Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart - 2170 Words

The widespread influence of Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart not only has earned it a number of accolades, but also led to its reputation as one of the most influential works of fiction by an African writer of all time. According to an article from the Chronicle of Higher Education, the novel has sold about eleven million copies in fifty different countries, was a part of Harold Bloom’s 1994 selection of the canonical works of world literature, and The Sunday Times named Achebe one of the â€Å"1,000 makers of the 20th century† for his work. For many years, literary representations of Africa had been immersed in negative conceptions of reductive romance, primitivism, and colonial sentiment. With a fresh new perspective, Things Fall Apart†¦show more content†¦Throughout most of the novel, he writes in a perspective from inside the clan of Umuofia, and describes the customs and traditions of the Igbo in detail. Achebe introduces the role of the Umuo fian town crier by describing, â€Å"Okonkwo had just blown out the palm-oil lamp and stretched himself on his bamboo bed when he heard the ogene of the town crier piercing the still night air. Gome, gome gome, gome, boomed the hollow metal. Then the crier gave his message, and at the end of it beat his instrument again† (21). Rather than explaining Igbo culture in an informative tone or introducing any of his own opinions or judgment, he simply allows it to be assumed that one traditionally uses the ogene drum to convey messages from distant villages. His integration of Igbo culture in this fashion establishes an alternate perspective to the usual portrayal of Nigerians, while still keeping an objective tone. By telling everything exactly how it is, Achebe not only maintains historical accuracy, but also presents the dualities of Igbo culture. He shows both the good and bad aspects in equal amounts throughout the story. He depicts courage, nobility, humanity, and complexity within his characters and their lives, while still including the cruelty of some Igbo customs, such as the beating of women, the murdering of children, and the treatment of the sick. Achebe