out and conquered the traditional holdouts and wiped out or at least gravely injured ancient beliefs and practices. This novel, I believe, works more as a case study from the p-o-v of those forced to submit to the foreign ruler, but Achebe does show that Christianity offers the lowest castes a chance at redemption in this life that they could not have found within the prejudices of the native ideology. This fair-mindedness does much to create a provocative, more nuanced perspective, even as from the indirect consciousness of the protagonist, the new arrivals represent accurately the doom of the power and the order once sustained for so long, isolated from the invader's machinations.
As a novel, and not a source of understanding this conflict, I think that Achebe gives a literary work less symbolic and multi-layered than, say, Conrad's Heart of Darkness--which I've taught to students who found it nearly beyond their grasp. That Achebe's book is taught to younger readers surprises me (my copy was in the young adult section of the library), since--like Hemingway--a rather transparent prose style may cover lots of complexity between the lines. However, Achebe's style is plainer, and often in the early stages of the work, there is not the depth below what for non-Nigerian readers holds lots to grasp in terms of a different vocabulary, mentality, and folklore. This is not an easy read, but this is due more to our unfamiliarity with the context than the story itself. The clash of mentalities will be able to be understood by my students, but the intricacies of Achebe's native culture will still be beyond our knowledge from what the glossary provides. Sure, any such tale needs to be rooted in a specific time and place to keep its forcefulness, but for readers who must read this novel for a course rather than by choice, there's much here to elude easy answers. So, be forewarned if you are to teach or be told to read this novel, for it's a bigger task than many I bet realize.
It took me a while to read this, and the opening half moved often at an extremely languid speed, with little to engage me. The second half, as I stated, picks up, but whether this novel keeps the attention and fully engages students who have been assigned the work--who seem to make up much of its audience judging from the supplementary "guides" linked to this novel on amazon.com and the comments of many reviewers here--makes me a bit uncertain as to whether the praise for this novel comes more from academia than grassroots enthusiasm. I'll have to find out!
Book Review: Problems Faced in Life
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the most captivating books that I have ever read. I am a high school student that is into thrillers, mysteries, and romances, ect. I had to choose a book to read for independent reading. The first book that interested me was Things Fall Apart, for that title along is catchy. I started to read the book and amazingly I got into it. I read 100 pages in one day and had to call it quits because I needed slip. Things Fall Apart, is about a man's struggle to be a man. He, Okonkwo, tries to uphold all the values that means importance to him life honor, title (which one receives of how much wealth he has), family...ect. His father's achievement haunts him throughout the whole book because his father had no achievement. His biggest fear is to become like his father. He wanted to be a man who has control over anything such as his wives, his children, and his property. One who does not have control over these things is called an agbala, a man who hasn't taken a title (i.e. a woman). Okonkwo tries to encourage his children to become fierce and bold instead of wasting their life to go out and play. He is disappointed in his children because they themselves are not as eager of making something of their life, like he once was. This can be compared to how things are in this generation. Children hear stories of how their parents struggled so hard to be where they are at in life, and the reason they do this is either because they wish their child to follow in their footsteps, or because they are disappointed in them for not doing so. This can be compared to Okonkwo's son, Nwoye, who is the "different" one in his family. He does not see his father's point of his reasoning and behavior. Nwoye becomes Christian towards the end of the book, because he believes in it and does not want to follow his father's rules which he believes covers who is really wants to be. Okonkwo only wants best for his son, and if his son becomes Christian, then his son is breaking all the traditional values that Okonkwo and his people have hold deep within them. Okonkwo does not understand Nwoye, and basically disowns him. This is similar to the present because in some family situations, the father and the son do not understand each other because they have totally different views. Who is wrong? Not either one when it comes down to it, yet they feel the need to blame each other.
There are many family situations. The love between mother and daughter is explained through Ezinma, the daughter, and Ekwefi, the mother. Ekwefi struggles through many hurtful and devastating emotions because every child she bears dies within a few months. Ekwefi losses hope and became bitter until Ezinma is born. Ezinma lasted for more than a few months, and this sign of hope brought down Ekwefi's bitterness. Ezinma and Ekwefi are very close, like best friends, for they talk about anything, call each other by their first name, and do many other things. There are some mother's who want that kind of relationship with their child presently. They want that kind of trust and friendship with their children that last forever.
There are many different kinds of relationships and advice in this novel. Another kind is a binding friendship like that between Okonkwo and Obierika. Okonkwo and Obierika have fun with their jokes, think deep of each other's insightful thoughts, and are there for each other until the end. Some binding friendships are sacred and hard to have. Many people in life try so hard to find that kind of friendship.
Sadly, much of these binding rituals, traditions, clans of different tribal people, friendships, families, and more became overthrown as "things fall apart" when the white men came.
Book Review: Holes in the argument.
Summary: 3 Stars
Chinua Achebe's goal for writing Things Fall Apart was to show how British imperialism and the forcing of different religions and values on a people caused these people great harm. But the ironic thing about all of this is the fact Achebe does a horrible job of proving that argument. Cry, the Beloved Country is a book head and shoulders above ...Apart in both story and in the portrayal of destruction of the African people by white imperialism.
I read some of the reviews here which claimed this book is about tribes of people who were forced to change even though they didn't need change. Really? Superstitious, barbaric and for a lack of a better word, stupid traditions practiced by the African people displayed by Achebe proves that these people DID need change. How can customs where twins are thrown away in the forest because of some foolish belief of bad luck and evil spirits be seen as justifiable? How about a man having the right to beat his wives for the slightest infraction? What about killing a young boy who you raised as your own son for three years?
We can not PRETEND that no culture is better than any other. That's hogwash. A culture that treats people with respect and equality and justice will always be better than a barbaric society where the women are treated like dirt and murder and mayhem are used to show manhood. Yet, some are arguing the people should have just been left to do their thing no matter how anti-human rights and anti-humane their "thing" was. When it comes to the treatment of other individuals, there is no relativism. Only absolutism. Nobody can seriously argue that the practices of the Nigerians in this book should be defended.
We all know the whites had their own brand of barbarism, but at least with the entry of other forms of thought and ideas into these tribes, they, as well as the majority of the world eventually graduated to the point of belief in the notion of "justice and equality for all" as being the CORRECT notion even if not the much PRACTICED one.
While Cry, the Beloved Country shows that the British were wrong for stripping the African people of everything and replacing the land and the culture with nothing, Achebe's Things Fall Apart shows their tribes should have been disbanded for their OWN sake. A showing Achebe obviously didn't intend. And I admit, I felt tinges of resentment towards the British while reading the book, but one thing seems to be evident, if not for Christianity they still would be throwing their newborns in the forest. While the abuse and misuse and misunderstanding of Christian teachings are harmful, even following the Nigerian customs the ACCURATE way was itself harmful.
As far as the writing, it flows very easily. English was Achebe's second language, yet you wouldn't know it.
As far as the ending, I feel this was ...Apart's weakest link. Most of the book describes the tribes' customs and ways of life, then all of a sudden the Christians come in and then Okonkwo does what he does. His act at the end doesn't ring true of his character and his ways. I feel Achebe betrayed Okonkwo on that front. Okonkwo spends the entire novel fearing being perceived as lazy, weak, and cowardly, then he goes and does one of the most cowardly things a person can do. If more had happened to him, then I could have understood, but it seemed almost out of the blue. And further more, we're not even shown the event as it unfolds from Okonkwo's perspective. Instead, the reader just sees the after-effect, which takes a lot of the punch out of the story and leaves you with a somewhat empty feeling.
Book Review: Collision of Two Cultures
Summary: 5 Stars
"He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."
An enthralling novel of European colonialism from an African perspective, "Things Fall Apart" tells the story of the impending imperialism imposed on African tribes from the perspective of an Igbo warrior, Okonkwo, and his family. The Nigerian author, Achebe, uses simple yet descriptive language to paint his story of life in an African tribe at the onset of colonialism. Written as a foil to Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," this novel presents the native tribal people in an entirely different light. Achebe succeeds in showing the native Igbo tribe, not as bloodthirsty savages, but as a noble people whose ultimate goal is a peaceful and harmonious community.
The epitome of the noble warrior, Okonkwo clings fiercely to the traditions of his ancestors. Being the son of an <efulefu> (worthless man), Okonkwo works tirelessly to achieve his high status among his clansmen. He values hard work and despises all things associated with weakness or laziness, for his biggest fear is to end up as his father. Yet, his indomitable drive to succeed manifests in a violent temper and a malevolence toward all things feminine, for any weak man he considers an <agbala> (woman). His chauvinistic and misogynistic nature leads to conflict within his family, especially toward his eldest son, Nwoye.
Achebe succeeds in painting a poignant picture of the tribal people as they come to terms with the new colonialists. At first, the Europeans arrive as missionaries with a benevolent cause. Indeed, the Christian missionaries are initially presented in a positive light, as the Reverend Brown practices restraint and respect for the native religions as he implores them to become educated, lest they become objects of oppression by the oncoming onslaught of foreigners. However, his successors are more radical and their contempt and arrogance toward the natives causes much tension. The colonialists, too, are presented in a balanced manner, as not all tribesman are aghast at this invasion of foreigners. However, despite their advances in medicine and their pretext of helping the natives, the new wave of colonialists attempt to impose their European laws and customs upon the natives as they attempt to achieve their goal of "pacification of the primitive tribes."
Undoubtedly, the most important thread that ties all various tribes together is the reverence for ancestors and the kinship amongst the peoples. The relationships between family and the elders is of utmost importance, as the breaking of these bonds is sacrilegious. Although the missionaries may have good intentions, it is Christianity more than the armed colonial soldiers that inflicts the most damage upon their way of life. For Christians, the bond between one's self and God, as the Father, is the most important, as believers are "brothers in Christ." Yet, for the Igbo, if one is to become a Christian, then one must break the kinship bonds and reject the beliefs of the ancestors. Christianity is the "knife" that cuts these bonds and causes their traditional society to "fall apart."
Overall, Achebe succeeds in showing the aspects and beliefs of the Igbo in a sympathetic, yet realistic nature. Although some traditions are barbaric by any reasonable standard, such as leaving newborn twins in the forest to die, Achebe succeeds in dispelling the common myth of the natives as ruthless savages that must be tamed, like wild animals. This is an enlightening novel and was a delight to read.
Book Review: Things Fall Apart Review
Summary: 4 Stars
The author Chinua Achebe wrote a classic best-selling book called Things Fall Apart. Basically the story was about an African tribe that lived in an African village called Umuofia. They had their own beliefs. It was another normal day in the village of Umuofia until the white missionaries came to African villages with their own beliefs, that the Africans didn't necessarily believe in. An African man named Okonkwo lived in Umuofia and dissented strongly with the white missionaries. Okonkwo was a great warrior that had much respect from the people who he lived with because of his religious beliefs. White missionaries came and disproved the African religion along with Okonkwo's beliefs as well. Okonkwo said that this "new" religion had taken away all the dignity the people had in the African villages, and Okonkwo began to call the men in the villages women. Really what I think Achebe was trying to say was that Okonkwo's self-dignity had been taken away and Okonkwo also knew that he wouldn't be so powerful once people went along with the new religion because the missionaries didn't believe that anybody was better than anybody else. Okonkwo's life and beliefs had been falling apart, and Okonkwo knew that things wouldn't stay the way they were for long, and people wouldn't think of him as much as they may have before. Eventually, Okonkwo hangs himself, and the story ends.There were some exciting events that happen in this story. One of the events was the time when Okonkwo was at a funeral and shot a 16-year-old boy and killed him. As a result of that, Okonkwo was exiled to his motherland of Mbata for seven years. During Okonkwo's exile, the missionaries had come in and started to convert Africans to Christianity. Also, I liked the time when the missionaries built their church in the evil forests of Africa. All the Africans thought that the missionaries would die in a few days, which was supposed to happen according to their religion. Then when the missionaries were in the veil forest for a couple weeks, nothing happened to them and the Africans were proved wrong. One other exciting event I like in this book was the conflict between Okonkwo and his son, Nwoke. Nwoke decided to follow the ways of the Christians, even though he knew his father Okonkwo would not concur with that decision. Nwoke did go with the missionaries and left his father, which was upsetting to Okonkwo, who was appalled when Nwoke left his father. Those are some of the exciting events in the story Things Fall Apart.
Overall, I like the book Things Fall Apart. I think it is an interesting tale. I think that because it told a lot about how Africans live and what they believe, which I personally thought were false beliefs. The story tells a lot about how Africans live without getting too boring, and uses a lot of description about everything. Then when the missionaries came to Africa and started to preach their OWN beliefs that went against most of the African beliefs. That is my favorite part of the book Things Fall Apart. I never came across a part in this story that was not addicting. I always wanted to keep reading this. Chinua Achebe made a strong point that everything has the potential to "fall apart". If you like something in your life it may not last forever even if you won't admire the change to come. Even those who are powerful at a certain time, may eventually lose power to new changes that happen. That wraps up my review on Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.