Life Goes On in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart :: Things Fall Apart essays

Things Fall Apart and Life Goes On   Achebe often concerns on the conflicts of man within himself and with his culture. Things Fall Apart is no exception. Achebes chronicle is about a strong man, Okonkwo, whose life is dominated by charge and anger.  The fear of the main character, Okonkwo, is generated first by fear of failure and thus by a fear of the unknown. The unknown in this boloney is the attack of the English into Africa. A religion is brought to the colonisations, and new ways of thinking arise. Overall, the African village Okonkwo knew and grew up in slowly begins to disappear. Okonkwo is not only agoraphobic for himself but for his entire village. He is afraid that his culture will vanish and be forgotten by the younger generations.  Achebe is able to show the subscriber his intentions at the very beginning of the book by including a excerpt from W.B. Yeats poem The Second Coming Turning and turning in the outfit gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer Things fall apart(predicate) the center cannot hold Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Achebe lets the reader know from the beginning that Nigerias wealthy cultural heritage is falling apart and that there will be no happy ending. The life of Okonkwo symbolizes the life and richness of the tribe and village. As the story progresses Okonkwos life begins to go downhill and so does that of the village. The story ends with the death of Okonkwo and the death of an entire civilization. The colonials have taken over the village the children no longer believe in the old ways. Things fall apart and no one wants to put them back together. Life goes on with the onslaught of the English, but never will it be the same.  Achebe was born and raised in a large village in Nigeria. He was also enlightened in Nigeria. After a short career in radio, Achebe began to bawl out abroad and settled for a while as an English prof at the University of Massachusetts.