Things Fall Apart Themes

Thesis: Theme, in Achebe's Things Fall Apart, helps to exemplify how complex, unique, and not "primitive" the culture of the Ibo people, as well as dictate to all, how the culture changed throughout the course of history in a succinct manner.

Paragraph 1: Theme of Change: The complex African culture and its history are shown progressively by Achebe's use of change through characters and their thoughts.

(124) Okonkwo gets exiled for killing a young boy, by accidently firing his heart. It's quite ironic that this happens, because, the kid was dancing a traditional, cultural farewell at the funeral for his father, and by shooting him, it's like symbolically killing culture.

(138) Obierika visits Okonkwo at Mbanta, and tells him of the lepers annihilating the village, Abame. This helps the reader to take a look at the time in which this occurring, which according to the invasion of the British in Nigeria, is most likely between 1500-1700 A.C.

(151) Nwoye converts, along with much of the village. This point in the book represents the history of how Christianity began to spread across much of the world, but most importantly Africa, changing the way of many peoples' culture.

(154) "But it had gone on living and gradually becoming stronger", it, refers to the church. The church as it shows, grew stronger and stronger as time progressed in history. Even today, Christianity remains the strongest religion in the world.

(185) Enoch represents the many radical converts, and how enthusiastic the people are over this new religion by killing the sacred serpent. By killing the sacred serpent, which greatly signified a part of the spiritualistic superstitions and the religion of the tribe, it demonstrated that a part of the village's faith in the cultural ways, was dying.

(186) The egwugwu, are unmasked. A symbol of how many have lost respect for the culture. It's similar to a student disrespecting a teacher. By doing so, the aura which generally surrounds the teacher of wisdom, and power, fades in the eyes of the students.

Paragraph 2: Theme of Fear: Fear in itself, is the product of possible change due to the unexpected, and a major part of the Ibo culture in this novel, as it represents the attachment between the people and their culture.

(10) The entire village of Umuofia as a whole, is the symbol which Okonkwo represents. Okonkwo's fear of idleness and weakness, is paralleled by the village. It does not want to render into a weak village that does not earn its respect in the traditional manner. Strength and power. "He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike his father..."

(13) "But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness." Referring to Okonkwo, and therefore the village.

(27) When Ikemefuna is adopted into Okonkwo's family, Okonkwo begins to grow close to him, but he fears that he will show too much emotion, and does not openly express his admiration to him, but instead treats him like everyone else. This is how the village feels later on with the church converts. They hate them, and their decision, but they decide not to express their abhorrence and refuse to take action.

Conclusion: In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe employs the theme of change and fear, in order to express the culture and tradition of the Ibo people.