What Does It Mean To Be Civilized In Things Fall Apart

To be civilized means to be humane, organized, and refined. In order for a society to be civilized it must show compassion and benevolence, it must maintain organized practices and customs, and it must be free of impurities and undesired elements. The western world often possesses the stigma of Africa remaining an uncivilized population. However, in Chinua Achebe’s traditional novel Things Fall Apart Achebe dares to break this stigma by depicting the civilized society of the Igbo people; The Igbo society can be seen as civilized in the laws established by the egwugwu, the morals ingrained by the tribe, and the cultural customs rooted in the clan. The Igbo community obtain a civilized society in the laws ingrained by the egwugwu. Laced throughout the text lays multiple representations of the
The novel displays a variety of different customs as he describes the Igbo lifestyle from planning for weddings to preparing for feast. For instance, when Okonkwo told his children, “It was like a wedding feast. There was foo-foo and yam pottage, egusi soup and bitter-leaf soup and pots and pots of palm-wine” (Achebe 165). The custom of feasting to celebrate meaningful events demonstrates the Igbo people stand civilized because it shows the society have stable amounts of food. Also, this customs shows the community can convene without chaos. In this scene a peaceful atmosphere emphasizes the society as civilized in the way, in which, they assemble together without total anarchy. Achebe includes this scene to depict how the particular customs of the Igbo allow them to maintain order by converging and gathering resources. Also, in this scene Achebe makes a point of highlighting the large amount of food served to show the Igbo people as civilized because they sustain the ability to have excess food. Thus, pointing out the Igbo people have secure amounts of