Friday, April 12, 2013
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart tells two intertwining stories, both centering on Okwonko, a "strong man" of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first, a powerful fable of the immemorial conflict between the individual and society, traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world. The second, as modern as the first is ancient, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world with the arrival of aggressive European missionaries.
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So far I am completely immersed in this book. It is interesting with both action and tragedy. It also has a feeling of reality that makes it especially gripping and thrilling.
ReplyDeleteAs I continue reading I become increasingly aware of the coming problem. I enjoy the way Achebe switches characters and frequently uses foreshadowing.
ReplyDeleteAchebe is so good at making this book feel real, it becomes almost sad because of the events. One of the most emotionally striking events for me was the sacrifice of Ikemefuna. This event really showed how different the Ibo culture is from our own.
I have finished this book and to be honest I am very surprised by the ending. The society the Iba people live in is almost unthinkable for me. The society in itself is a giant tragedy in my eyes. The punishment for crimes of any sort are amazingly severe. The raw feeling and custom in this book is amazing. The Iba people have their customs so ingrained into their culture they are more culturally based than emotionally or judicially.
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