Things Fall Apart and Historical Setting
Achebe was born in 1930. Eighty years since colonial governs and missionaries arrived in Igboland.
Raised under the influence of both Christianity and Igbo culture, his perception is followed through his book
Things Fall Apart.
Achebe’s cultural background was intertwined with the influences of his father's transition to Christianity and the inheritance of his family's Igbo culture. The text starts without the mentioning of colonial governors and missionaries to exemplify the cultural and religious systems of Igbo culture. It contradicts the perception that Africans are barbaric creatures, removing the conventions of typical literary norms in western depictions, however, it's not so one-sided. Achebe presents the Igbo culture in various forms, mentioning the goods and flaws of its culture. The flaws being displayed through the main character Okonkwo, displaying the culture through acts of pride and masculinity. Achebe displays the flaws and limitation through colonized Igboland as the conversion of Christianity proves that there is a flaw in its culture and religious beliefs. Achebe mentions both the good and bad side of Christianity through its missionaries, Mr. Brown displays positive aspects of Christianity and James Smith as a representation of the stereotypical norms of western literature. One major influence to having such a balanced perspective within two different cultures is mainly due to the time period this book was written; Achebe wrote the text under the independence for Nigeria, where the disbandment of colonial powers was to leave the African Continent. Under that time Nigeria struggles to fit under a system that would be proven beneficial for the people; the struggle between undergoing the same political and religious aspects of European colonization or to inhibit the countries authentic cultures and beliefs is the major influence to having multiple cultures seen as good or bad. This type of conflict inhibits under the last pages of the book where Okonkwo’s rebuttal for the colonization led him to kill a messenger which then led him to realize that the people he wanted to side with him are invested with the powers of the Europeans, which led to Okonkwo’s death.
To conclude the reason to why this text displayed historical context prior to the colonial influence in Igboland is Achebe's personal context of having two perspectives of the English and Nigerian/Igboland culture. His perception on the two cultures depicts both on the good and bad sides of each of his inherited cultures, coupled with the influence of colonial systems in the independence of Nigeria created a book that not only displays good aspects of Igbo-culture but also displays multiple sides on Christianity and the negatives sides of Igbo-culture.
Raised under the influence of both Christianity and Igbo culture, his perception is followed through his book
Things Fall Apart.
Achebe’s cultural background was intertwined with the influences of his father's transition to Christianity and the inheritance of his family's Igbo culture. The text starts without the mentioning of colonial governors and missionaries to exemplify the cultural and religious systems of Igbo culture. It contradicts the perception that Africans are barbaric creatures, removing the conventions of typical literary norms in western depictions, however, it's not so one-sided. Achebe presents the Igbo culture in various forms, mentioning the goods and flaws of its culture. The flaws being displayed through the main character Okonkwo, displaying the culture through acts of pride and masculinity. Achebe displays the flaws and limitation through colonized Igboland as the conversion of Christianity proves that there is a flaw in its culture and religious beliefs. Achebe mentions both the good and bad side of Christianity through its missionaries, Mr. Brown displays positive aspects of Christianity and James Smith as a representation of the stereotypical norms of western literature. One major influence to having such a balanced perspective within two different cultures is mainly due to the time period this book was written; Achebe wrote the text under the independence for Nigeria, where the disbandment of colonial powers was to leave the African Continent. Under that time Nigeria struggles to fit under a system that would be proven beneficial for the people; the struggle between undergoing the same political and religious aspects of European colonization or to inhibit the countries authentic cultures and beliefs is the major influence to having multiple cultures seen as good or bad. This type of conflict inhibits under the last pages of the book where Okonkwo’s rebuttal for the colonization led him to kill a messenger which then led him to realize that the people he wanted to side with him are invested with the powers of the Europeans, which led to Okonkwo’s death.
To conclude the reason to why this text displayed historical context prior to the colonial influence in Igboland is Achebe's personal context of having two perspectives of the English and Nigerian/Igboland culture. His perception on the two cultures depicts both on the good and bad sides of each of his inherited cultures, coupled with the influence of colonial systems in the independence of Nigeria created a book that not only displays good aspects of Igbo-culture but also displays multiple sides on Christianity and the negatives sides of Igbo-culture.
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