Things Fall Apart - Author's purpose

Trevor
Mrs. Sleek
10th Lit/Comp.
17 November 2013 Chinua Achebe has been called the founding father of African literature for his sensitive and accurate portrayal of his native African tribe, the Igbo, in his landmark novel, Things Fall Apart (Bacon handout). Published in 1959, this novel has become a cherished classic that explores the controversial topic of European colonization and presents in “sad irony” the decline and destruction of the native tribe (Coeyman handout). Maintaining a neutral tone throughout the novel, Achebe allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions of where the blame for this destruction lies. Overall, one of Achebe’s main purposes is to write a tragedy following Aristotle’s definition. According to Aristotle’s definition, “A tragedy is a drama or other work of literature that tells the story of the fall of a person of high status” (Handbook of Literary Terms). In Achebe’s novel, after defeating the “great wrestler”, Amalinze the Cat, the tragic hero, Okonkwo gains much respect throughout each of the nine villages of Umoufia (Achebe 3); he feels a renowned sense of pride. Okonkwo’s pride ultimately causes his downfall. Achebe expresses Okonkwo as “one of the greatest men of his time” (Achebe 6). All while indulging his already great honors, Okonkwo continues to gain a prestigious manly reputation. “He was a man of action, a man of war” as described by Achebe (Achebe 9). Okonkwo’s stature lead to his narcissistic opposition, which consequently becomes the most common type of “tragic flaw”; “arrogance resulting from excessive pride” (Handbook of Literary Terms). In return, Okonkwo’s flaw triggers numerous aversions towards the changing Igbo culture. As the story unfolds Okonkwo fails to tolerate the newly prevailed traditions, bringing him to “mourn the loss of the past”, such as him feeling that he has lost his ‘manly reputation’ (Chua 90). Sadly, Okonkwo is flamed with anger. After meeting the “sweet-tongued messenger” who invited him to the meeting with the District Commissioner, Okonkwo’s anger engulfs him, causing him to kill the messenger in hopes of restoring his faded repute throughout the villages (Achebe 140). As Achebe continues to portray his story, he generates an abrupt disappointment for Okonkwo, when he soon realizes the villagers no longer support him. Even worse, Okonkwo admits that he will not succeed in saving his village from the British colonists. Okonkwo faces his downfall, caused by blindness towards his arrogance. After his painful disappointment, for not only himself, but the villagers as well, Okonkwo feels as if he has become just like his father- “improvident” (Achebe 3). In result, Okonkwo hangs himself, to escape from the vulnerability. Achebe ends the story, leaving the audience feeling great pity for Okonkwo. Taking everything into account, Achebe certainly provides many ideas throughout the novel that embrace and support Aristotle’s definition of a tragedy, including the fall of a tragic hero. In this case, the tragic hero being, Okonkwo, who takes the role of presenting “the fall of a person of high status” due to a tragic flaw (Handbook of Literary Terms). Additionally, Achebe concludes the tragedy by causing the audience to feel “pity for the hero and “fear the thought that such tragedy could happen to them” (Handbook of Literary Terms).

Works Cited
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. St. Paul: EMC/Paradign, 2003.
Bacon, Katie. “An African Voice.” Atlantic Unbound 2 Aug. 2000. The Atlantic Monthly Group.
Coeyman, Marjorie. “Going Home was a Sad Awakening.” The Christian Science Monitor 6 Jan (2000).

Cited: Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. St. Paul: EMC/Paradign, 2003. Bacon, Katie. “An African Voice.” Atlantic Unbound 2 Aug. 2000. The Atlantic Monthly Group. Coeyman, Marjorie. “Going Home was a Sad Awakening.” The Christian Science Monitor 6 Jan (2000).