Cultural Affirmation in Chinua Achebe’S Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God

ABSTRACT: This research work examined Cultural Affirmation in Chinua Achebe’S Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God. With reference to the analysis of the two novels, the study has shown that Achebe’s novels dramatize African cultural conflicts during the colonial rule its consequences to    African ways of life. The novels also portray the history of the colonizers and the colonized at the time of pre-colonial era.  It is on this point that Achebe insists that art is the service of man. For instance he uses traditional Igbo religious, political philosophical and artistic motifs in Arrow of God combine to illumine the abstract notion of duality. 

From the opinion of critics in the review of related literature, the research has shown that Chinua Achebe’s writing portrays African’s cultural identity and its ways of life. The study further revealed that Achebe’s work serves as an exemplar of Igbo tradition and social formation in the society.

 

Cultural Affirmation in Chinua Achebe’S Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the study

Chinua Achebe is one of the famous African writers whose works of art portrays cultural affirmation in African society. This cultural affirmation as portrayed by the author is seen in these two novels under investigation…Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God. In these novels, Achebe examines how the Igbo culture and tradition are practiced. For instance, in Arrow of God, Achebe portrays the events in the village of Umuaro with its focus on the tragic fall of its protagonist, Ezeulu in nine months. Apart from Ezeulu’s fall, Achebe also portrays how his fall came as a tragic end of Igbo culture, and also the inequality, humanity and oppression suffered by the Igbo people at the hands of the colonial masters.

They did not have any king, the chief priest is was their supreme authority…that is strongest among their clan, but on the contrary he is very weak man in the six villages in Umuaro. On the other hand, Achebe portrays another element of cultural affirmation in Things Fall Apart using the protagonist, Okonkwo a traditional African man, whon is also a wrestler who defeated another wrestler champion with a nick name, the cat who never lands his back on the ground. However, Achebe portrays how Okonkwo drive to escape the legacy of his father…that leads him to be wealthy, and powerful among the people of his village. In another instance, Okonkwo is the leader of his village, and he has attained a position in his village which makes him to strive hard in his life style. Consequently, it is on this point that the researcher research on cultural affirmation in Achebe’s Arrow of God and Things Fall Apart with a view of investigating its root in the African societies.

1.2   Statement of the Problem

One of the major concerns in this research work is a way of investigating the cultural affirmation in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God with reference to the African society.

1.3   Purpose of the study

The main purpose of this research work is to examine the cultural affirmation in Chinua Achebe’ Arrow of God and Things Fall Apart the study will also expose and bring out some others cultural practices in African.

1.4   Significance o the study

This research will be significance to the entire African society what Achebe’s writings is all about, with reference to the two novels in this research work. The study will also be of great important to literature students and other researchers who will find this research work important.

 

Cultural Affirmation in Chinua Achebe’S Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God

1.5   Objectives of the study

The following are the objectives of this research work are;

1. to investigate the cultural affirmation as portrayed by Achebe in these two novels under study.
2. to examine the author’s aims of writing Arrow of God and Things Fall Apart.
3. to analyze and portrays what cultural affirmation is all about and the author’s intention towards African practices.

1.6   Research Methodology

The primary method in this research in this research work will basically focus on Achebe’s Arrow of God and Things Fall Apart, while the secondary method will examine other African literary novels, library, internet, articles, and magazine for more information on the research work.

Originally posted on October 10, 2021 @ 9:02 pm