ACHEBE (STORY STRUCTURE)

Achebe sets the novel prior and during the arrival of the colonial administration as it permits the audience to observe the shift in the tribes thinking, as the dominance of Christianity changes the mindset of Umuofia. The Europeans saw the tribe’s religious beliefs to be underdeveloped; for example, the thought of worship over superhuman forces as opposed to one supreme God was strange to them. Therefore, the traditional customs of the Igbo villagers are changing as their identities are being challenged. As the novel takes the viewpoint of the strong-willed Okonkwo, this motivates his need to maintain the way of life that had profited him in the past. Due to this the, the reader is able to see its evolution from free to colonized. 

In the introductory part of the book, the audience is exposed to the Igbo culture of which contradicts the popular perceptions of what Africans are like, abolishing any words like ‘barbaric’ or ‘monstrous’ and instead portrayed them as a government quite similar to our own. With this accurate representation, the reader is given both the negative and positive aspects of the tribe of which are usually portrayed by character and not necessarily the tribe itself. For example, the flaws of the community are shown using Okonkwo’s overly-masculine and harsh nature towards his family (particularly his wives) to demonstrate the sexist hierarchy of African culture. However, as the story moves further, it is made evident that this is Okonkwo alone (as caused by his shame for his father), and does not reflect the tribe’s true values; as, Achebe makes it apparent that family and trust are two of its most important ingredients. This well-rounded outlook permits the reader to judge the tribe less subjectively, humanizing the African people to make the invasion of white culture to be even more dramatic and essentially garner a sympathetic reaction from the audience. Therefore, this unbiased point of view set in the 1890s instead of one before Nigeria’s independence was to act as a demonstration of the catastrophic effects of the missionaries in the long term as Nigeria’s fragile political framework was caused by them.

Furthermore, this book also acted as an incentive for the African people during this time as the road to independence was due to the colonial administration. With exploring the initial first step of Europeans in Africa, it is somewhat of a reminder that Africa’s current and/or a majority of problems are due to their involvement and acceptance of what is an oppressive and elitist culture. Yet, the novel also illustrates how influential this culture is as the tribe slowly loses their people to a society that supposedly seems fruitious in its exterior. Traditions in Umuofia, like the kola nut ritual that symbolized a welcome to a guest, had quickly vanished as Christian traditions appeared much simpler. As, in the novel, the missionaries only require them to attend the Church and suggest living life in God’s light. Not to mention, the issues in Christianity were dealt with in a much more humane manner (i.e. against placing twins in the Evil Forest). Noting this, the takeover of the previous culture had altered the African lifestyle, allowing themselves to be easier to manipulate for the missionaries personal means; partially explaining the root to Africa’s unfortunate status.

On another note, Achebe had also written this novel during the time of missionary rule over Africa in order to explore his 'hybrid identity' as both an Igbo and a Christian. With writing in a context of which was pre-european allowed the reader to see the behaviour/politics of the tribe and its moral beliefs, so that, when change did happen, it would be noticeable as unlike the characters in the book, the reader is able to draw connections between the positive and peaceful tone in the beginning (that is a steady narrative) to a harsh tone and rapid falling action in the middle-to-end sections of the book. Observing this, the story can demonstrate how external conflicts can shift the character's personality in half, as both of they suddenly have two worlds they fluctuate between. This is very similar to the earlier units in Language and Literature where someone's identity is shifted depending on how much they have lived around the world, as this exposure to different cultures renders them to have two opposing sides of themselves that they switch depending on the environment. Knowing this, Achebe subtly comments on how even if characters such as Okonkwo's son were Christian, they still have their original roots.