Things Falll Apart by Chinua Achebe - 1082 Words

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a story that portrays the tensions between the white Colonial Government and native-born people of Umuofia. Okonkwo, the main character, and a great village man is highly respected in the Igbo tribe of Umuofia. Although, Okonkwo is highly respected by the Igbo people, they are fearful of him because of his violent anger. When the Europeans arrived in Umuofia, they brought with them a new religion: Christianity. The Westerners changed Umuofia, destroyed tradition and destroyed Okonkwo. Things Fall Apart is a great novel recognised for its impact on the world’s understanding of Africa and African people. The novel’s English translation enabled Achebe to reveal the deep response of the Igbo people to colonisation. Through choosing to write in English, the novel acts as a bridge to reach out to people all across the world. English acts as a new voice and enables a connection between others in the world, which allows for the building and creation of awareness through educating and informing; through the English language, readers from across the globe are introduced to a new culture. This essay will discuss what the novel’s English translation made possible for the African writer, Chinua Achebe. Things Fall Apart is a novel about Igbo people and their unique culture. Through the novel, Achebe shows that Africa had a rich history and culture before the arrival of the white man. Achebe rejects the assumptions of imperialist critics and