Analyze the use of symbolism in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe's novel "Things
Fall Apart" is a literary masterpiece that explores the clash between
traditional Igbo culture and the arrival of European colonizers in Nigeria. One
of the most significant elements of the novel is the use of symbolism to convey
its themes and ideas. Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent abstract
ideas or concepts, and Achebe employs various symbols throughout the novel to
convey the cultural clash and the tragic consequences of colonialism. In this
essay, I will analyze the use of symbolism in "Things Fall Apart" and
explore how it contributes to the overall meaning of the novel.
Analyze the use of symbolism in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart:-One of the most prominent symbols
in the novel is the yam. Yam is a staple crop in Igbo culture, and it
represents the Igbo's agricultural and economic prosperity. The protagonist,
Okonkwo, is a successful farmer who takes pride in his ability to cultivate yams.
He measures his success and manliness based on his yam harvest, and he often
competes with other men in the community to grow the most yams. When the
locusts invade the village and destroy the yam crops, it is a significant blow
to the community's well-being. The failure of the yam harvest is symbolic of
the community's vulnerability and the fragility of its prosperity.
Analyze the use of symbolism in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart:-The yam also symbolizes masculinity
and power in Igbo culture. Okonkwo's father, Unoka, was a lazy and unsuccessful
farmer who never grew enough yams to support his family. As a result, Okonkwo
associates weakness and femininity with the inability to grow yams. When
Okonkwo accidentally kills a clansman's son, he is exiled from the village for
seven years. During his exile, he loses his status as a successful yam farmer,
and his sense of masculinity and power diminishes. When he returns to the
village, he finds that the European colonizers have arrived and disrupted the
traditional power structure. The symbolic loss of the yam harvest parallels
Okonkwo's loss of power and the Igbo culture's loss of control over their land
and resources.
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Another symbol that Achebe uses in
the novel is fire. Fire is a multifaceted symbol that represents both
destruction and transformation. On one hand, fire is destructive, and it can
burn down homes and crops. On the other hand, fire is also transformative, and
it can be used to forge new tools and cook food. Achebe uses fire as a symbol
to convey the destructive and transformative aspects of colonialism. When the
European colonizers arrive, they bring with them the destructive force of
imperialism, which burns down the traditional Igbo culture and replaces it with
their own. However, the fire also transforms the Igbo culture, forcing them to
adapt to new ways of life and technologies.
Analyze the use of symbolism in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart:-The arrival of the European
colonizers also brings with it a new religion: Christianity. The Christian
missionaries use the symbol of the cross to represent their religion and
convert the Igbo people to Christianity. The cross is a powerful symbol that
represents sacrifice and salvation, and the missionaries use it to appeal to
the Igbo's sense of morality and spirituality. However, the cross also
symbolizes the European colonizers' cultural and religious imperialism. The
missionaries force the Igbo people to abandon their traditional beliefs and
adopt Christianity, which they believe is superior to the Igbo religion. The
use of the cross as a symbol of Christianity underscores the conflict between
traditional Igbo culture and the imposition of European culture.
Another important symbol in the
novel is the kola nut. The kola nut is a traditional Igbo symbol of hospitality
and unity. When guests visit a home or attend a gathering, they are presented
with a kola nut, which they share with their hosts and other guests.
FAQ.
Q: Who is Chinua Achebe?
Ans. Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian
novelist, poet, and critic who is widely regarded as one of the most
influential writers of the 20th century. He was born on November 16, 1930, in
Ogidi, Nigeria, and died on March 21, 2013, in Boston, Massachusetts, United
States.
Q: What are Chinua Achebe's most famous works?
Ans. Chinua Achebe's most famous
works include "Things Fall Apart" (1958), "No Longer at
Ease" (1960), "Arrow of God" (1964), and "A Man of the
People" (1966).
Q: What is "Things Fall Apart" about?
Ans. "Things Fall Apart" is a novel that explores
the clash between traditional Igbo culture and the arrival of European
colonizers in Nigeria. The novel follows the life of Okonkwo, a respected
member of the Igbo community who struggles to maintain his cultural identity in
the face of colonialism.
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