Things Fall Apart Research Paper

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe contains a great deal of information about Igbo society. From this novel we can learn much about how people in Igbo society lived. It details customs, traditions, religion, and the class structure of the society. Achebe strives to give people a look into Igbo society, especially for those who have never been introduced to this culture before. Achebe’s novel also gives us insight into the arrival of colonialism in Africa, as Achebe himself was born in Nigeria and experienced colonialism. Specifically, we will see that colonialism represents a major shift in the way of life of the Igbo people. The way of life of the Igbo people comes into conflict with the views of colonial rule. In addition to literature be Chinua Achebe, many other sources can be useful in understanding the effects of colonialism in Africa.

The novel
Families, like society, are patriarchal. Families live in compounds surrounded by red earth walls. Each compound contained an obi or hut for the head of the family and one for each of his wives. The compound also held a barn for yams, a shed for animals, and a shrine which held symbols of the gods and spirits (Achebe 13-14). Women were obedient to their husbands. Women did all the cooking, and it was expected that meals be brought to the head of the family in his obi. Okonkwo’s wives seem to live together peacefully, and their children live together as brothers and sisters. During the planting season, families would go to their farms and work for most of the day. When the harvest approached, a large celebration would be held. The Feast of the New Yam marks the beginning of harvest season. Old yams are disposed of, and new yams are eaten during the feast. Okonkwo, like all wealthy men, are expected to invite a large number of guests for the feast. This reinforces the importance of