The World's Literature in Europe discussion

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe


One source of interpretation for the plot, characters, background, setting, and other important views is the Cliff Notes series. Looking at them in the past, I prefer them to some other interpretive sources. The interpretation of Things Fall Apart is done by John Cha and Suzanne Pavlos. Their full article about this novel begins with a Book Summary. Since some people like to know what the book is about ahead of time while others want to be surprised, I linked to next section 'About the Book', absolutely vital for an interesting view of the literary background and of the colonial and postcolonial past. The section after that is the Character List, which also helped with the pronunciation of the names as well as with the identities That seems an adequate background until comments are posted about the reading itself. TWL's video on its homepage has Achebe reading a passage of the book, though it's further into the book.

No Longer at Ease #2 in the series appears a continuation of the first Things Fall Apart. I might not have time to get to the second one, although, idealistically, it sounds like a good idea :)

≈This Annenberg Learner documentary, called Invitation to World Literature, I've used for other classics of reading (My Name is Red, The Odyssey, Beowulf, and others). I originally picked out one page of it called 'Keypoints of Things Fall Apart', then decided that the main page might be a more friendly starting point.

≈Though the film of this book might not be readily available on the usual channels, it has been variously adapted to different art forms. This article speaks to that: ...From Book to Screen.

≈One of the novel's filmic adaptations is found on YouTube. I watched the first ten minutes (Scene 1), and there's 45 Scenes to go. There's a long glimpse of Okonkwo's father the musician in a charming scene and there's a burly, gruff Okonkwo who wants the wives to get out of bed.

≈This from the BBC World Book Club is an author/audience question and answer. I enjoyed listening to that because the questions were very good as were Achebe's answers.

I finished this book yesterday.

The edition I read was an expanded to include historical and cultural background of Igbo society, which I found helpful to interpret the book and increased my enjoyment of it. I picked this book up years ago and found it boring since the first part of the book did not seem to have much going on. I gave up on it then, but I really liked it this time.

As I got further in the book and the missionaries began to arrive, it really made me feel uncomfortable. I think Achebe did an excellent job showing the conflict between these cultures with the results of the interactions bringing both good and bad consequences. His use of traditional African style of storytelling and parables mixed with the more traditional Western style of writing really contributes to showing the interaction of these cultures.

I debated between 4 and 5 stars for awhile, for what ratings are worth. I ended up saying 5 stars because it made me think a lot, I had a pretty strong emotional connection as it came to the end, and I would like to read it again in the future.

I would be interested in hearing what others have to say about it.

Susan wrote: "...I picked this book up years ago ..."

Years ago, I too read this story. The impact at the time felt unmemorable. Now, I believe the reason for that was the strangeness of it: the spiritualism in it, the different culture, and the character Okonkwo himself. This time around with some study aids, the story is feeling more connected and transparent. I'm not up to the missionaries yet, so I'll have to chime in on that part later.

Browsing through some of the criticism/analyses, I found one written from a feminist point of view. That means, the writer looks at some of the female characters and at their functional importance; whereas other readings and the context of this novel would tend to emphasize the main character of Okonkwo and the value of women in the patriarchal society. If you think about the missionary conversions, then would the most dissatisfied, marginalized members of society seek consolation from the missionaries? Does Achebe's novel confirm that or not? Anyway, I hope this article which looks at some female characters interests you--"Reading as a Woman: Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Feminist Criticism" by Linda Strong-Leek

The setting of this novel is at the dawn of British colonization of Nigeria.

While Things Fall Apart, set in the 1890s, begins before the officially recognized British Protectorate and Colony of 1914 (see Wikipedia "Colonial Nigeria"), the British "influence" in chartered companies and Christian missionaries reaches Okonkwo's village during his seven-year exile. "Birth of the Nigerian Colony 1851-1914" covers the colonizing inroads until the official Protectorate and Colony begins. Then, in 1960, Nigeria is decolonized and, in 1967, the secession of Igboland Biafra is told in another novel Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie).

About the Ibo language there is this resource, which is introductory instead of detailed.

Different in scope is Ogbanje. You recall that Ekwefi's numerous children live a short while. Only the tenth one Ezinma prospers and grows. What would have happened to those other children? The village's myth attributes the short-lived babies to a recurring evil spirit who now inhabits Ezinma. But, Ezinma survives and tosses off the stigma of ogbanje. As the Ogbanje article says, in today's scientific view, a possible source of Ekwefi's misfortune could be in the blood (sickle cell anemia) or could be due to crib death.

Susan wrote: "...the missionaries began to arrive, it really made me feel uncomfortable. I think Achebe did an excellent job showing the conflict between these cultures..."

I recently read something in "The Guardian" online book news about similar feelings. Students wanted potentially uncomfortable readings to contain trigger notices.

Now I hesitate to write about the missionaries, so I'll insert a spoiler for Basil Davidson's uncomfortable, 1983 documentary. (view spoiler)[He narrates the stages of European and British colonization in Africa then in South Africa, beginning with slave trade, then with exploration, missionaries, gold seekers, and government soldiers. Some scenes depict ruthlessness and firepower. At first, inroads were exploratory, commercial, and spiritual encounters in quest of slaves, natural resources, and conversion of beliefs. Then government and new settlements arrived. The documentary is called Africa - Episode 5: The Bible & The Gun. (hide spoiler)] Achebe's West African characters also experience the dismantling of their customs and lives in Things Fall Apart.

Below are links to some short essays, written by Nicole Smith and published on ArticleMyriad; also I put together four questions after my reading them.

1. As an example of postcolonial fiction, is this novel, set in the 1890s, an accurate portrayal of the Igbo clan?
http://www.articlemyriad.com/history-...

2. If the culture and unity of the clan fell apart, or changed, what newer culture took its place? Which opportunities arose out of the change?
http://www.articlemyriad.com/women-co...

3. Did Okonkwo's conservatism lead to his end since he didn't go with the flow? Or, is he a literary figure, symbolizing traditional clan life on the wane? In the first part, he's powerful and respected; whereas after his exile, he's less so in the community, sort of an anachronism.
http://www.articlemyriad.com/comparis...

4. What roles do women play in traditional igbo society?
Hint: "the universality of the image of the “earth mother” or the woman that represents the land, home, and comfort."
http://www.articlemyriad.com/comparis...

If you enjoyed Things Fall Apart, then you might consider the other two books of The African Trilogy, No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God.