The fifth important and unique contribution Achebe made to modern African and world literature is a literary device I call the art of purposeful complexity. The “purposeful” before the word “complexity” is intended to distinguish it from the cacophony of imagery and verbiage that, unfortunately, all too many modernist and post-modernist writers of fiction have gotten into the habit of mistaking for literature. Purposeful complexity is the literary technique of deliberately weaving together into a quilted fabric an impressive tapestry of complementing, conflicting, confirming, confounding, hopeful and disappointing stories of heroic and flawed characters, motives, aspirations, and outcomes, tying them together into a delicately balanced, ironic and powerfully evocative narrative. …show more content…
First, it is in the same novel that the power and centrality of the single most important deity in the Igbo pantheon of gods-a female deity, the venerable Earth goddess, Ani-is brought into bold relief. Second, it is in the same novel that one of the most powerful positions in Umuofia society, that of high priestess, can be, and is, held by a woman, Chielo. Third, it is in the same novel that Ekwefi, Okonkwo’s second wife, elopes from her first husband, in total contravention of tradition, to join Okonkwo’s household. Ekwefi was neither lynched nor stoned to death for her brazen and willful