Why Is Things Fall Apart Uncivilized

Jean Rousseau, a French philosopher, believed that rules of society rules distort morality. The archetypal modern African novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe exemplifies his beliefs. The novel describes two conflicts In Things Fall Apart, internal and external, both involving the quite unique village of Umuofia; the internal conflict involves Okonkwo, the main character, and the village of Umuofia, and the external conflict involves the tribal village and the growing Christian community. Achebe presents civilized ways of the Ibo people as well as the uncivilized ways that make up society, and by using them, it contributes to the work as a whole by successfully exemplifying an authentic African community through an all knowing view, proving

Ikemefuna, Okonkwo’s stepson, is chosen by the Oracle who orders Okonkwo and a few other men to “‘...take him outside Umuofia as the custom and kill him there’” (Achebe 57). Ending lives, especially those not at fault, is inhumane to most because of how morality is emphasized in many other societies, and looked down on in the eyes of outsiders of that society. While Achebe wanted to correct negative stereotypes of Africans, he also has the goal of presenting “the true colors of Africa” in a particular scene, especially their beliefs in the community. Moreover, the author exemplified another uncivilized act performed in the village of Umuofia, which was a merciless death of a young woman. One man ranted about “‘...sons of wild animals [who] have dared to murder a daughter of Umuofia’” (Achebe 11). In a society, the actions seem to be determined whether the rules of civilization take control, or human nature. These uncivilized actions are connected to ways of civilization and rituality, and how it comes before morals, resulting in animalistic