Spiritual Aspects in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
In Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, the beliefs of an afterlife and spirit world were strong factors in the daily events of an Ibo person’s life. These beliefs controlled their actions and thoughts all the time. The Ibo believed in not only personal spirits, but also in a supreme deity, the Creator of the world and the Ibo, as well as the minor gods and entities of the spirit world. To the Ibo, it was customary for one to approach a great and powerful man through his servants. Sacrifices were made to the minor gods and spirits, but when these fail to bring about the desired result, the Ibo went to the Supreme Deity for final intervention.
Chukwu
The actual Supreme Deity, or God, of the Ibo religion was called Chukwu, which seems to be a corruption of the Asaba word Chi-ukwu, meaning the highest or the biggest Chi. The Ibo men therefore adore and worship two powers, one the biggest and highest power - the Ruler of the Universe, and the other power through which from Chuckwu/Chi-ukwu they derives their existence in this world, that is, their personal chi. On one of Mr Brown’s visits, Akunna says,
• “You say that there is one supreme God who made heaven and earth.” “We also believe in him and call Him Chukwu”
Chukwu is the greatest and most powerful of all the gods, he is the Supreme Being, and is worthy of fear and submission- this is what the Ibo believe.
• “We make sacrifices to the little gods, but when they fail and there is no one else to turn to we go to Chukwu. We approach the great man through his servants. But when his servants fail to help us then we go to the last source of hope….We worry them more because we are afraid of their master.”
Agbala and his priestess
Agbala was known as the Oracle, one who foresees things, who has revelations of the future and the past. It is clear that Agbala held a very big role in Igbo society, because we see in the book that many people come to see it when they have good or bad fortune/ luck.Also known as the Oracle of
Chukwu
The actual Supreme Deity, or God, of the Ibo religion was called Chukwu, which seems to be a corruption of the Asaba word Chi-ukwu, meaning the highest or the biggest Chi. The Ibo men therefore adore and worship two powers, one the biggest and highest power - the Ruler of the Universe, and the other power through which from Chuckwu/Chi-ukwu they derives their existence in this world, that is, their personal chi. On one of Mr Brown’s visits, Akunna says,
• “You say that there is one supreme God who made heaven and earth.” “We also believe in him and call Him Chukwu”
Chukwu is the greatest and most powerful of all the gods, he is the Supreme Being, and is worthy of fear and submission- this is what the Ibo believe.
• “We make sacrifices to the little gods, but when they fail and there is no one else to turn to we go to Chukwu. We approach the great man through his servants. But when his servants fail to help us then we go to the last source of hope….We worry them more because we are afraid of their master.”
Agbala and his priestess
Agbala was known as the Oracle, one who foresees things, who has revelations of the future and the past. It is clear that Agbala held a very big role in Igbo society, because we see in the book that many people come to see it when they have good or bad fortune/ luck.Also known as the Oracle of