Chinua Achebe Essay

CHINUA ACHEBE AS A NIGERIAN ENGLISH NOVELIST
Abstract: Chinua Achebe is the most widely read African novelist in the world today. He has
encompassed in his novels one century of history of Nigeria. Achebe highlights various aspects of
the Ibo culture in his novels–"Things Fall Apart", "No Longer at Ease", "Arrow of God", "A Man
of the People" and "Anthills of Savannah". He is regarded as the invention of the African literature.
He takes pride in being 'a teacher' of his society and calls upon his fellow writers to turn their
attention to African life, culture and ethos.
Keywords: Ibo Culture, thrive, innovative, appalling, roaring flame, spanning, synthesis and erstwhile
_______________________________________________________________
Introduction: Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian Novelist seen by millions as the father of modern
African Literature, has died at the age of 82 on 22–03–2013 in Boston in the USA. He was born in
1930 0n 15th November in a village called Ogidi in Eastern Nigeria in Africa. His mother tongue is
Ibo. His parents were Christians. His father was a teacher in a missionary school in Ogidi. Young
Achebe went to this school for his early education. When he was eight he began to learn English and
at fourteen he attended Government College at Umuahia. He intended to study medicine but soon
switched to English literary studies. He went to the University of Ibadan where he studied English,
history and theology. After graduating in 1953, he decided to be
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Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, presents the result of colonization of the Ibo people by the
European missionaries. The Ibo culture is threatened to change by the European influence.
Villagers are divided between resisting a new lifestyle or embracing it for better opportunities in
society. The struggle to keep Ibo traditions alive is reflected in Okonkwo and Obierika's
relationship to one another. Okonkwo represents the resistance of change by keeping traditional
values in high regard while, Obierika signifies the openness to opportunity by questioning the
current Ibo values. The arrival of European missionaries persuades the exchange of traditional Ibo
methods, customs, and community for Christianity, resulting in the community to fall apart.
Before the arrival of European influence, villagers of Umuofia had a single option for a way of
life. It was a place to be feared, dominated by war and violent practices. Ibo culture is centered on
a patriarchal system based on hierarchy; the highest titles held by male egwugwu in the legal
system and the osu at the bottom. The main character, Okonkwo, represents the ambition to strive
for a higher position in society in order to gain status: "His life had been ruled by a great passion–to
become one of the lords of the clan" (131). Another aspect in Ibo culture is the representation of
women. They are undermined in order for men to achieve success; bride prices are used to able men
to marry more than one wife and husbands are

Essay on Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe
Post colonialism deals with cultural identity in colonized societies and the ways in which writers
articulate that identity. Things Fall Apart is a good novel that serves as a reminder of what Nigeria
once was. It shows how a society can deal with change, how change affects the individuals of that
society, and how delicate a change can be; so much so that the people themselves are surprised at the
change.
Things Fall Apart is an English novel by the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe which was published in
1957. Throughout the book the role of customs and traditions is very important and decides the fate
of men, women, and children. Some of the customs practiced in this culture would certainly be
frowned upon in the West yet are perfectly...show more content...
In these seven years, he hears of the destruction of the village of Abame by the white men because
the natives there had killed a white man. This part also introduces the missionaries into the lives of
the people with particular reference to their interest of converting people into their religion. Finally,
there is the farewell feast that Okonkwo arranges for the whole village before he returns to his own
village after his seven years of exile.
The third part deals with Okonkwo returning to his village and his disappointment at the lack of
interest in his arrival. Many things have changed during these seven years. The village has
virtually 'fallen apart' with the entry of the white men who have brought about a lot of changes in
the village. They have brought in a new government and many villagers have converted to the
new religion (Christianity), including Nwoye, Okonkwo's son. Trade has also been established.
The last two chapters' deals with the terrible treatment meted out to the leaders of the tribe by the
District Commissioner. His actions impel Okonkwo to behead one of their messengers and after
finding that his action has no support from the tribe, Okonkwo is compelled to take his own life.
Even at this last stage of his life, his fellow clan members do not bury him since he has desecrated
the land of the Goddess Ani, by taking his own life.
The author at the end of the novel criticizes the British for their lack of sensitivity and at the same

Chinua Achebe's most well–known novel Things Fall Apart was defined by many as a modern
piece of African literature that was truly African. It became a major contribution to literature
around the world. The novel revolves around an Ibo village in Nigeria. The inclusion of African
culture, such as the language, stories, and way of life, create depth and dimension and are
essential to the telling of the Ibo story by Achebe. The certain Ibo words included in the novel
help develop a taste for true African culture. Without these words, Achebe would not have been
able to explain himself as well as he did. The words that are used in the english language differ
greatly from the words used in Ibo language. Achebe illustrates this when he writes, "That was
how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could
also mean a man who had taken no title" (Achebe 13). In this piece from the novel, it demonstrates
that the special African word has a greater meaning than any English word ever could. If Achebe
were to just say the word woman in place of the word agabala, many readers may become confused
as to what he means. The word choice establishes what true African culture is. The author
demonstrates this principle of the difference of language on many occasions throughout the novel
such as, "This man told him that the child was an ogbanje, one of those wicked children who, when
they died, entered their mothers' wombs to be born again" (Achebe 77) and

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
The language an individual uses reveals both the individual's present mindset and the development of
that individual. In return, the individual a language is spoken through reveals the values of him and
his society, although the two are not necessarily interconnected. Thus, the use of language can have
cohesive and alienating effects. In Chinua Achebe's multidimensional novel Things Fall Apart, great
emphasis is placed on the expressive power of language, especially through its use by certain
characters. In this novel, Achebe uses Okonkwo, the novel's protagonist and influential clan leader,
as a vehicle essential to the development of the theme of language. More specifically, Achebe guides
his readers through a story in which a powerful and...show more content...
Furthermore, Achebe masterfully creates a dynamic tension within his novel by having Okonkwo
act as the antithesis of the literary devices so often used by his clansmen and Achebe himself.
Fueled by this tension, Achebe drives forth his plot; although things fall apart for the Igbo people,
Achebe binds together a wide breadth of literary instruments with the characterization of Okonkwo
to smoothly guide readers from the epitome of a great man's success to the depths of that same great
man's demise. Through Achebe's direction, one may appreciate the power which language holds in
shaping the identity of an individual or collective group of

Essay On Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe is one of the most influential writers in African Literature. He incorporated his
culture so others could have a better understanding. His Things fall apart, ended up being a great
success that it sold over 12 million copies and was sold in over 50 languages.
Albert Chinualumogu Achebe was born on November 16, 1930 in Ogidi, Nigeria. According to
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/things–fall–apart/chinua–achebe–biography), "He was the
fifth child of Isaiah Okafor Achebe and Janet Iloegbunam Achebe. His father was an instructor in
Christian catechism for the Church Missionary Society. Nigeria was a British colony during
Achebe's early years, and educated English–speaking families like the Achebes occupied a privileged
...show more content...
Achebe's position and contribution to Nigeria He wrote multiple books. "No Longer at Ease
(1960), Arrow of God(1964) and A Man of the People (1966)," all of these novels uplift the issue of
traditions vs. change and how the argument must reach a middle ground.
Prior to joining NBC, in 1958, Achebe published his first novel: Things Fall Apart. The
groundbreaking novel centers on the cultural clash between native African culture and the traditional
white culture of missionaries and the colonial government in place in Nigeria. Thoroughly explained
Igbo people/culture gave representation Achebe reflects on how western culture has impacted his
life as he personally experienced the clash of two cultures. He writes the Things fall apart, to not
only to show how uncompromising both sides were but to make sure Native African know their

Argument Essay: Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
Arianna Rabago
Ms. Ramirez
English II– A1
29 April 2015 Argument Essay: Things Fall Apart In sections two and three of the short novel
Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, the reader is transported back in time and given the
opportunity to recount the establishment of Christian missionaries in Ibo society as well as view the
impact they had on Umuofia. Chinua Achebe's purpose of writing this novel is to portray the Ibo
community as vividly and honestly as possible while demonstrating the intricate customs, rituals,
and laws that were followed daily by citizens. With the acceptance of a new religion on the rise,
ancient tribal traditions begin to fade into a memory and the morality of the village becomes
jeopardized. Although...show more content...
Many situations given do not directly affect the story itself, but serve a purpose in providing
examples to enlighten the reader on the background of the heritage. An example pertaining to the
development of Ibo culture comes from its system of laws and justice. Achebe dedicates a chapter
of this novel to describing the rituals of the egwugwu (important clansmen who dress as village
ancestors), as they determine the verdict in a wife–beating case during Peace Week (87). The
villagers of Umuofia do not believe the costumed clansmen are the village ancestors, although,
"Okonkwo's wives...might have noticed that the second egwugwu had the springy walk of
Okonkwo. They noticed that Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the
row of egwugwu." (90). Despite their theories, the villagers continue to remain silent out of respect
for the ancestors represented by the egwugwu. In addition to laws, Okonkwo opposes the laws
enforced by the Christians and is not willing to compromise his pride in return for the support of the
people closest to

Biography of Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe: Africa most beloved author
The Prominent Igbo writer, famous for his novels describing the effects of western customs and
values on traditional African society. Achebe's satire and his keen ear for spoken language have
made him one of the most highly esteemed African writers in English. Chinua Achebe was born in
eastern Nigeria on November 16, 1930 Isaiah and Janet Achebe (Bucker pars.1). Isaiah Okafor
Achebe was a catechist for the Church Missionary Society and his wife to traveled Eastern Nigeria
evangelist before settling in ogidi, Isaiah's ancestral Igbo village, and five years after Chinua
Achebe's birth (Bucker pars 2). Growing up in Ogidi, Achebe he began to learn English at the age of
eight and had contact with...show more content...
This helped him master the subtle nuances between written and spoken language, a skill that
helped him later to write realistic dialogue. In 1956, Achebe was chosen for training in London at a
staff school run by the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) (Chinua pars 1). His first trip out of
Nigeria was to advance his technical production skill. In the same year Things fall apart was
published, Achebe got promoted at the NBS and put in charge of network's eastern region
coverage (Achebe par 5). He to moved Enugu and began work on his administrative duties. It was
there he met a woman named Christie Okoli, who had grown up in the area and joined the NBS
staff when he arrived (Achebe par 5). They first conversed when she brought to his attention a pay
discrepancy; a friend of hers found that, although they had been hired simultaneously, Christie had
been rated lower and offered a lower wage (Achebe pars 5). She was sent to the hospital for an
appendectomy soon afterwards, she was pleasantly surprised when Achebe visited her with gifts
and magazines (Achebe pars 6). Achebe and Okoli grew closer in the following years, and on
September 10, 1961 were married in the Chapel of Resurrection on the campus of the University of
Ibadan. Christie Achebe has described their marriage as one of trust and mutual understanding; some
tension arose early in their union, due to conflicts about

Analysis Of Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe, was a nigerian writer, poet, critic, and professor. Born and raised in south–east
nigeria, Achebe became curious and fascinated with traditional African cultures and religions as he
grew up. Then, as a university student studying English Literature, he starting writing stories and in
1959, he eventually created Things Fall Apart, a story that depicts african imperialism in the 1800s
and 1900s and captures the rapid changes that occurred in african culture during that time. . This
novel received attention and praise from the whole world, Chinua Achebe suddenly became
renowned for his literary workmanship and went on to publish many more creations. Living in
Lagos, Achebe witnessed the issues with development from old to new cultures in African
communities. Europeans envisioned africans as uncivilized and most were not enlightened of the
post–colonial conditions and freedom in Africa. These factors prompted Achebe to inform the
world about Africa's real identity and establish a new voice in African literature. The viewpoint
of Achebe was biased to some extent when writing this novel, as someone who came from africa
and had a goal of restoring his country's cultural dignity, but it also provided a unique point of
view and a story produced from real life experiences. This book by Chinua Achebe is known as a
historical fiction, the characters and events did not occur in the past, but they were devised
according to historical occurrences and are correct in terms

Chinua Achebe Essay
Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe is said to be "one of the most influential writers" of the century not only in Nigeria,
his homeland but also throughout the world (Albany). Chinua Achebe was born in Ogidi, Nigeria
on November 16, 1930. He was born a son of a Chrisitan Churchman, Isaiah Okafo and Janet N.
Achebe. Achebe was raised an Ibo Christian, which made him stand out among his fellow peers.
Achebe's lifestyle was different than that of other people living in his village because of his religious
background and upbringing. When Achebe was fourteen he began schooling at Government Albany
College in Umuahia for three years. He then attended the University of Ibadan from 1948 through
1953. Following his education at the University of...show more content...
The main character is a man named Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a very strong and well known man.
Okonkwo is driven by his desire to be a better man than his father was. Okonkwo is ashamed of
his father because he was a weak man with no accomplishments. The book describes the village
and the traditions of the people of the village. It describes in detail their religious beliefs. All
aspects of Ibo life are based on their religion. The conflict in the story arises when Christian
missionaries force their way into the Umofia and began to tear apart the lives of the Ibos. The
missionaries try to convert the Ibos into Christians and a western way of living. When some of the
Ibos change their lives to be like the missionaries', civil disagreements and hostility begin to occur.
The story is essentially a fictional tale about an event that really did occur in Nigeria. In this story,
Achebe is describing the western movement that Nigeria went through and is still dealing with today
through fictional characters.
Achebe wrote a follow–up story to Things Fall Apart called No Longer at Ease. No Longer at Ease
is about Okonkwo's grandson, Obi who is part of the "corrupted" generation of the Ibo people. Obi
is an educated Christian, who also participates in the traditions of the Ibo people. This has caused
him to be torn between the old and new ways of Africa and Nigeria. The

Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe Analysis
Have you felt like the world was changing around you? Chinua Achebe writes about African culture.
His works are sometimes referred to as apocalyptic. Chinua Achebe's fiction as a depiction of social
change in the colonization of Africa is shown through the social change of religion, government, and
of norms and values.
The aspect of social change that was presented throughout many works of Chinua Achebe is religious
change. "Tribal leaders, as well as his own son, have converted to the white man's religion,
Christianity..." ("Things Fall Apart"). The tribe converted from their religion to Christianity. The
tribe converting to Christianity is a form of social change through their belief system. "Achebe was
fascinated with world religions and traditional African cultures and began writing stories as a
university student. After graduation he worked for the Nigerian broadcasting service and soon
moved to the metropolis of Lagos" ("Narratives of Social Change"). Achebe has an interest in other
religions he studied them throughout his studies at college. "In Arrow of God (1964), set in the
1920s in a village under British administration, the principal character, the chief priest of the village,
whose son becomes a zealous Christian..." (Chinua Achebe) The chief priest's son became a
Christian. This shows that also the new generation is converting to a different religion even if they
are born under people with hi powers within the religious community. Another aspect of social

Who Is Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart?
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." In Achebe's award winning novel,
"Things Fall Apart," he wants the reader to learn that we need to take away experiences from the
past in order to keep the Ibo culture alive. The story is told through three generations of a family,
Unoka (the grandfather), Okonkwo (the father), and Nwoye (the son), who are all a part of the Ibo
culture. By comparing the lives of Unoka, Okonkwo, and Nwoye, Achebe tries to secure a platform
of understanding– of believable and symbolic characters, Achebe builds empathy in the western
reader. Achebe start the story with Unoka as a character to show how Okonkwo (his son), did not
want to become. Achebe describes Unoka with a lot of negative energy.

Chinua Achebe Research Paper
As an author, a poet, a professor, a scholar, a critic, and a civil servant, Chinua Achebe (pronounced
CHIN– you–ah Ah–CHAY) was a fascinating man. Chinua Achebe lived a long life, he surpassed
the Nigerian lifespan by 30.01 years and the American lifespan by 3.1 years. He had a successful
life, Achebe wrote many books and won many awards, he also lived a compelling life with a solid
education and a successful occupation. Chinua Achebe was a successful and influential author.
Chinua Achebe lived a long life. He transcended both the American and Nigerian life span, and
accomplished many goals. On the day of November 16, 1930 in the traditional Igbo village of
Ogidi Nigeria, Chinua Achebe was born to Janet Achebe and Isaiah Achebe. His parents were
converted Christians which made him grow up as a Christian. He went to a missionary school,
which is a religious school run by Christians. At only fourteen years old Achebe was sent to a
college in Umuahia, four years later he received a scholarship to the University of Ibadan to study
medicine. After his first year at this prestigious college he became aware that...show more content...
He has won the American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1982, the Commonwealth Poetry Prize,
the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, 2010, the Man Booker International Prize, 2007, the Nigerian
National Order of Merit, and the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, 2002, just to name a
few. Throughout his lifetime he has received more than thirty honorary doctorates, he wrote over
20 works, and his top seller, Things Fall Apart, has had more than 10 million copies sold. He had
originally planned to have one novel about Nigerian independence, yet that turned into two shorter
novels, Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease. Achebe traveled all around the world and while
he was working for NBS(Nigerian Broadcasting Service) he met Christie Okoli, who ended up
marrying him and together they had four

Nathaniel Oehl
4/4/2016
In Defense of Conrad: A Response to Achebe's "An Image of Africa" In "An Image of Africa",
Chinua Achebe comes to the bold conclusion that Joseph Conrad "was a bloody racist" (788), with
his discussion centering primarily on Conrad's Heart of Darkness as a racist text. Achebe's
reasoning for this branding rests on the claims that Conrad depicts Africa as "a place of negations at
once remote and vaguely familiar in comparison with which Europe 's own state of spiritual grace
will be manifest" (783), that Africans in Heart of Darkness are dehumanized through both the
characterization of individual Africans and the Congo as a setting, and finally that Marlow is no
more than a mouthpiece for Conrad's personal views on race and imperialism. However, Achebe
makes critical oversights and contradictions in the development of each of these argumentative
pillars, which prove fatal to the validity of his overarching contention. This should not be construed,
though, as a yes–or–no assessment of whether Conrad was a racist outside of what his written work
suggests–Achebe himself has "neither the desire nor, indeed, the competence to do so with the tools
of the social and biological sciences" (783)–but as an assessment of claims specific to Heart of
Darkness and their implications for Conrad's views and attitudes. Achebe's first allegation is that
Conrad, and Western society in general, develops Africa "as a foil to Europe" in order to draw
attention to

A Dead Man's Path, By Chinua Achebe
Traditions throughout culture change with time, yet in most instances, a handful of people refuse to
change their methods or beliefs. In "Dead Man's Path," Chinua Achebe creates a changing society
and presents a group of people who are unwilling to change their way of life and adapt. Achebe uses
symbols, allusions, characters, and setting development to give the reader an interpretation of the
changes made throughout society that creates a conflict between a new generation and an old
generation.
In "A Dead Man's Path," Achebe uses the symbols of a path and abarbed wire fence to effectively
capture the conflicting ideas between a new and an old generation. Ani, the village priest, maintains
the importance of this path for he states that the...show more content...
In 1949, many African nations began their surge for independence, and the native people did not
accept the social modifications forced upon them. The revelation of the setting comes through the
name "Ndume Central School" which is a school located within the African nation of Nigeria (595).
Later, the setting reveals the deep divisions that take place in Africa at the time and allows the reader
to understand why the villagers resists change. The separation between the school and village
symbolizes the division, and this separation captures a modern school fighting a traditional village.
Obi enforces the separation with the moving of the path and states that this new path should "[skirt]
our premises" (597). The setting enhances the conflict between the villagers and Obi because the
Africans at the time resisted the change that Obi enforced within the school. The setting of the
school and village enhances the conflict because the school represents the transformation of society,
while the village captures the stubborn, old way of living.
Achebe produces a theme throughout "A Dead Man's Path" based on the conflict of change through
the path, a barbed wire fence, a biblical allusion, and setting throughout the story. The literary
devices allow for the reader to establish a strong interpretation of the effects of change and how
people within society refuse to adapt from their traditional ways. This story accurately captures the
struggle between a new generation and traditional way of life. Even with forced modernization, the
refusal of change causes conflict in an ever–changing

Analysis Of Chinua Achebe 's ' The Flies '
Where Dangarembga diverges from Achebe, is that, while Achebe leaves Okonkwo and his yams
king, free to rule over his wives without consequence to their well being, Dangarembga depicts the
father figure's unimpeachable authority as an oppressive element for both Tambu and her cousin
Nyasha. Thus, Dangarembga adheres to the template by including its plot, but enters into dialogue
with its politics. Nervous Conditions accepts the existence of a unified pre–colonial culture, it also
depicts a shift from this culture to a post colonial setting of the mission school. Again,
Dangarembga's novel differs in its politics from Achebe's in its conclusions of both traditional and
post colonial life, it sees the presumption of women as subservient to men as an issue with both
communities. This difference between Achebe and Dangarembga can likely be attributed to their
different motives in writing. As aforementioned, Achebe was seeking to remind his peers of the
value of anchoring the values of government in the morality of traditional rural life, whereas
Dangarembga was seeking to build a place in African literature where young girls could find
themselves. As described in an interview, Tsitsi talks about why she created characters which
young girls could identify with. In the interview Dangarembga describes having felt a lack of both
familial and Zimbabwean history, and states that a goal for her novel was to "leave a very real taste
of life during the times" that she grew up in. It

Everyone experiences different types of pain and react differently. Mental health is the person's
condition regard to their psychological and emotional well being. "Many...can disrupt your emotional
health" creating a variety of emotions such as "sadness or anxiety" (familydoctor). Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe was written to express the painful lives of the people of Umuofia as they are
forced to assimilate to a whole new religion brought by the 'white men". The language used
throughout the story is centered, orderly and gets right to the point without romanticizing anything
and reels the reader into the lives of Okonkwo and his clan as they fight for religious freedom. The
purity of each village is destroyed as the missionaries came...show more content...
"To show affection was a sign of weakness" (Achebe 28). Some of his actions were out of his
control but the murders he committed were his own choice and apparently his reputation and ego
meant more to him than mercy and human decency. "People who want to feel better about
themselves make decisions that meet their needs". All of the decisions he made like beating his
wife, killing Ikemefuna, the missionary and accidently Ezeudu's son decided his fate, the way
the tribe ended up was Okonkwo's view of a tragedy. The village did not want to go to war with
the missionaries that religiously destroyed their clan so Okonkwo became miserable with life. He
could not believe that the villagers were okay with the new religion being forced upon them so he
decided to take his fate into his own hands and take his own life so he does not have to face what
tragedy is to him; his clan failing and falling into the enemy's arms. Okonkwo could not bear the
burden of this mental and emotional pain his failing village caused

Summary Of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
True to its title, Chinua Achebe's tragic story Things Fall Apart follows the collapse of conservative
African tradition in the face of European modernism, characterized by the breakdown of
communication at both the personal and communal level. Through his novel Achebe explores the
theme of alienation in the escalating strain and eventual estrangement of Nwoye from his father and
tribe, to expose the deceptive harmony of pre–colonial Igbo society. This is emphasized by the
juxtaposition of public principles and private beliefs regarding the superstitious brutality of
traditional customs. As Yeats alludes, "the centre cannot hold", demonstrated when divided loyalties
ultimately cause Umuofian society to crumble from within. Even in early stages of his childhood,
Nwoye is tormented by inner confusion and struggles with his native identity. With reference to the
strict patriarchal structure of Igbo culture, Achebe draws a clear contrast between the boy and his
father, juxtaposing the traditional "masculine stories of violence and bloodshed" (53) Okonkwo
promotes with the effeminate tendencies of Nwoye who "somehow still [prefers] the stories that his
mother used to tell" (53). Though Nwoye is entertained by these whimsical parables, he feigns a
chauvinist attitude in a bid to impress his father, and continues to battle his personal dilemma
inwardly. He is depicted as an innocent perceptive child who has not yet grasped the reasoning
behind the seemingly irrational cruelties

Dead Man's Path by Chinua Achebe Essay
Dead Man's Path by Chinua Achebe A story about the clash of two sets of values
============================================= This story by Chinua Achebe presents
the conflict between world–views and value systems. Dead Man's Path is set in Nigeria in 1949. It
is on the subject of a man named Michael Obi who is the new, enthusiastic and wholehearted
headmaster of an underprivileged and disadvantaged school. This story explores the effects of
European customs and beliefs on traditional African culture. Michael Obi is the new headmaster of
Ndume Central School. The Mission authorities selected him for the job as they wanted a "young
and energetic man" to administer it. Michael is a married...show more content...
He believed that this way, all the teachers would put all their time work and energy in to their job
and not be distracted my other commitments and people. His wife Nancy was against this idea as
she wanted the teachers to be married so that other wives could "envy her position" and "she would
set the fashion in everything." This is a key example of Michael's wife's self–centredness. Michael
managed to transform the school gardens into a place of beauty. One day while he was admiring
his work, he saw an old woman walking along a disused path that ran through the school
compound. This annoyed Michael and he inquired one member of his staff about it. He found out
that this path is apparently very important and blessed as it connects the village shrine to the
cemetery. Michael was very selfless at this moment and decided to close down the path, as in a
few days a "white inspector" would be coming to visit the school. Michael felt that the school
couldn't be used as a 'through fare.' Soon the path was closed, and blocked of with barbed wire. A
few days later the village priest called upon the headmaster. The priest talked with Michael for a
while. He wanted Michael to reopen the path. You get the impression from the priest that he is a
very frail and elderly man who doesn't wish to start argument, but merely get his opinion and
thoughts across to Michael. The priest believed that the

Chinua Achebe
"Imaginative literature ... does not enslave; it liberates the mind of man. Its truth is not like the
canons of orthodoxy or the irrationality of prejudice and superstition. It begins as an adventure in
self–discovery and ends in wisdom and humane conscience." "The Truth of Fiction" in Hopes and
Impediments: Selected Essays 1988
In the mid 20th century Africa was once more starting to find its own voice, having been gagged
by centuries of colonial oppression. For all that time the story of Africa had been told by
Europeans, and the narrative they presented was a shoddy one. The black man; if in fact a brother
was certainly at most a junior sibling. As such, when Africa did eventually open its own mouth to
speak, the rest the...show more content...
Achebe borrowed themes from his childhood brought up Christian in a traditional Igbo village,
forbidden to speak his native language at school.
Things Fall Apart went on to become one of the most important books in African literature, selling
over 8 million copies around the world.
In 1960 Achebe published his second book "No Longer at Ease" about Obi Okonkwo, who leaves
his village for a British education and a job in the Nigerian colonial civil service. Achebe based this
book on his experience in working in Lagos in a country on the threshold of independence.
Achebe continued to write books while working in several positions at the Nigerian Broadcasting
Service until the civil war between Nigerian forces and the secessionist Biafra Republic forced
Achebe and his family to flee their home. Achebe's family relocated to the Biafran capital of Aba,
during this time Achebe concentrated mainly on his poetry, later stating that the short, intense
form was more in keeping with his mood, a consequence of living in a war zone. Achebe was a
supporter of Biafran independence and went on a tour of the US to along with fellow writers
Cyprian Ekwensi and Gabriel Okara in an effort to raise support for the cause. However in January
1970 the Biafran forces surrendered. The

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