Igbo Culture In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, tells the story of the Igbo people, and their culture. Achebe explains Igbo culture and the changes that occur after the British arrive and install their practices and religion. In western literature, prior to this novel, and British colonization, the Igbo people have been portrayed as savage, primitive people. This literature includes Mister Johnson by Joyce Cary, where the main character is portrayed as “dimwitted” and the description is seen by Africans as distaste and hatred. Achebe read this book while in college and he quotes while speaking about the book; “open[ed] my eyes to the fact that my home was under attack and that my home was not merely a house or a town but, more importantly, an awakening story.” Other examples of western literature that illustrate hatred towards, or poorly portray the Igbo in the eyes of Africans are “The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats. Achebe’s goal in his novel is to educate his readers about the Igbo from an African point of view. He examines the
The book states “The Oracle was called Agbala, and people came from far and near to consult it. They came when misfortune dogged their steps or when they had a dispute with their neighbors. They came to discover what the future held for them or to consult the spirits of their departed fathers. (P.15). This quote indicates a couple of things. First it shows that the Oracle serves as a mediator between people or neighbors as it is explained in the quote. Second, it shows that Agbala serves as a therapist type figure, listening to people's problems or difficulties. This shows the Igbo are civilized because those are two things that we have in our society we have today, which is considered a civilized society. We have people to settle disputes, whether it be police or judges. We also have therapists that listen to people's problems and help them work through