Personal History of an Author

The personal history of an author can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his/her writing. Comment on specific instances of such influence in Things Fall Apart

 

Thesis Statement:

The personal history of Chinua Achebe is a factor that plays an important role in the meaning of his novel Things Fall Apart, as the personal background of an author influences his or her perception of the world and consequently the indirect portrayal of the world through the means of character selection and plot development.

 Topic Sentence I:

Being raised in a family of converts, Achebe grew up surrounded by both the Christian and Igbo religions, acquiring precious knowledge that allows him to view the world from two different perspectives.

1)      The Igbo characters’ appreciation of the gods and the punishments for offending them (Author portrays the world through the eyes of the Igbo people)

2)      Presence of characters such as

-          Chielo, the Priestess of the Oracle, who has a high degree of appreciation and respect for the Igbo gods versus Okonkwo who is aware of the existence of gods yet does not seem to respect them as other members of the Igbo culture (keeps offending the Earth goddess through his actions)

-          Mr. Brown, the Christian missionary who respects the values and beliefs of the Igbo people and tries to convince them to embrace Christianity through kindness versus Reverent James Smith who does not appreciate the Igbo culture and forces people to convert to Christianity

(Author acknowledges the values and attitudes of both cultures as well as the existence of extremists who make an exception from the rule)   

Topic Sentence II:

Another important aspect is the historic context, Achebe’s childhood in a culture undergoing the process of colonization potentially influencing his perception of the world.

1)      Plot development – life of the Igbo people before and after the apparition of the first Christian missionary. (This reflects the author’s perception of the impact that colonization has on a culture and its members)                                                                       

2)      Characters such as Reverend James Smith and Mr. Brown reflect the importance of Hegemony in the process of colonization.

-Mr. Brown is more effective than Reverend James Smith in the attempt of gaining the trust of the Igbo people and convincing them to convert to Christianity.                                                                                                                                                                                

Topic Sentence III:

The influences of the cultural context in which the author was raised are also visible in the novel Things Fall Apart as Achebe portrays the Igbo culture in a way that makes it easier to accept and understand by the Western Culture.

-          Achebe grew surrounded by the Western Culture’s influences, gaining knowledge about the differences between this culture and the Igbo culture. These differences are taken into account when he portrays the Igbo culture.

a.       Out of the three wives of Okonkwo, only one is constantly mentioned in the novel as in the Western Culture (the audience) polygamy is uncommon.

b.      Same rule applies to the gods. Even though the Igbo people are polytheists the earth goddess Ani is mentioned most of the times as in the Western Culture, people are monotheists.

Gender Influences in Things Fall Apart - Essay Outline

With reference to Things Fall Apart, discuss how an understanding of gender influences how the text may be understood.

 

Thesis Statement:

Throughout the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe the concept of gender is explored through the eyes of the ancient Igbo culture, view which in the modern society can generate different responses from an unaccustomed Western audience.

 Topic sentence I:

As opposed to the modern Igbo culture, where the attitude towards women presented in the novel is not anymore applied yet it is accepted as a value of the past, members of a modern Western audience could consider the novel as being sexist and violent.

-          Members of the modern Igbo society accept the described attitude towards women and consider that if this would disappear from a novel such as Things Fall Apart, it would lack authenticity

-          Violent attitude of Okonkwo towards his wives

-          The use of the name Agbala or woman for a man with no titles reflects the lack of appreciation towards women as members of the Igbo culture with no titles. Only the first wife of a man was allowed to carry her husband’s titles.  

 Topic sentence II:

Western audiences might interpret Achebe’s novel not only as a representation of a misogynistic society, but also a society of anomalies where a man is allowed to “own” multiple wives who are considered solely means of boosting his social reputation.

-          Polygamy in the Igbo culture

-          Advantages and privileges of the first wife in front of the other wives

-           Representation of Okonkwo’s wives

 Topic sentence III:

Both the power and role of the women in the Igbo society portrayed by Achebe are greatly reduced and this is not only a deviation from the actual life of ancient Igbo women, but also a factor which could give birth to anger and frustration from the Western audience, accustomed to the gender equality mostly present in a modern society.

-          Igbo women and religion

-          Chielo, an exception from the rules

-          Role of women in the society as seen through the representation of Okonkwo’s wives’ activities.