Comparison Exercise - Things Fall Apart

Chapter twenty.

1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).

The reader is positioned to view the Ibo tribe as being demolished by the white people. Whilst Okonkwo was exiled his people have been taken over by white people and learnt that their spiritual way and thoughts are bad. There is a strict colonial discourse in this chapter as the Ibo tribe are being colonised by the white people by learning their way of life, government and religion. “It is already too late, said Obierika sadly. Our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger. They have joined his religion and they help to uphold his government.” This is an example of colonial discourse which is embedded in the chapter as majority of the Ibo tribe are to believe that their society, religion and way of thinking is morally wrong and are being taught by the white people how to behave.

2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot).

Okonkwo

Okonkwo is still determined to regain the respect of the Ibo tribe and win back the land. Although when he returned the tribe wasn’t the same as they had been colonised by the white people. Okonkwo is trying to find any way to regain his title of the Ibo tribe, to which he thinks will help if he demolishes the white people and rescue the ones who have followed the strangers.

Obierika

Still believes that there is someway to resolve this crisis, however he is not as determined as Okonkwo. Obierika’s motive is significantly different to Okonkwo’s as he is doing it, mostly to regain his title in the tribe however Obierika wants to stop this because he knows it is wrong for his culture and he believes that people shouldn’t be punished for such a thing.

Enzinma

Enzinma is seen as favoured mostly by Okonkwo not only in this chapter but throughout the book, as Okonkwo believes she should be a man. “I wish she were a boy, Okonkwo thought within himself. She understood things so perfectly. Who else among his children could have read his thought so well.”

3. How does the author position you to view men?

There is a split with how the author positions the reader to view men. As the men like Okonkwo and Obierika are trying to stop the invasion of the European, however there are the men like Ogbuefi who has joined the Europeans.

4. How does the author position you to view women?

Women are not mentioned in the chapter, they are viewed as to follow the orders of the men and are of lower status.

5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).

The Europeans in this chapter are viewed as being the ones that invaded the Ibo tribe and disrupted the peace that was within the society. This is which makes Okonkwo to want to fight back so he is able to regain his title in the land. Also because of the deep spiritual connection he felt the Europeans have demolished.

6. What are the similarities and differences between the two chapters and what impact has this had on your understanding of the story and the overall invited reading?

At the end of Chapter 20, Obierika points out that there is no way that the white man will be able to understand Umuofia’s customs without understanding its language. This idea mirrors one of Achebe’s purposes in writing Things Fall Apart: the book serves not only to remind the West that Africa has language and culture but also to provide an understanding of Igbo culture through language. Achebe shows us the extent to which cultural and linguistic structures and practices are intertwined, and he is able to re-create in English the cadences, images, and rhythms of the speech of the Igbo people. By the time things begin to “fall apart,” it becomes clear that what the colonialists have unravelled is the complex Igbo culture.