Things Fall Apart Diction Essay

Diction and Proverbs in Things Fall Apart Everyone judges in some way, shape, or form. Although they can be repeatedly denied, stereotypes are a human flaw, and stereotypes can destroy. For millions of Africans, they live in fear of how subconscious stereotypes will harm and demolish their society. Preconceived views originating from demeaning media only bring down smaller societies, the only solution being education and patience, a concept not many individuals are willing to accept. Nigerian author Chinua Achebe wrote the novel Things Fall Apart in order to bring attention to the depth of Igbo society through personal experience. His novel focuses on the colonization of Umuofia by Christian missionaries in order to highlight the repression of

The novel follows Okonkwo’s journey of trying to prevent his people from persuasion and downfall from the newly discovered Christianity. Achebe’s development of the missionaries versus Okonkwo, as well as his inclusion of Igbo proverbs throughout the story, demonstrate Achebe’s desire to eliminate ignorant stereotypes of traditional Igbo culture. Achebe characterizes Okonkwo and the missionaries in contrasting ways in order to create awareness surrounding the harmful stereotypes of the Igbo traditions. Following the cultural invasion of the white colonizers, in order to convert the Igbo people to christianity, Reverend James Smith takes over the chief position of the missionaries. The leadership once belonged to Mr. Brown, a welcoming white man of the missionary group. As the Igbo ponder the new policies of the Christians, Okonkwo processes Mr. Smith’s morals, “Mr. Brown’s successor [is] the Reverend James Smith, and he [is] a different kind of man. He [condemns] openly Mr. Brown’s policy of compromise and accommodation. He [sees] things as black-and-white. And black [is] evil. He [sees] the world as a battlefield in which the children of