Paper 2 Practice

1- To what extent has an awareness of context enriched or enhanced your understanding of Things Fall Apart?

Achebe’s first novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ is a novel that may stir up several reactions. What is meant by this is that due to people’s cultures and traditions, they will react to other people’s cultures in different ways. For example: In class we read this article that showed how a western girl viewed things fall apart, which was that she said it was ‘sexist’ due to the fact that in the novel there is a lot of domestic violence against women in the Igbo culture. However, in that same article a girl from Nigeria said that it is part of her culture. Which is where I stand due to the fact of the deeper understanding of the text that I have, as a result it is clear to see why things are the way they are in the novel.

               The novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ revolves around the character ‘Okonkwo’. Throughout his life Okonkwo has strived to be compared to anything but a woman. This is because of the influence his father ‘Unoka’ left on him. Which was that he was: lazy, poor, and a thief. This left the impression on Okonkwo that his father was very feminine. Consequently Okonkwo worked hard to be the complete opposite of his father, because to him Unoka was represented as a coward that couldn’t fend for himself.

               Coming from an international school where viewing different cultures is vital, I didn’t judge what was happening in the book as a ‘bad’ thing. Just because from the get go it was clear to see that what they were doing and what was happening was enriched in their culture. I also understood that this book was not up to date with where their society could be now, because the novel is set in the 1890’s. A lot could have changed from that time to this day and age, and even if it hasn’t in my perception what they believe in and what they do is part of their culture, and shouldn’t be for others to judge. Since the Igbo culture is a very strong believer (as a community) in their religion, I do not believe they should be judged for following it. For example: With killing the twins in the evil forest, it might not seem normal to westernized people, however to them it is very much like a law. It’s embedded in their culture, tradition, ways and life for that matter. I do see and understand here the European and Western side are coming from because to them killing children is barbaric and not allowed to say the last, but I do also understand the Igbo side which is that it is part of their culture.

               To truly grasp why Okonkwo beat women though, we have to remind ourselves of his father Unoka. Unoka being portrayed as gentle and feminine, he was evidently nice and respectful to women and other beings. Therefore Okonkwo (as mentioned before), saw everything his father did as feminine. Which is why he did everything vice versa of what his father did, in this case if his father was nice to women he decided to be mean, if his father was weak he would be strong etc.

               In conclusion by fully understanding things fall apart it has changed my view on how I see the Igbo people. Considering that it has opened me up to the understanding, that they do everything based off what their traditions, culture, ancestors, and religion has taught them. That is very relatable to me because same like them we learn a lot form our culture, traditions, ancestors and our chosen religions.

Thank you for reading!