1
Contents
1
I
Editor’s Preface
03
Introduction
1
Book of Chinua Achebe
07
2
Things Fall Apart (summary/book overview)
09
3
Reviews
11
II Research focus 1
Book of Okonkwo
17
2
Book of Nwoye
19
3
Book of Ikemefuna
20
4
The symbolism of Yam
22
5
The symbolism of Fire
23
6
The symbolism of Locusts
24
7
Prophecy of Achebe (Foreshadowing)
25
8
Religion Theme
27
9
Traditional Theme
29
10
Gender/ Power Issue
33
2
III
Epistle (opinion about the novel) 1
The Epistle of Michael
39
2
The Epistle of Serena
41
3
The Epistle of Thao
46
3
Editor’s Preface Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. —W. B. Yeats, “The Second Coming”
Chapter 1
1 Rather than polemics and rant, Achebe
3 In the quote, “the center cannot hold”,
prefers to choose the understated and
Achebe hints at the chaos that arises when a
suggestive language in his prologue.
system collapses. In other words, he
2 This opening stanza of William Butler
provides an ironic reference to the imminent
Yeat’s poem The Second Coming is an
collapse of the African tribal system and
epigraph to the novel Things Fall Apart. In a
threatened by the British colonialism. By the
way, Achebe points out the similarity
dissolution of the Igbo society and religious
between the time of chaos in European and
structure, the Igbo people lose their set of
the turmoil
caused by
the
European
social or moral rules to live by and fall into
colonization
of
He
uses
anarchy.
Africa.
the
colonizer’s language figuratively enlighten them on the point of view of the colonized.
4
Chapter 2 1 Achebe not only indicates politics, but also depicts the second coming, a return and revelation of sorts. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe dramatically begins the British
collapses into anarchy, will lose their autonomy and become the victim under the religious invasion of Europeans.
Chapter 3
Imperialism not with guns but with the
1 All in all, as we are going to analysis
Bible. The revelation in the novel refers to
Things Fall Apart through the lens of
the coming of the Christian missionaries,
cultural criticism, we can see a series of
further satirizing their supposed benevolence
characters, symbols, foreshadowings, and
to convert the Igbo society.
themes that depicts the oppression of the
“Mere anarchy is loosed upon the
African cultural values and customs from
world”- the author profoundly indicates that
the western imperialism’s impact. Since
the second coming, which refers to Christian
Achebe uses the western literature to address
missionaries and Imperialism, is the end of
a more objective and deep reflection on his
Igbo civilization and the beginning of the
own civilization, we can use cultural
anarchy. As the end of Igbo civilization
criticism to point out that African society is
comes, the Igbo customs and cultural value
collapsing due to its unstable central belief
will be erased from the world. To Achebe,
and the chronic invasion of colonialism.
2
the anarchy loosed upon the world is the horrors of imperialism. It suggests that humans cannot thwart the collapse of the entire system. Eventually, the one which
5
6
Part I
Introduction
7
Book of Chinua Achebe
Chapter 1 1 Chinua Achebe, in full name Albert
man to the educated African attempt to
Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe, was a Nigerian
confirm and create the moral standard of the
novelist, poet, professor, and critic, who was
big cities’ changing values.
born in Nigeria in 1930.
Chapter 2
2 His first novel, Things Fall Apart, which
1 Achebe grows up in the Igbo town of
describes a classical narrative about Africa’s
Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria. He won a
cataclysmic
the
scholarship to study medicine, but changed
colonialism of Europe, is an influential
his major to English literature at the
masterpiece in modern African literature.
University of Ibadan and became fascinated
encountering
with
3 Often, his works reflect both the psychological and social issues of the people
with world religions and traditional African cultures.
when the Western customs and values
2 In 1958, Achebe published his first novel
dominated the traditional African society.
in 28 years-old, Things Fall Apart, to
Achebe provides one of the most emergent
address the arrival of the colonists and the
crisis periods in Africa, which particularly
collapse of the Igbo society. His main
focuses on the subject range of the first
character cannot accept the new order of
contact of an African village with the white
western customs and values, even though
8
the old one cannot function anymore.
1976 until 1981 (retired in 1985).
3 After studying English literature, he
7 After a car crash left him partially
served as director of external broadcasting in
paralyzed, Achebe moved to the United
the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in
States and taught at Bard College in New
Lagos from 1961 to 1966. In 1967, Achebe
York. In 2009, Achebe joined the faculty of
co-founded a publishing company with the
Brown University in Providence.
poet Christopher Okigbo, who died in the Nigerian civil war for Biafran independence.
4 When the Nigerian civil war for Biafran independence became
the
independence.
began in 1967, supporter As
the
of
8 Chinua Achebe died in 82 years-old on March 21, 2003, in Boston Massachusetts.
Chapter 3
Achebe
“If you don't like someone's story, write
Biafran
your own.”
starvation
and
--Chinua Achebe
violence took place over the territory, he
1 Chinua Achebe’s literary creations show
appealed to the people of the western countries for aid. In 1970, Achebe involved in political parties when the Nigerian government retook the region.
5 However, as he witnessed the corruption and elitism and feel frustration over it, he resigned from the parties.
6 Later, Achebe became a professor of English at the University of Nigeria from
the social changes in Nigeria, such as the famous Nigerian Quartet -- Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, and A man of the people.
2 Among his Nigerian Quartet, he shows the entire history of the 19th century British colonists who came to Nigeria from Nigeria to independence.
9
Things Fall Apart (summary)
Chapter 1 1 Published in 1958, Things Fall Apart is Chinua Achebe’s first and most successful in a sequel of five novels.
2 The story follows the life of Okonkwo, an Igbo man who rose from nothing to one of the wealthiest and fearless warriors of Umuofia. 3 Umuofia is a clan consisting of nine villages located to the southern part of Nigeria.
were becoming lazy or negligent. Okonkwo was determined not to be like his father Unoka, a man he believed was not only a coward but also spendthrift. At the time of his death, Unoka left so many debts unsettled in his village. Being afraid that his son Nwoye may become weak and coward like his father, Okonkwo often beat him up hoping that he would forcefully transform the boy’s attitudes in life. 2 Okonkwo’s lowest moment came when he participated in the killing of Ikemefuna, the boy he raised in his family for three
Chapter 2 1 Despite being hardworking and wealthy,
years. He did so to avoid being perceived as weak or fearful.
Okonkwo ruled his family with an iron fist.
3 As Okonkwo struggles not to become his
He was a brutal man who frequently beat his
father, his clan Umuofia was caught
wives and children whenever he felt they
between traditions and a new religion
10
brought by white people. The council of elders was also replaced with a structural government protected by armed soldiers. Okonkwo vowed not to abandon his traditions opting to commit suicide than wait and die in the white man’s prison.
11
Review and critical reception
Chapter 1 1 In the article “A long way from home,”
merely make animal noises, he says, or
Ed Pilkington states:
2 Published in 1958, Things Fall Apart turned the west's perception of Africa on its head - a perception that until then had been based
solely on the views of white
colonialists,
views
The rest of the time Conrad's Africans
that
were at
best
anthropological, at worst, to adopt Achebe's famous savaging of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, "thoroughgoing racist’. (1) 3 As research for his 1975 essay on the Conrad book, Image of Africa, Achebe counted all the words spoken in Heart of Darkness by Africans themselves. "There were six!" he tells me, laughing luxuriously.
shriek a lot. (1)
4 By contrast, Things Fall Apart, Achebe says now: A story that only someone who went through it could be trusted to give. It was insisting to be told by the owner of the story, not by others, no matter how well-meaning or competent. (1)
5 Only the participants of the story can accurately depict the story. The story of Africa should be described by Africans.
12
2 It is the book that brought the story from
Chapter 2 1 According to Dwight Garner in his essay “Bearing Witness, With Words”:
2 Achebe believed that If you don’t like someone’s story, write your own. (1)
the ‘Dark Continent’ through the voice of an educated African through which he showed the conflict between African values and the advent of Christianity in Nigeria. (1) 3 Burke also points out an important theme
3 Garner further states:
4 In his first novel and masterpiece, Things Fall Apart (1958), Mr. Achebe, who died on Thursday at 82, did exactly that. In calm and exacting prose, he examined a tribal society fracturing under the abuses of colonialism.
of the book：
4 Achebe’s is an essentially melancholic novel and an extended metaphor for African despoliation, life and politics. Things Fall Apart is a sorrowful affair but not a despondent one. The scenes from the life of
(1)
5 As an African writer, Achebe can bring
Nigeria’s Igbo society are painted with an assured, uplifting clarity and they resonate
us a new perspective on that period of history.
brightly and long. Okonkwo is an excellent, wonderfully
human,
central
character:
strong; headstrong; willful; proud. (1)
Chapter 3 1
5
In the article “Things Fall Apart by
Chinua Achebe – A Review,” Burki writes:
Mamona
Tragedy stems from Okonkwo’s
resistance to cultural invasion, and as people's ideas change, his influence in the tribe is also reduced.reduced.
13
Chapter 4 1 According to Marie Elizabeth Oliver in his article “Humble beginnings of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart” :
2 Its initial review in The New York Times ran less than 500 words, but the novel soon became among the most important books of the 20th century, a universally acknowledged
starting
point
for
postcolonial, indigenous African fiction, the prophetic union of British letters and African oral culture. (1) 3 When misfortune befalls him, Okonkwo blames his “chi,” his personal god, but author Achebe’s message is clear – that there is a parallel between Okonkwo in his 19th-century Nigerian clan governed by gods and ritualism and 20th-century man in a moon-ridden world. (1)
4 This book is one of the most important and earliest novels about post-colonial African aborigines.
14
15
16
Part II
Research focus
17
Book of Okonkwo
Chapter 1 1 Okonkwo is a valiant warrior, an excellent wrestler, a successful farmer, but brutal and uncompromising as a husband and a father. He not only beat his wives but also his children, especially his eldest son
emotions.
4 He would often beat his wives just to show them his power in the family and why he commands respect. He also believed in settling differences between him and his
Nwoye.
family members using violence. 2 Okonkwo believed that beating Nwoye was a way of removing laziness from him and turning him into a man. Eventually, Nwoye
disappointed
his
father
by
converting to Christiannity, a religion his father vowed never to embrace.
5 Unlike other young men in his village, Okonkwo did not inherit any wealth from his father because he was destitute. At the time of his death, Okonkwo’s father Unoka was also indebted too many people in the village.
3 Okonkwo demonstrated his masculinity by working hard on his farm, defending the community in wars, and not showing
6 Okonkwo became a strong man who believed in working hard and shaping his own destiny. He was also a strong advocate
18
of the Umuofia traditions, opting to commit suicide rather than being controlled by the white Eroupeans who invaded their land.
19
Book of Nwoye
Chapter 1 1 Nwoye is Okonkwo’s oldest son who
4 The missionaries ‘hymn about brothers
Okonkwo considers to be effeminate and an
living in “darkness and fear, ignorant of the
uninspired loser like his father, Unoka.
love of God” touches his heart. He learns
2 As a child, Nwoye is shown no support
about a way of life where fathers don’t kill
or love and is constantly criticized by his
their adoptive son and twins are not
father. Nwoye is innocent, very emotional
abandoned to die in the Evil Forest.
and sensitive to his surroundings. 3 When Ikemefuna becomes a member of the family through a blood debt, Nwoye and Ikemefuna became fast-friends and treated each other like brothers. After Ikemefuna is killed by Okonkwo, he loses his respect and slowly distanced himself from his father. Nwoye is unable to forgive his father for his betrayed and seeks revenge by converting Christanity.
20
Book of Ikemefuna
Chapter 1 1 In the early period of the book,
in the execution; even though Ikemefuna
Ikemefuna comes to Umuofia as settlement
calls him Father. Eventually, Okonkwo, in
for a dispute with another village. At first,
order
the people in Umuofia do not know what to
responsibility will make him look weak, he
do with Ikemefuna, so Okonkwo lets him
ends
live with his first wife.
Ikemefuna’s death, it irreversibly destroys
to
up
avoid
killing
the
failure
Ikemefuna.
to
take
After
the relationships between Okonkwo and
2 As time goes by, Ikemefuna quickly
Nwoye. All in all, the death of Ikemefuna is
becomes an essential member of Okonkwo’s
a bad omen that has the symbolic to the start
family. He serves as a role model for
of Things Fall Apart.
Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, and earns respect from Okonkwo. However, as Ikemefuna becomes more critical in Okonkwo’s family, his death produces more impact in the novel.
Chapter 2 1 Ikemefuna is a very complex character in the novel due to his promising and
3 When the village elders decide to kill Ikemefuna, Okonkwo insists on taking part
hard-working in Okonkwo’s family. His
21
hard-working and promising makes him a role model for Nwoye and earns respect from Okonkwo. Despite the fact that Ikemefuna is the ultimate victim, who is given up to Umuofia as a sacrifice and has no control over his life, He becomes one of the most influential characters in the novel.
​2 In fact, the story of the sacrifice of Ikemefuna is not important in itself. What is important is that it forms an imitation of the story with the story of the Abraham murder sacrifice in the Bible. By the death of Ikemefuna and the intertextual imitation, Achebe addresses a more objective and deep reflection on his own civilization.
22
The symbolism of Yam Chapter 1 1 Yam as the king of crops, symbolize
because, in his culture, the person who has
wealth and status. The production of yams
the ability to grow yam is a man.
represents a man's ability to support a
And a woman can't grow a yam regardless
family.
of her ability. This shows the gender roles in Ibo culture.
2 Okonkwo's father did not leave him any yam seeds, which is in line with his father's incompetence; however, Okonkwo is very good at planting yam, and he has a large barn full of yams which represents his strong wealth.
3 Yam is "man’s crop," so it also "stood for manliness." Okonkwo hopes his sons can learn how to plant yam as young as possible
23
The symbolism of Fire Chapter 1 1 Fire symbolizes intense anger and destruction associated with Okonkwo. 2 Okonkwo and his fellow clansmen liken him to a “Roaring Flame”-aggressive, powerful, and strong-willed. His son Nwoye does not possess the same fiery spirit. He gazes into the fire after his son joins the Christians. He would get angry fast and use his fists where words failed him. 3 Okonkwo always preferred war instead of peaceful solutions. Just like fire, he did not believe
in
solving
problems
through
negotiations. Thus, the use of fire mainly represents anger, destruction, and regrets that followed the life of Okonkwo.
24
The symbolism of Locusts Chapter 1 The Oracle said. It said that other white
the impact of the white people’s settlement
men were on their way. They were
and colonialism. Despite the fact that the
locusts, it said, and that first man was
traditional culture is being destroyed, people
their harbinger sent to explore the
in the village, especially those who convert
terrain. (ch 15,114)
to Christianity, still did not sense the crisis of the settlement and colonialism.
1 The word “locusts” in the quote perfectly indicates the arrival of the white settlers,
3 Achebe’s choice of words to describe the
who will feast on and exploit the resources
locusts indicates their symbolic status. The
of the Igbo. The author smartly describes the
repetition of words like “settled” and
coming of the locusts into the village
“every” emphasizes the sudden coming of
represent the white people’s arrival.
the insect and the metaphor to the arrival of the white settlers takes the Igbo off guard.
2 As the locusts destroy things, it represents the “fall apart” of the traditional culture and
25
Prophecy of Achebe (Foreshadowing) Chapter 1 1 Foreshadowing in the novel begins with
mysterious and horror future is not the end
an epigraph from W. B. Yeats’s poem “The
but the beginning of colonialism.
Second Coming”, which envisions the
Chapter 2
mysterious future that arises by the chaos and anarchy.
The arrival of the British
2 Achebe significantly uses Yeats poem to parallelity
describe
the
beginning
of
colonialism and the uncertain future beyond the horror of colonialism. Yeast wrote this poem in 1921, which at the start of the Irish war of Independence. He envisions a mysterious and horror future when Irish get independence from the British colonialism. However, Achebe approaches this poem from
a different
perspective that the
1 In addition to the epigraph from Yeats, Achebe uses the symbolism to foreshadow the arrival of the British.
2 As has been aforementioned, the coming of the locusts represents the coming of the British colonizers. In other words, when the narrator explains the reason the first swarm is small in the novel “They were the harbingers sent to survey the land”, he indicates that the locusts are the symbol of
26
the missionaries, which in turn prefigure the eventual coming of colonial governance.
Chapter 3
3 For example, in the quote, “The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question . . . of the twins crying in the bush
Nwoye’s Conversion
and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed.” foreshadowing his eventual decision
1 In the novel, the narrator foreshadows Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity by underlining Nwoye’s frustration both with his father’s expectation and Igbo cultural practice.
2 One clear foreshadowing comes in Nwoye’s love for the tales his mother tells. He loves to listen to the “women’s” story but
due to the cultural and father’s
expectation, Okonkwo, Nwoye’s father, forces Nwoye to listen to the “masculine stories of violence and bloodshed”. Later, when Nwoye heard new religion poetry, the Christian tradition illuminates aspects of Igbo culture that trouble Nwoye.
to abandon Igbo customs.
27
Religion theme Chapter 1 1 Religion i s also a major theme and one
condemned the worshipping of traditional
of the factors that drove Okonkwo into
gods in exchange for a living God who lives
committing suicide. Religion is the main
in heaven.
conflict that plays out at the end of the novel. Religion represents order in both societies but they manifest differently.
3 Western religion breaks order in Umuofia society by taking in outcasts and clan members without title. By taking power
2 Clan’s traditions allowed the worship of
away from the clan’s authorities, they
many gods. For example, there was the God
destroy the Clan’s old methods justice and
of war, harvest, productivity, famine, and
order, creating an apocalyptic scenario for
rain among others. In worshiping of their
the clan’s former way of life. This led to
gods, Africans would pour libations, make
strong protests from people like Okonkwo.
sacrifices, and dedicate shrines in their favor. However, Western Europeans came with a different religion which talked of worshiping
one
God.
Christianity
4 “The white men in very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has our brothers, and
28
our clan no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart (176)� is written by the author. The basis of this quote is that their power persuade villagers to convert to the Christianity and Ibo’s religion eventually will no longer exist.
29
Traditional theme
Chapter 1 1 Through Cultural lens, no matter how
and the one that Okonkwo hates most. He
much Okonkwo tries to maintain the
doesn't like the villagers' insults against his
traditions of the Ibo society, the crumbling
father. However, under the Ibo tradition, he
of the Ibo traditions is inevitable under the
does not blame the villagers who insult of
religious invasion of Europeans.
his father but hate his father's weakness and look down on all the weak people like his
Chapter 2
father.
1 Ibo tradition advocates strength and
3 Okonkwo insulted a man have no title at
masculinity. After all, only a few people can
a kindred meeting. The man disagreed with
become warriors; and even the strongest are
him when they were discussing the next
subject to God's constraints.
ancestor feast. He didn't even look at the
2 Men without titles have a very low
man and said:
status in Ibo society. They are often
4 This meeting is for men. (24)
underestimated and insulted by others.
5 In Ibo society, the opinions of the weak
Okonkwo's father is a man without a title
30
are impossible to be taken. The important
Okonkwo is the most well-known person
decisions in the village are determined by a
among the nine villages, he cannot defy the
small number of people with titles. They
will of God to kill his adopted son.
insult a man by implying that he is a woman,
Moreover, in order to reflect his bravery, he
which is actually the bigger insult to
eventually became the one who killed
women.
Ikemefuna. Okonkwo tries to hide his
6 The values of Ibo tradition are very simple. Men can only be masculine and
emotions. He believes that expressing love and sadness is a symbol of feminization.
strong while women and the weak have no dignity.
Chapter 3
7 When Okonkwo’s wife asked how long
1 Since everyone is the son of God,
the boy from other villages would stay with
Christianity provides shelter for the weak,
them, Okonkwo thundered:
helping them to eliminate the fear of their
8 Do what you are told, woman. When did
gods and also getting rid of the oppression
you become one of the duchies of Umuofia.
of so-called well-known people in the Ibo
(17)
society,
9 Okonkwo believes that women can only be obedient. Only God and the prestigious elderly can question his behavior. 10 No one can live as they please, their traditions are full of restraints. Even though
so
the
first
people
to join
Christianity can be expected.
2 One of the weak, Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, is the first person to be attracted to Christianity. Nwoye has never been able to meet his father’s expectations so his life is oppressive. He carefully hides the softness
31
of his heart. He cares about the innocent
marginal person in Ibo society. She is
brother Ikemefuna, who was killed and the
pregnant with twins four times. In the Ibo
twins who were abandoned when they were
tradition, twins are considered ominous and
born.
must be thrown away immediately after
3 When he was told that the Christian God cares about their lives as much as he does:
birth. So she is disgusted by her husband and family.
7 Christianity not only accepts people who
4 He felt a relief within as the hymn
are not welcomed by Ibo society, but they
poured into his parched soul. The words of
also accept so-called outcasts. When the
the hymn were like the drops of frozen rain
believers are going to drive the outcasts out
melting on the dry palate of the panting
of the church, Mr. Kiaga stopped them and
earth. （101)
explained:
5 His relief from the hymn suggests that
8 Before God, there is no slave or free.
he will inevitably leave his father and his
We are all children of God and we must
faith. Through Jack's inner description, we
receive these our brothers. He needs Christ
can know that those who abandon traditional
more than you and I.（107）
beliefs and join Christianity cannot feel
9 Keeping twins and untouchables makes
peace and happiness in the original religion.
many rumors about Ibo’s God collapse of
They may be a minority, maybe they just
themselves. The missionaries started from a
don’t dare to express their feelings.
minority, and gradually their power would
6 Another person who joined Christianity in the early days is Nneka who is also a
eventually grow stronger. 10
In contrast to the Ibo tradition,
32
Christianity opens to all people, values
forest and provided shelter for the twins and
equality and respect for every life.
the outcasts, but they did not die as people predicted,
Chapter 4
1 The sacredness and majesty of their gods were destroyed by the missionaries. Once the faith is destroyed, people are no longer pious.
which
proves
that
the
missionaries are true.
5 They let the outcasts shave their hair to prove that they won't die because they shaved their hair. In this way, outcasts become the most devout Christians. We can imagine that other villagers are the same. When they have doubts about their gods,
2 The gods and leaders in the tribe are interdependent, and the leaders guarantee that all those who offend their gods are punished, and their gods give power to the leaders. But once this balance breaks, it is difficult to rebuild.
3 Christian missionaries first proposed: Your gods are not alive and cannot do you any harm. (101）
4 Then they built churches in the evil
they are losing faith.
33
Gender/ Power Issue Chapter 1
Gender Issue 1 Gender roles, an exception within each individual based on the way one talks, acts, and the things done. It's not something humans are born with, it’s something that humans have identified their identities and develop as growing and upbringing. Gender roles is another theme examining different roles and responsibilities attributed to men and women in the African traditions.
above women society.
3 Here is an example of gender roles shown in the Things Fall Apart, Achebe writes: “Yam, the king of crops” which mean only the men are allowed to handle he yams which most important crop in Umuofia. The man plant them, and then Author writes what tasks belong to women: “as the rain became heavier, women planted maize,
2 Throughout literature, it has been
melons
and beans
between
the yam
portrayed that gender roles play a decisive
mounds”. It also shows the man’s strength
role in social status, showing that men are
and status in society relative to women.
34
4 The article “ UCSF Women Reflect On
Chapter 2
Gender, Work and Science” by Arezu Sarvetani and Desden Joswig published in Campus News on march 27,2019. The authors state: “Unfortunately, women still
Power Issue 1 In Umuofia, all kinds of gods control people, while men control women and
only 29 percent of leadership across all U.S. strong control weak. They often consult the universities, and in science leadership that Oracle of the Hills and the Caves to make number is even small. Further, nationwide decisions, and the wife can only obey her just one-third of hospitals executives are husband's orders unconditionally. women”. The basis of this quote means the women’s leaders are smaller than men’s leaders in the medical field.
5 In general, men are lightly have higher
2 Okonkwo always hopes that his son will become more masculine as he wishes. Under his father's nagging and beating, Nwoye can only bear all this with a sad-faced.
position in the workplace as well as in society status than women.
3 When Nwoye first met Christianity, he was attracted by love and happiness of the new faith and left his father. In fact, he wants to leave this oppressive society. The more severely oppressed by society, the sooner they convert to Protestantism. The first to join Protestantism is the people who
35
are desperate to life like Nwoye and the woman who always has twins, while the person with titles is against such a religion.
4 In order to be able to better control their own lives, people should value their own wishes and respect others' choices.
36
37
38
Part III
Epistle
39
The Epistle of Michael
between the fear of the Irish people that will
Chapter 1
lose the British colonialism and the fear of 1 In my opinion, Things Fall Apart is a very
African tribe that the conquering of the
enjoyable novel to depict the cultural value
western colonizers. In other words, he uses
of Igbo society. Achebe writes about the
the
disruption of Igbo society's cultural values
enlighten them on the point of view of the
and
colonized.
customs
from the peak
of the
colonizer's
language
figuratively
Ikemefuna's death to the chronical invasion of colonialism; which can make the readers feel the deep desperation from the imminent collapse of the African tribal system.
Chapter 2 1 Another thing I really about this novel is the death of Ikemefuna. The plot of
2 One thing I like in this novel is his
Ikemefuna's death forces the main character
collaboration between the western literature
shows many emotions and exposes the
and the describing of the African tribe
weakness of the main character.
system. As has been mentioned in the Editor's preface, Achebe successfully uses the yeat's poem to parallelly compare
2 Moreover, Achebe uses the death of Ikemefuna intertextually imitate the story of the Abraham murder sacrifice in the Bible.
40
This is another perfect example of using the intertextual imitation of western literature to address an objective reflection on the African civilization.
3 Abraham's ironic textual tension between the
absolute
trust
and
unparalleled
relationship with Christian God and the crisis of trust between Okonkwo and Igbo's gods not only reveals the inherent instability of African culture but also indicates that Igbo civilization will suffer The fate of partial disintegration from within itself.
​4 The novel uses the narrative way of superimposed stories to intertwine the two cultures. It is not a poetic display of Africa's rich
cultural
traditions,
but
subtle
acupuncture of African traditional culture under the framework of the reconstruction of African traditional cultural narrative.
41
The Epistle of Serena
Chapter 1 1 Before I opened this book, I learned that
gradually emerged in the second half of the
this is a famous novel about African tribes
book. In my opinion, the central idea of this
and European colonial invasions.
book is that the Ibo culture was disintegrated
2 The first half of the book is about the very superstitious daily life of African tribes
or even replaced under the influence of Christianity.
and their seemingly stupid traditions. In fact, China still has a lot of such unscientific
Chapter 2
traditions, so I think this book has not
1 The book title falls from one of W.B.
attracted me from a curiosity standpoint. As
Yeats's poems - The Second Coming. This
for reader-response criticism, I feel that
poem depicts the scene at the end of the
Chinese culture is not close to Africa, and
book: Things fall apart; the center cannot
there is no colonial aggression experience
hold;
like Europe, so I have been reading this book from the perspective of outsiders. 3 However, as with many excellent literary works,
the
author's
writing
intentions
2 After the end of the First World War, Yeats wrote this poem in 1921 when the world was a mess and European countries
42
were in political turmoil.
As a defender of this tradition, I think he
3 In his notes, Yeats writes: The end of an
wants to tell his people in this way that their
age, which always receives the revelation of
culture has collapsed and he has given up on
the character of the next age, is represented
defending their tradition.
by the coming of one gyre to its place of
2 The arrival and insult of the colonizer
greatest expansion and of the other to its
was only an external factor. The underlying
place of greatest contraction.
cause of his suicide was the collapse of the
4 Yeats just Like the protagonist in the
culture and morality of the tribe in the
book Things Fall Apart. He was at the
millennium;
junction of their age. During the Irish War
prompted him to commit suicide was the
of Independence, the conflict comes from
personal anger character.
the
internal
factor
that
parties, civilians and even religion. On the
3 The arrival and insult of the colonizer
one hand, Ireland needs to negotiate with
was only an external factor. The underlying
Britain, and on the other hand, it must calm
cause of his suicide was the collapse of the
the internal affairs.
culture and morality of the tribe in the millennium;
the
internal
factor
that
prompted him to commit suicide was the
Chapter 3 1 I think the author successfully shaped a
personal anger character. 4
Okonkwo is a hero in the tribe,
representative African hero. At the end of
stubbornly sticking to the culture and laws
the novel, Okonkwo chose to die in a way
of the tribe, working hard to grow cassava,
that offended their god. He ended his life.
maintaining a decent family, and having a
43
reputation in the tribe. 5 Okonkwo fall begins with the revenge ceremony for the tribe. He killed his adopted son which planted seeds for his older son to
is Li which is benevolence and Rang which means give precedence to people out of courtesy or thoughtfulness. 3 Confucianism is being squeezed into a
believe in Christianity.
traditional
virtue
that
exists
only in
He knew that their gods were blasphemed,
textbooks because it is no longer suitable for
but he didn't discover that the tribe's laws,
this modern Chinese society. The slogan of
social structures, and people's beliefs had
the 20th-century Chinese revolution: (As a
changed until he killed the court messenger.
country,) Lagging behind, you 'll get bullied
Instead of praising his bravery as usual, the
and humiliated!
villagers blame him for causing trouble for
4 If the economy is not developed well,
them. The process of this change is
culture is meaningless. Confucianism is not
inevitable and irreversible.
a favorable factor in the competition between powerful countries. In the world's view, China is now growing stronger, but in
Chapter 4 1 Nowadays, the cultures of various
my perspective, the essence of our culture has gradually disappeared.
countries in the world are influenced by
5 I am sad that China’s thousands of years
foreign cultures. Like Ibo culture, Chinese
of cultural tradition are about to become
Confucian culture has been around for
history. Although I can’t defend my culture
thousands of years.
like Okonkwo, I understand his behavior
2 Examples of the belief in Confucianism
and respect his courage.
44
Chapter 5 1 I didn't like this book at first, but when I read the whole book and started to make book reviews, I was attracted by the deeper meaning of the book. I like it because it makes me think it deep inside my mind. ​2 It’s sad that we lost our tradition, but on the other side, it’s the progress of human being. We need to create new rules to adapt to a new era. In conclusion, I think this is a very good novel. I like it and will definitely recommend it to my friends.
45
The Epistle of Thao
Chapter 1 1 Although the book is fictional, it depicts
kills Ikemefuna just for part of the blood
the African culture and traditions with such
debt. Ikemefuna was just a boy, very
accuracy and nostalgia that it leaves readers
innocent and called Okonkwo his father.
marveling at the masterpiece. The language
Instead of killing him, the author should
is colorful, full of humor, and brutally
make
honest in depicting the destructive effects of
integrated into the trial handling heavy jobs
colonization on the African culture.
and chores in the field for the rest of his life
2 The novel should be taught to future
Ikeumauna’s
character
become
instead of being of eliminated.
generations for them to understand African
5 Okonkwo’s character should be more
traditions and forces that continue to shape
flexible and shouldn’t apply a strict village’s
the destiny of the continent.
rule for killing his adopted son.
3 The author writes a lot of interesting
6 Another part inspires readers that true
things about the African tradition and tribal
friendship between Obierika and Okonkwo.
customs.
Obierika helps to take care of Okonkwo’s
4
Apart
makes
readers
feel
very
disappointed and shocked when Okonkwo
farm and house for seven years while he was exiled to a different village. This scenario
46
helps readers believe in society there are still
more about African trial. Africans have their
a lot of people with a kind-hearted even
own society and live by a set of well-defined
though they are not related.
rules. The author also uses colorful and
1 ​Overall, “Things Fall Apart� will be on my favorite book list. It helps me understand
enticing language that attractive to me.