Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe How and why is a social group represented in a particular way?. Things Fall Apart by the Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, perfectly illustrates the collapse of the Igbo society and people during the british colonization of Nigeria in the early twentieth century. The author’s motif, the proper telling of the confound and inaccurate portrayal of the africans during the racist colonial era, was perfectly executed, presenting idyllic and faithful elements of the Igbo culture and customs. As a Nigerian writer himself, Achebe creates tereotypical characters for the colonialists, or «white men» as referred to in the book. The Igbo however are illustrated as complex individuals rather than savages, as depicted in alternate books on related subjects. Rather than examining the way the author’s background influences the way the natives are portrayed in the novel, I intend to consider how it represents the british colonialists in an unfavorable manner. More importantly, how the author’s perspective influences the way the the «white man» is represented and perceived, despite the third person narration. !
As previously stated, the story is being told from an external narrator, also known as a non-focalized point of view. This indicates that the reader has access to the thoughts, experiences and feelings of certain characters in the novel, these are the reflector characters. Okonkwo, for example, is a perfect illustration of a reflector character. The author has the authority to inform the reader about his past, story and even thoughts. Considering that an external narrator is not given a specific character, it is assumed to be a neutral voice that is simply telling a story as it is.
Hence, the voice is, more often than not, viewed as void to any particular characteristics or notions. In Things Fall Apart, the narrator’s own personality begins to take over and obtrude the reading of the story. This is termed a dramatized narrator and is usually based on the author’s perceptive, whether it is the author’s intentions to do so or not. In the case of this novel by Achebe, the third person omniscient narrative tends to give the author flexibility in the distribution of knowledge and judgment. Does that give the author’s perspective opportunity to rise up into the novel and take control of the portrayal of each character? There is an obvious conflict between the Igbo and the colonialists throughout the entire book. The author, coming from a Nigerian background himself, clearly sides with his people as undeniably apparent in, not only the way they are viewed by Okonkwo, but let alone by the way they are referred to as «The White Man». In a conversation between Okonkwo and Obierika, there are several accusations against the religious new arrivals.! “Does the white man understand our custom about land? ” “How can he when he does not even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad; nd our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. [… ]We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won
our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has a put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart. ” (Chapter 20) In this particular exchange, Obierika seems to voice Chinua Achebe’s own position on colonialism. Granted, we must also point out that the blame is not wholly on the side of the white man for Obierika also mentions the irrationality and weakness of their own «brothers» who have onverted to Christianity. Though the blame is a more complex assessment, the author condemns the white man for his disrespect of Igbo culture and traditions. This essential quotation represents the first mention of «things falling apart» in the book by that same title. This responsibility is put on the «white man», a nickname impoverishing the colonialists once more. As well as the nickname, the word «foolishness» is employed to further humiliate the religious men that have demounted the clan.. This fiction, based on the true story of the British colonization of Nigeria, is meant to isplay the collapse of many Igbo clans and customs after the arrival of Christianity. The barrier of this new religion, the white man, carried a majority of the blame for «things falling apart», despite the many other factors that took the blame throughout the story. Nonetheless the major conflict is between the Igbo people, namely Okonkwo, and the men converting his brothers to another, unfamiliar religion. For this reason, one party to the conflict must be confounded. Seeing that the book is written with a Nigerian Point of view, the opposing party will hold the blame and be represented as the adversary.
The colonialists are then represented in a villainous way, rival to the story. The reader then finds it easy to side with the Igbo, which is one of Chinua Achebe’s motif for this novel, the proper telling of Nigerian side on the colonialist era.. There are many reasons as to why the white men are represented in a particular way throughout the book. I have mentioned how both the author’s perspective and background as well as the importance of having a conflict in which the reader can side with the protagonist can influence portrayal in the book. In order for Chinua Achebe to perfectly illustrate the collapse of he Igbo people during the british colonization of Nigeria, a social group must be denounced. For the simple reason that the author, therefore point of view, sides with the Igbo, the colonialists will be represented in an unfavorable manner.. !. Word count: 920 words. !. !. !. !. !. !. !. Bibliography:. “‘Things Fall Apart’ Quotes. ” About. com Classic Literature. N. p., n. d. Web. http:www. shmoop. comthings-fall-apartfate-free-will-quotes-5. html. SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n. d. Web. https:www. sparknotes. comlitthingsquotes. html. “Things Fall Apart Summary and Analysis. Things Fall Apart Study Guide: Summary and Analysis of Chapters 1-5. N. p., n. d. Web. http:www. gradesaver. comthings-fall-apartstudy-guidesection1. “Things Fall Apart Quotes. ” By Chinua Achebe. N. p., n. d. Web. http:www. goodreads. comworkquotes825843-things-fall-apart. “‘Things Fall Apart’ Quotes. ” About. com Classic Literature. N. p., n. d. Web. http:classiclit. about. comodthingsfallapartachebeaaa_thingsquotes.
htm. “Narrative Point of View. ” Narrative Point of View. N. p., n. d. Web. http:www. qcc. mass. edubooth255ptview. html. !