Things Fall Apart
(Chinua Achebe)
Chinua Achebe?s main character in ?Things Fall Apart? is Okonkwo, who is, in the eyes of his tribe, an African of some repute. Okonkwo?s reputation hinders on his ?solid personal achievement.? (pg 1) The reader quickly discovers, however, that Okonkwo has an anger inside him that causes him much angst and trouble throughout the book. He is especially obsessed with his father?s lack of ambition and drive, and seems to be determined to succeed where his father has failed. He is also quite angry at the changes he sees taking place in his tribe, and angrily wishes that Things remain the same rather than have to deal with a whole new societal direction. The rage inside Okonkwo continues to be manifest throughout the story as he is introduced to, and rejects, a new ?religion? as compared to the ?primitive? beliefs of Okonkwo and his tribe. With his beliefs intact, Okonkwo has some sense of control over his own destiny. Achebe?s primary purpose in writing the book may have been to compare the ?old ways? with the new, and by doing so, raising questions concerning colonization and the affects of imperialism on those who are being colonized. Achebe uses Okonkwo to portray the conflict, turmoil and trouble derived by colonization. In today?s modern society a comparison can probably be made between colonization and globalization. Achebe?s introduction to the reader of African customs and philosophies and whether it makes sense to suppress those customs through colonization allows the reader to also surmise what affects globalization will have on various societies as well. Chinua is able to show how the dignity of man, whether the man be of African or Western descent, is essential in society, not to only the individual involved, but how society is effected as well. In many cases, at least according to Achebe?s Okonkwo character, the changes are not worth fighting for, and some individuals would rather face death than live in a society that is being forced to change its entire structure, as well as its beliefs and customs. Achebe seems to say to the reader, society is more than just someone else?s ideas of what is success, what is worth and what is acceptable or not acceptable.
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