Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe How
Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe
How and why is a social group represented in a particular way?
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Things Fall Apart by the Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, perfectly illustrates the collapse of the Igbo society and people during the british colonization of Nigeria in the early twentieth century. The author’s motif, the proper telling of the confound and inaccurate portrayal of the africans during the racist colonial era, was perfectly executed, presenting idyllic and faithful elements of the Igbo culture and customs. As a Nigerian writer himself, Achebe creates stereotypical characters for the colonialists, or «white men» as referred to in the book. The Igbo however are illustrated as complex individuals rather than savages, as depicted in alternate books on related subjects. Rather than examining the way the author’s background influences the way the natives are portrayed in the novel, I intend to consider how it represents the british colonialists in an unfavorable manner. More importantly, how the author’s perspective influences the way the the «white man» is represented and perceived, despite the third person narration.
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As previously stated, the story is being told from an external narrator, also known as a non-focalized point of view. This indicates that the reader has access to the thoughts, experiences and feelings of certain characters in the novel, these are the reflector characters.
Okonkwo, for example, is a perfect illustration of a reflector character. The author has the authority to inform the reader about his past, story and even thoughts. Considering that an external narrator is not given a specific character, it is assumed to be a neutral voice that is simply telling a story as it is. Hence, the voice is, more often than not, viewed as void to any particular characteristics or notions. In Things Fall Apart, the narrator’s own personality begins to take over and obtrude the reading of the story. This is termed a dramatized narrator and is
How and why is a social group represented in a particular way?
!
Things Fall Apart by the Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, perfectly illustrates the collapse of the Igbo society and people during the british colonization of Nigeria in the early twentieth century. The author’s motif, the proper telling of the confound and inaccurate portrayal of the africans during the racist colonial era, was perfectly executed, presenting idyllic and faithful elements of the Igbo culture and customs. As a Nigerian writer himself, Achebe creates stereotypical characters for the colonialists, or «white men» as referred to in the book. The Igbo however are illustrated as complex individuals rather than savages, as depicted in alternate books on related subjects. Rather than examining the way the author’s background influences the way the natives are portrayed in the novel, I intend to consider how it represents the british colonialists in an unfavorable manner. More importantly, how the author’s perspective influences the way the the «white man» is represented and perceived, despite the third person narration.
!
As previously stated, the story is being told from an external narrator, also known as a non-focalized point of view. This indicates that the reader has access to the thoughts, experiences and feelings of certain characters in the novel, these are the reflector characters.
Okonkwo, for example, is a perfect illustration of a reflector character. The author has the authority to inform the reader about his past, story and even thoughts. Considering that an external narrator is not given a specific character, it is assumed to be a neutral voice that is simply telling a story as it is. Hence, the voice is, more often than not, viewed as void to any particular characteristics or notions. In Things Fall Apart, the narrator’s own personality begins to take over and obtrude the reading of the story. This is termed a dramatized narrator and is