Decolonizing the Mind and Things Fall Apart

In what ways does this text influence your understanding of Achebe’s use of language and stylistic choices in Things Fall Apart?

The extract from "Decolonizing the Mind" by Ngugi influences my understanding of Achebe's use of language and stylistic choices in Things Fall Apart. Through Ngugi's writing it can be seen that both family backgrounds are of large families who enjoy story-telling similarly to Ekwefi and Ezinma. It talks about the value of words for their meaning and nuances which like in Acebe’s book the use of Igbo language throughout the novel are used as to both conform to 'Western style" writing in English but also deviates from it with the addition of their own language. He states that words had suggestive magical power, which tells the immense value of good orator in their culture, with the ability to manipulate words through proverbs, tales and songs to enrich their speech within their culture.

Ngugi expresses the harmony in which their community was in, in terms of their way of life with the use of the Gikuyu within their homes and fields; Achebe also mirrors this perspective by giving an insight on the Igbo way of life before the colonization of Umuofia. Both of these works show the influence the colonizers have had within their community with the lingual harmony broken, and the usage of the colonist ideologies to implement their own language and society in which the others have to bow before in deference.  

Language in both of these novels are seen as the tool or reason for the assimilation of their societies with Ngugi saying that English became more than a language, it was the language everyone had to serve. While in Things Fall Apart, it caused conflict between the missionaries and the local community with their incomprehension of each other language and how in the assimilation of their society the colonizers didn’t bother to learn about the local culture.

This was of importance as language gave the people “a view of the world, but it had beauty of its own.” It provided a new perspective of things, and the colonizers with Reverend’s Smith’s approach didn’t bother to learn but reject everything the locals believed in. 

Personal history and its influence

The personal history of an author can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his/her writing. Comment on specific instances of such influence in Things Fall Apart.

Thesis Statement:
The personal history of Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart can have a significant influence of the way meaning is constructed. While implementing his influence with personal history he is able to affect character's role in the book as well as the cultural and historical context in which this text was based in. 

Topic sentence 1:
With the use of certain characters such as Mr. Brown, Achebe is able to utilize him as a figure who shows what the colonization of Umuofia could have been like, had he stayed. With his comprehending personality about the Igbo's culture and religion he portrays one side of colonization trying to add balance in the way the assimilation of his society was done. 

Topic sentence 2:
By allowing such a character like Reverend Smith, Achebe is able to contrast this character with that of Mr. Brown, representing two different ideologies and approaches to the colonization of the Igbo. Even though they are both trying to implement their religion and way of life into Umuofia, the clashing differences are shown with the reaction of the people in the Igbo groups.

Topic sentence 3:
Achebe, when publishing this book, just a few years before Nigeria's independence, shows how he decides and manipulates the cultural and historical context by setting this book back when the Igbo were first colonized. This, evident in the text, would show the adaptation of the Igbo people with colonization and how each different character dealt with it differently. This also serves to show a perspective into the everyday life of the igbo, their culture and society. 

TFA Gender Thesis Statement and Outline

With reference to Things Fall Apart, discuss how an understanding of gender influences how the text may be understood.

Thesis Statement:

Gender roles in Things Fall apart is shown to be a  major theme, recurrent throughout the whole of the book. Igbo society functions with the revolving theme of gender and is present in the cultural interactions and traditional activities its people do in terms of agriculture, their justice system to crimes, figures of worship and alongside their role with children it creates a deeper understanding for the purpose of creating a different view and appreciation on their religion and culture.

Topic sentences:

1- Okonkwo's hyper-masculinity in his interactions with other people from the Igbo society ultimately influences the outcomes towards the end of the book in the way that not only his life but his family's affected as a result. 

2- The role of women in Igbo society is addressed as contrasting roles in the presence of respected religious figures such as Chielo, the priestess, Uchendu's representation of "Mother is supreme" and the different agricultural purposes for women within Things Fall Apart.

3- The role of men evident throughout the book is seen as the characters of greater authority between the two genders as well as the eventual successors in the riches and possessions of the father. This seen with the contrasting purposes and care of male children and female children. 

Things Fall Apart - Thesis statement

Achebe, through the use of numerous secondary characters such as Unoka and Obierika, he drives the story and personality of Okonkwo throughout the book with direct and indirect characterization and therefore creates the conflicts in which lead to his inability to fit in the community and eventually suicide after things start to fall apart. These foil characters help and hinder Okonkwo throughout his journey and affect his judgement towards different aspects and decisions which affect the outcome of numerous key decisions in the book.