A man’s pride depends on his status among his peers. In many ways, the society is a cruel and harsh one. Overly emotional men are considered weak and unworthy. Other emotions are concealed even from their own wives and children. In fact, pride is the most visible trait that most men display. We notice how proud the protagonist Okonkwo and his clansmen are of Umuofia. All its villages are bound by the same ancient code and not one of them functions differently. It is this that sets Umuofia apart from other towns. They also mourn various losses in each other’s company. They celebrate various occasions together coming from afar to be with their relatives. All the villages of Umuofia are governed by the Edwugwu and everyone worships the same gods. Umuofia, which means “People of the Forest”, is a town comprising of nine separate villages, feared by all its neighbors, as many of its clansmen are brave warriorsĪlmost every society has a strong cultural and religious tradition. With remarkable economy and simplicity of language, Achebe describes the fragmentation of this ancient culture and the alienation suffered by its people due to colonization. It is pride that brings its people together. Umuofia may be regarded almost as a large, self-contained village, held together because of the clan’s strict adherence to its religion and laws. It is the story of an ordinary man who had to live through extraordinary circumstances, only to give up at the very end out of fear and frustration. Almost every culture’s literature has produced a similar tale. Things Fall Apart is the story of a proud man’s inglorious fall.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |