Why things fell apart...

Our way of life was not undone by the sword, the gods or by any means of violent force. Rather our downfall was at the hands of our very own people, the people of Umofia who in their haste to embrace a foreign power, tore apart the fragile fabric that held our society intact, shattering the delicate harmony that had once existed among our people.

I was a great man among my people, and from the days of my youth set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom the purpose and meaning behind the practices and ways of my people; why we did what we did, whom we served and what we hoped to gain. As such I hold to the belief that it was we valued most, the hopes and fears we held dear, that led to our demise.

This notion should by now means serve as an abstraction for we the Igbo are an open-book people, easily understood and interpreted. We are also a stubborn and persistent people, many a time resistant to change. The white man on the other hand is a far different story.

When the white man first came to our village with his language and religion, he was seemingly innocent. Wooing the hearts of all he planted the seeds from which to secure a long lasting hold over the young and the naïve, till all in Umofia was under his spell. Those opposed to his will he singled out and ostracized, using our fellow brother to carry out his will, those grey Kotmas. In turn we turned on ourselves, we lost hold over what we held most dear, the unity and fellowship between kinsmen. As the old proverbs go it is the slow knife, the knife that takes its time, the knife that slips quietly between the bones that is the knife that cuts the deepest. And this is why it all fell apart, for dulled into a state of compliance and false security over time we forsook our fundamental concepts and laws: unity and single-mindedness, and divided…we fell.

Discuss the significance of social status in Things Fall Apart, and comment on its contribution to characterization.

Within the world of ‘Thing Fall Apart,’ and specifically the tribe of Umofia, social status played a vital role in establishing one’s standing within the community and the manner in which others regarded you. Building of this notion the drive, or lack of, to increase one’s position played a defining role in shaping the characteristics of many of the novels leading characters. Most notably, this phenomenon was apparent in the lives of Okonkwo, his father Unoka and his son Nwoye. In doing so, author Chinua Achebe draws attention to the prevalent theme of status evident in his society and suggests that in order to discover to truly find fulfillment, one must lay down all inhibitions and pursue what their heart yearns for.

Status is often attributed to self-worth, a conduit in which many hope to find fulfillment and a sense of belonging. For the character of Unoka this was found in his music and being among the village musicians. However despite his talent on the flute, musical skill was not of the utmost value in the tribe of Umofia, rather men were known for their more masculine and hardy acts, and of these Unoka held none. This detail is vital in understanding the Ibo culture, as it reveals what they valued and considered to be ultimately beneficial for society. This concept stands a in polar contrast to our society, where artists and musicians are held in high regard, idolized by the general populous. In the village of Umofia this place of admiration was held for those who might excel in the ring (wrestling) or in the field, growing yams.  In addition the subject of status reveals the specific gender roles the Ibo assigned to men and women; women being charged with the keeping of the household while men were expected to attend to the accumulation of wealth and titles. What’s more it’s interesting to note that Unoka’s title was not imposed upon him or assigned to him at birth, rather he came into it as a grownup and this disclosure ties into the notion that Ibo men were truly self-made. Not relying on the accolades or shortcomings of their prerecords the men of the Ibo were expected to shape their own destiny and be denied by their own merits be it for the better or worse.

Haunted by the failures of his father, Okonkwo vowed to distance himself from all his father associated himself with. This relentless pursuit came to embody all he stood for, and served in many respects as his be all and end all. This life force, if you will, drove him to overcome all adversity and calamity, be it the death of Ikefumuna, his exile and the collapse of his way of life.  Due to this Okonkwo went on to become the village’s was distinguished member, The burly man seen as a successful farmer and fearsome warrior. This point further relates with Okonkwo’s need for audience and recognition, in light of his many accolades. The desire for an audience to watch and praise brave deeds was a survival of the old heroic ethos and would have to doubt been familiar to the inhabitants of Umofia. Returning to the notion of status and achievement, it was these pursuits that served as Okonkwo’s fatal fault and hamartia. A man so single-minded in his quest he did not bat an eyelid at the lost of human life and as such was so consumed in his cause, causing all else to fade way. Sadly despite his good intentions, Okonkwo pursuit highlights the grim reality of life, for despite his many righteous acts he met the same fate of his father, cast into the Evil Forest and deemed an abomination to the earth, all in his pursuit of what he held dear. 

In some respects Nwoye acts as the novel’s catalyst, in that he represents both the qualities of his father and grandfather. While some might argue that the boy better embodied the failures of a grandfather rather than the ‘success’ story of his father, he ultimately carved his own path, separate from that of both his precursors. By setting himself apart from all those around him, choosing to embrace a foreign religion, a new God and new identity, Nwoye pioneered a new social class, one that would come to dominate the land, Christians. However in doing so saw he initially lost social status within his own tribe being removed from his own father’s household and being deemed an outcast. Nonetheless the discussion proved ultimately beneficial as western ideology and the religion of the white man soon came to enfold the land, highlighting the shift in the power dynamic that occurs during the latter half of the novel. As such one might note that like Unoka and Okonkwo, Nwoye wholeheartedly pursued what he believed to be true and of value, regardless of the consequences.

Through his demonstration of the theme of status, in the characters of Okonkwo, Unoka and Nwoye, Achebe calls upon the audience lay down all inhibition and pursue what their heart’s truly desires, even if it means death and disappoint.

In closing within the world of ‘Thing Fall Apart,’ social status played an integral role in defying one’s standing and place within society. As such the drive, or lack of, to promote one’s self played a defining role in shaping the characteristics of many of the novels leading characters. Most notably, this was apparent in the lives of, Unoka and Nwoye. Achebe’s purpose in all this was to draw attention to the prevalent theme of status evident in his society and suggests that in order to discover true fulfillment, one must lay down all inhibition and pursue what their heart truly desires, regardless of the cost.

Why does Achebe choose a tragic hero for his protagonist in his colonial counter narrative?

I believe Achebe choose to cast his protagonist as a tragic hero, as his undoing mirrored that of the culture and society he had fought so hard to protect. The tale of Africa’s colonial past was not a happy one. Over night a way of life that had grown and been nurtured over the course of a millennia was seemingly uprooted. Customs and traditions once held dear were deemed as primitive and barbaric by foreigners who set to impose their will over a people they had no right to. Men of old and renown were likened to as beasts, in an effort to justify the actions of their oppressors and their ill treatment. Working with subject material so grim, it should come as no surprise that Achebe’s protagonist bears the scars of his people’s conflict.  More specifically, in casting Okonkwo as the manifesatiom and symbol of these notions, Achebe’s adds an increased sense of truth and solemnity to the proceedings. What happened to his people was real and hurtful and in having his protagonist actively undergo these wrongdoings, Achebe places the reader up and close and personal, with all that the Igbo underwent. Nonetheless it is important to note the balance that Achebe strikes in relaying his story. As to not degrade his narrative into hopeless spiel, Achebe actively reflects upon the good and positive aspects of his homeland, in light of all that transpires. I believe that were Achebe’s protagonist to have met a “happy” end he would have not done justice to the message he set out to convey, that of the injustices committed against the Igbo people, their misconception in society and the far-reaching impact such actions bore on their existence and culture. Finally in choosing a tragic hero for his protagonist, Achebe recognized and called out the flaws evident in his society and that he believed resulted in its investable downfall. Okonkwo’s end was the product of his own doing and though external factors played a part in influencing his final outcome, his demise was the culmination of all his prior actions and deeds throughout the novel.

An African Voice

Following today’s class discussion on “An African Voice,” I gained a number of insightful views concerning the power of culture and literature in the real world. 

My most meaningful takeaway was that concerning the influence and sway storytelling holds in our society.

Predating all forms of literature, storytelling lies at the very heart of who we are as humans. One could almost describe it as hereditary; the instinctive and intuitive feelings that drive storytelling rise from the very core of our consciousness, transcending all societal and cultural bounds.

In that sense of the word, one might expect history, the most all-inclusive of tales, to include the contributions of all to its writings. Nonetheless as Churchill so bluntly stated, history is penned by those who come up on top.

And it was this preconception that Chinua Achebe challenged when writing Things Fall Apart. Presenting an alternate depiction of people group that had long been subjugated; Achebe took the telling of his people’s story into his own hand and in doing so shattered the grounds on which slavery had long been justified. This seemingly simple act, revealed to me the power of storytelling and the revelation that a few words can contend a millennia worth of false ideology and turn it on it’s own head.

We shall fight on the Beaches

A textual analysis of ‘We shall fight on the Beaches,’ by Sir Winston Churchill spoken on June 4, 1940 in the House of Commons.

Spoken on the 4^th of June 1940 in the House of Commons, ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ shares the characteristics of a speech; making use of relevant subject material, clarity of tone, definiteness of message, and taking consideration of the target audience. Through his use of appeal, allusion and anaphora, Sir Winston Churchill informs the audience of the risk of a Nazi invasion and in hopes of rallying those present; encourages all to stand steadfast and put on a patriotic show of support in favour of the British Empire. As one might expect, the intended audience of this text would be the British populous, specifically members of parliament who would have been seated at the House of Commons.

Set amidst the turmoil of the Second World War, ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ acts as a last-ditch effort to band the nation of Britain against the Nazi foe. The address prepares the British people for the inevitably that the global conflict may in fact reach their very beaches. Furthermore, the speech acting as a primary account provides insight into Britain’s state, as well as that of mainland Europe’s in face of the escalating Nazi Threat. Commencing with a brief background of Britain’s predicament and its responsibilities as a nation, the speech progresses to divulge the existence of certain insurgents within the nation. Churchill reveals that he does feel the “slightest sympathy” towards theses individuals and that Parliament has approved the elimination of such “Fifth Column activities” and whatever means necessary to ensure the “supervision” and “correction” of the “House.” Churchill continues to reveal Britain’s rich military legacy before arriving at the crescendo of his address, the peroration, no doubt one of Churchill’s finest oratorical moments, declaring the extent to which Britain will go to thwart her foe.

The narrative adopts a somewhat doleful but ultimately chauvinistic mood and this evident through the expressions Churchill employs to stir the crowd: “The British Empire and the French Republic…will defend to the death their native soil,” “We shall go on to the end,” and “We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be” to name but a few. And this should be expected, as the speech’s very subject martial, is the future of free Europe. Despite this, the Churchill’s tone is ultimately uplifting and through the attitude of his piece depicts a light at the end of the tunnel. This notion is most apparent in his closing statement, “ if… this Island… were subjugated…then our Empire beyond the seas... would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old,” substantiating the claim that Europe will in fact claim it’s fitting and just end.

As with any awe-inspiring speech, Churchill’s account makes use of a number of literary devices, in an effort to further his cause. Most notably one may note his use of Appeal- ethos, pathos, and logos. Throughout the address, Churchill refers to both himself and the audience using the plural pronoun, “We” and this is shown numerous times throughout the text: “We shall not be content,” “We have our duty,” and etc. In doing so, Churchill casts an equal share of the nation’s task upon all those in attendance, forcing the cause upon them if you will and casting the matter in a personal light. This move further acts to justify his actions as he argues that they are in fact that of the whole. This serves as an example of appeal, as the speech’s essence is now far more relatable to the audience who now share the responsibility of ensuring the victory and survival of Britain. One might also note Churchill’s constant tie ins and referrals to the government and monarchy: “His Majesty's Government” and “Parliament has given us the powers,” an attempt no doubt to attest his claims and pull on the nationalist strings of the nations, an example once more of appeal.  More specifically, the speech serves to build Churchill’s credibility revealing all he is to do regarding the invasion. Furthermore Churchill’s use of heavy factual detail, accounting the endeavours of past would be invaders and the bravado of the British Empire, only add to this image of surety. In addition his mention of the statement “We shall fight,” casts the country in a unified light as they engage in a just and worthy cause, providing the incentive to hold fast and carry on. All in all, this serves to highlight Churchill’s appeal to logos, ethos and pathos. Further literary devices include allusion, which Churchill makes use of through his telling of Napoleon’s failed invasion of Britain and the nation’s long history of forestalling occupancy. However the pinnacle and trademark literacy device is no doubt Anaphora. “We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills …”The repetition and emphasis on this iconic phrase “We shall fight” makes the line memorable, creating a dramatic emotional pull while adding a certain rhythm and cadence to the speaker’s words.

The speech unfolds in a rather candid fashion and its structure serves to not distract from its primary message. Rather the easy to follow manner in which the speech is set allows the audience to retain Churchill’s key points and follow his train of thought. Furthermore the title of the speech “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” only adds to the speech’s sense of remembrance and awe.

In closing, Churchill’s public speech warns the British people of the likelihood of Nazi invasion and informs the nation of the crisis that engulfs them. However, in delivering his address, Churchill does not cast doubt upon the competence of the British military in securing victory, rather recognizing the possibility of a prolonged war and eventual victory. Through his use of appeal, allusion and anaphora instils a hope and confidence in all those present, encouraging the nation to stand steadfast and as one, for in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might shall step forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.