Things Fall Apart Essay

The Igbo were very interesting and cultural throughout their history in Africa. The genre of this book is tragedy and historical fiction and is shown throughout the book. In “Things Fall Apart” Achebe establishes that a bond will stay true if you stick together through tragedy, bravery, and symbolism. The tragedy and hardships in the Igbo culture made them sensitive and antisocial. The Europeans known as the white man thought it would be great to go over to Africa and take over land for their church and conversions. The Igbo only knew that that the white man was just one of them with a skin disease but they offered them the worst piece of land they could give. “Let us give them a portion of the evil forest” (Achebe 114). The Igbo decided to give them that piece of land because they were expected to die in 4 days after they build their church. The bad news that always came around grew sensitivity towards them. When the people of Abame was wiped out the people of Umofia were paranoid and afraid. “They have paid for their foolishness, but I am greatly afraid” (Achebe 108). It was a good cause that the people of Abame were wiped out but leaders thought Umofia you was next. The Ibo didn’t associate with no one or lend favors unless a part of their culture. Hardships & Tragedy
Okonkwo treated his boys with a heavy hand so they would be more masculine when older. “Okonkwo encouraged the boys to sit with him in his obi, and he told them stories of the land masculine stories of violence and bloodshed” (Achebe 40). Those stories were told so that the boys would get a look at what being a man is all about. Okonkwo refused to show weakness. He didn’t want to be like his father. “When Unoka died he had taken no title at all and he was heavily in debt, any wonder that his son Okonkwo was ashamed of him” (Achebe 6). Being a man with not title was unheard of and being in debt made you a