Stereotypes In Things Fall Apart

Stephen Covey once said, “our expectations are often a reflection of the social mirror rather than our own values and priorities.” Oftentimes, individuals can be susceptible to influence as a result of their desire to conform to society's norms. That being said, when one faces the obligation of making a decision, that individual would presumably invest in a widely accepted opinion as to avoid persecution. Such influences on an individual's mind may lead to the acceptance of stereotypes, and encourage a categorization of identity, which hinders all self-decisions and ideas. By way of explanation, one may specifically present themselves to match social norms. As an author who faced racial discrimination influenced by unfair treatment due to his racial identity, Chinua Achebe was inspired to break African stereotypes, restore the culture of Africa and dispel notions of the counterfeit Africa that was presented by society.