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

Things expunge Apart and Life Goes On   Achebe often centers on the conflicts of man within himself and with his culture. Things Fall Apart is no exception. Achebes story is about a strong man, Okonkwo, whose life is dominated by fear and anger.  The fear of the main character, Okonkwo, is generated first by fear of failure and then by a fear of the unknown. The unknown in this story is the oncoming of the incline into Africa. A religion is brought to the villages, and new shipway of thinking arise. Overall, the African village Okonkwo knew and grew up in slowly begins to disappear. Okonkwo is not only afraid for himself but for his faultless village. He is afraid that his culture pass on vanish and be forgotten by the younger generations.  Achebe is able to show the reader his intentions at the very beginning of the book by including a retell from W.B. Yeats poem The Second Coming Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer Things fall apart the center cannot reserve Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Achebe lets the reader know from the beginning that Nigerias rich cultural heritage is falling apart and that there will be no quick-witted 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 choke off together. Life goes on with the invasion of the English, but never will it be the same.  Achebe was born and raised in a large village in Nigeria. He was also educated in Nigeria. After a short career in radio, Achebe began to lecture abroad and settled for a while as an English professor at the University of Massachusetts.