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A review by arlettesheyla
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
4.0
4.05 stars ✨
Okay, so this was heartbreaking 😀
This book was originally supposed to be assigned reading in my freshman-year English class, but we ended up not getting to it, which is disappointing because I think I actually would’ve enjoyed discussing it in class and writing an analytical essay afterward.
While this text follows Okonkwo’s life story, he is essentially the lens through which we capture an overview of the Ibo village and its customs and traditions. This book does not have a particularly strong plotline, yet these glimpses into the culture keep the text engaging and highlight the stark contrast between the villagers’ way of life and that of the European missionaries. Regardless of how readers may feel about the village’s behavior, understanding how deeply connected these people are to their culture provides a greater context for how much the missionaries’ arrival threatens their sense of self.
Obviously, many readers will not like Okonkwo’s character, but that’s what makes this story so special—because even though he’s center stage, he’s literally not the point of it. Okonkwo is a vessel for demonstrating the suppression of an entire community, perpetuating harmful practices that continue to affect generations in our present day. The Ibo village was forced to submit to the changes imposed by the missionaries, with the alternative being Okonkwo’s reality.
The ethics of either culture is irrelevant to the author’s depiction of a culture in its full authenticity. Regardless of whether Okonkwo is worth rooting for, a cultural identity is being stripped away, and that is an injustice worth mourning and discussing, especially as we continue to witness voices being silenced around the world.
One thing I wasn’t too fond of was the large ensemble of characters and the lack of attention or influence they had in the broader context of the story. We learn so much about one character only for them to disappear immediately after. Some of their roles could’ve been combined and still have delivered the same effect in portraying this community.
Overall, this was a powerful and informative novel about human history and the darker sides of it that are often masked as “progress.” I understand why this is a classic, as it offers an insightful exploration of cultural erasure, which emphasizes the story’s relevance and necessity.
Okay, so this was heartbreaking 😀
This book was originally supposed to be assigned reading in my freshman-year English class, but we ended up not getting to it, which is disappointing because I think I actually would’ve enjoyed discussing it in class and writing an analytical essay afterward.
While this text follows Okonkwo’s life story, he is essentially the lens through which we capture an overview of the Ibo village and its customs and traditions. This book does not have a particularly strong plotline, yet these glimpses into the culture keep the text engaging and highlight the stark contrast between the villagers’ way of life and that of the European missionaries. Regardless of how readers may feel about the village’s behavior, understanding how deeply connected these people are to their culture provides a greater context for how much the missionaries’ arrival threatens their sense of self.
Obviously, many readers will not like Okonkwo’s character, but that’s what makes this story so special—because even though he’s center stage, he’s literally not the point of it. Okonkwo is a vessel for demonstrating the suppression of an entire community, perpetuating harmful practices that continue to affect generations in our present day. The Ibo village was forced to submit to the changes imposed by the missionaries, with the alternative being Okonkwo’s reality.
The ethics of either culture is irrelevant to the author’s depiction of a culture in its full authenticity. Regardless of whether Okonkwo is worth rooting for, a cultural identity is being stripped away, and that is an injustice worth mourning and discussing, especially as we continue to witness voices being silenced around the world.
One thing I wasn’t too fond of was the large ensemble of characters and the lack of attention or influence they had in the broader context of the story. We learn so much about one character only for them to disappear immediately after. Some of their roles could’ve been combined and still have delivered the same effect in portraying this community.
Overall, this was a powerful and informative novel about human history and the darker sides of it that are often masked as “progress.” I understand why this is a classic, as it offers an insightful exploration of cultural erasure, which emphasizes the story’s relevance and necessity.