Review of Things Fall Apart by Chinhua Achebe

In Things Fall Apart, Nigerian author, Chinhua Achebe, presents a vision of a society which existed in southern Nigeria before the arrival of British colonists in the 1890s. Polytheistic religion is deeply enmeshed in the social and cultural values of the Umoafia clan. Okonkwo, the main character, is a leading member of the clan. He embodies their prized virtues: strength, masculinity, hard work and proficiency as a warrior. Okonkwo is a proud and domineering man, who rules over his family as a feared patriarch. In Okonkwo, Achebe shows us that the pre-Christian Igbo had a sophisticated social system, which belies the anarchic vision of African society presented by western writers such as Joseph Conrad in Heart of Darkness. Yet Achebe is not at all sentimental about this pre-Christian society. He is unsparing in his depiction of the cruelty which Okonkwo inflicts on those around him in order to demonstrate his manhood.

The tragedy, which lies at the heart of Things Fall Apart, begins with the arrival of white missionaries. They find converts among the Umoafia, creating conflict with those who wish to retain the traditional ways. The introduction of Christianity is a cancer which rapidly destroys the fabric of the old society and subjugates Okonkwo's people to the mores and institutions introduced by the whites. This is more than Okonkwo can bear; eventually he kills himself.

In addition to its major message about the undervaluing of pre-colonial African societies in subsequent histories of the period, Things Fall Apart has much to say about the importance of kin relationships in preserving social stability. It also attacks the notion that qualities such as masculinity are fixed and unrelated to social expectations. The clash of cultures, which occurred in many parts of Africa during the colonial era, is brilliantly encapsulated in the struggle between the Umoafia and the white missionaries. Achebe is critical of the view that cultural identity is an immutable quality. People such as Okonkwo, who cannot adapt to changing times, are vanquished by new ideas and waves of migration.

Achebe's novel is rightly regarded as a classic of post-colonial African literature, and has made its way onto the reading lists of college courses worldwide. It is also a major bestseller, having sold over eight million copies.

It is recommended as a powerful insight into African history, told from the perspective of a society which existed before British colonists arrived in what is now Nigeria.