The Ibo Culture In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

In an effort to combat the immense misrepresentation of Africans expressed in European literary perspectives, Chinua Achebe works to truthfully portray the Ibo culture in the novel, Things Fall Apart. Achebe does this through the illustration of the traditions, laws, and customs of the Ibo people. In addition, Achebe explores and develops individual characters in order to humanize the African people. However, Achebe remains objective in his depiction of the Ibo people. By revealing the aspects of the culture which the Ibo people question, Achebe both demonstrates the dimensionality of the Ibo society and expresses the downfall of such a society. Rather than placing the blame for the downfall of the Ibo civilization on Europeans, Achebe analyzes
Although Obierika and Nwoye both questioned their assigned belief system, the crucial difference was their social standing. Although Obierika was not satisfied with the answers he was given, he possessed a loyalty to his clan, since he was widely respected and fit in well, so he did not convert to Christianity. Nwoye, on the other hand, longed for acceptance among a group of people as a result of his poor relationship with his father. Thus, Christianity seemed appealing because they provided Nwoye with an opportunity to feel accepted. In addition, Nwoye’s values of peace, music, and gentleness which would normally be shunned by his father, who Nwoye associated with the Umuofian religion, were valued by Christianity. Another instance of the impact of social standing on the appeal of Christianity is visible in Christianity’s popularity among the outcasts or “osu” of Umuofia, such as Nneka, who was criticized for having four consecutive sets of twins. The outcasts of Umuofia were unable to acquire titles, marry, interact with the free-born, or even cut their own dirty hair. However, Christianity gave them a higher place in society with equal respect to the “free-born.” The people who the clan would shame turned to
When Okonkwo expresses his outrage in the increased conversion to Christianity, an elder praises him for encouraging the traditional religion and strengthening the bonds of the village with a great feast. At the feast, the old man says, “But I fear for you young people because you do not understand how strong is the bond of kinship. You do not know what it is to speak with one voice. And what is the result? An abominable religion has settled among you,” (167). As a result of the continued conflict between the Christians and the traditionalists, the clan is divided. Consequently, the clan is more vulnerable than ever to possible attacks due to the lack of