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Things Fall Apart (Narration (Achebe develops Things Fall Apart through a…
Things Fall Apart
Narration
Achebe develops Things Fall Apart through a third-person omniscient narration to give a multi-voiced perspective of the colonization of Nigeria by European missionaries. This style impacts characterization, tone and plot by influencing the reader to have a generalized view of each character as their thoughts and actions are summarized in third-person narration and not spoken directly. Gives the reader the illusion of a story rather than events that actually took place. (Matthew)
"With a father like Unoka, Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had" (18). (Matthew)
Achebe's decision to write Things Fall Apart using a third person narrative helps to put the readers in the shoes of each of the characters. It allows them to view the events of the book through each of the characters and helps him further show each of the characters inner thoughts and personalities. (Adriana)
"Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak." (61)
In this quote, Achebe talks about how Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna and the state he was in while doing it. Then he immediately gives the reason as to why Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna, even though he raised him as though he was his own son. This gives the readers further insight into what ideals motivate Okonkwo, such as his fear of being seen as weak, to do what he does throughout the book.
Achebe's use of a third person narrative gives the audience an unbiased story. This allows for the opinions and thoughts of each character to be told without the bias of another character. However, since the narration is unbiased, it may seem as if some of the actions of the villagers are strange because the audience is not being told this story from the viewpoint of someone who is accustomed to the traditions of the villagers. If the story was told from a villagers point of view, a lot of the events would sound more normalized and casual. This affects characterization because it allows the reader to develop their own opinions on characters. (Emma Brennan)
Okonkwo "sought to correct him by constant nagging and beating, And so Nwoye was developing into a sad-faced youth"(13-14).
Okonkwo's anxiety over Nwoye and his beating of him is stated objectively with no emotion. This influences the reader to develop their own opinion on the situation, but to some it may seem cruel because they are not accustomed to the traditions of Umuofia.
Terminology
Achebe's use of African terminology helps in further setting up the tribal tone found throughout the book. (Adriana)
"He could hear in his mind's ear the blood-stirring and intricate rhythms of the ekwe and the udu and the ogene..." (6)
The sounds of the words "ekwe," "udu," and "ogene" are very spiritual and tribal. They make the readers look at Umuofia and the people within Umuofia as spiritual, tribal people, thus setting up the tone for the book.
The inclusion of these terms does increase the authenticity of the novel. However, it doesn't seem to bring the reader closer to the story, these terms lead the reader into a culture that they are not familiar with. By using African terms, Achebe makes the reader feel disconnected with the society being examined and thus opens them up to a new environment and a journey into a new culture. (Matthew)
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Achebe's use of African terminology helps the authenticity of the novel and allows for the reader to be fully immersed on the book. Seeing as most readers won't understand the these African terms, this prefaces that some of the themes throughout the book may seem foreign for those who have not grown up with their culture, and readers may not be able to understand everything upon first glance. (Emma Brennan)
"He even remembered how he had laughed when Ikemefuna told him that the proper name for a corn cob with only a few scattered grains was eze-agadi-nwayi, or the teeth of an old woman"(34).
Readers won't understand what eze-agadi-nwayi means until the text explains it, which exemplifies that some themes won't be apparent or understandable until the book elaborates upon it.
Imagery
Characterization
"Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness, and even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father was agbala"(13). (Emma Brennan)
Though there is no dialogue in this quote, this description characterizes Okonkwo as ashamed of his father. Achebe has the playmate compare his father to agbala in order to depict him as a recluse even though agbala is a goddess. Okonkwo was so ashamed of this that he "suffered", which further emphasizes how much he resented his father.
"Sometimes when he went to big village meetings or communal ancestry feasts he allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him..."(28). (Emma Brennan)
The communal ancestry feast and meetings are large events where villagers have certain roles and powers. The fact that Okonkwo allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him proves that he was not ashamed to see him as a son, and he would not feel uncomfortable to be seen in public with him. This develops the idea of Okonkwo's love for Ikemefuna.
"He grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the rain season, and was full of the sap of life. He had become wholly absorbed into his new family" (52). Adriana Mahadeo
This description of Ikemefuna helps Achebe to characterize him as a young child who's full of life and has a good future ahead of him. Because of his strength as a child, he is accepted by Okonkwo and is integrated into the family as if he was one of their own. This acceptance into the family alongside his strength is the main reason as to why he acts as an older brother to all of Okonkwo's children and treats them as if they were his own younger siblings.
Proverbs
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Achebe's combination of the English language with Ibo vocabulary and proverbs develops characterization in the novel by enabling the reader the have a broad view the the motives of each character and the society at the time. The characters are described in a summarizing fashion allowing the audience to understand each character and the impact that they have in the novel. (Matthew)
"Unoka was an ill-fated man. He had a bad chi or personal god, and evil fortune followed him to the grave" (18). (Matthew)