Things Fall Apart’ at 60, by Isa Sanusi
Daily Nigerian January 9, 2018 Isa Sanusi
‘Things Fall Apart’ is a by-word for
modern African fiction. There are many plans across academia and literary
circles, all over the world to celebrate 60 years of this ‘great African’
novel. But before we celebrate the work, let us also celebrate the author who
is largely considered as the father of modern African literature.
Chinua Achebe is a writer whose name
is familiar across world. In fact, many in some parts of the world came to know
about Nigeria after coming across the works of Achebe. His works laid the
foundation that gave African literature a direction. Some writers and critics
consider ‘Things Fall Apart’ as the most outstanding work by Achebe. But Achebe
himself rather considered ‘Arrow of God’ as his favourite. Even fierce
‘orientalists’ acknowledged the pioneering role of ‘Things Fall Apart.’ In a
more severe criticism V.S Naipaul was quoted as saying something like, ‘Things
Fall Apart’ was the only book Chinua Achebe wrote. Naipaul was implying that in
his own view, all the works of Achebe that followed ‘Things Fall Apart’ have no
worthy artistic qualities.
All the statistics favoured this
novel published in 1958. Over 20 million copies have been sold and it never
runs out of print. It has been translated into more than 50 languages. It is
studied worldwide in language, literature, history and anthropology. ‘Things
Fall Apart’ was on the Time Magazine’s list of 100 Best
English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005. It perpetually appears on all kind
of lists including the one called ‘100 Books to read before you die.’
The theme(s), the plot, and imagery
of ‘Things Fall Apart’ need no introduction. Okonkwo is so familiar
that people often spot his type in their societies. The tragic end of a strong
man, trying all his life to distance himself from the shadow of his lazy,
nonentity and chronic-debtor father is strongly poignant by all standards.
While Okonkwo was flexing muscles and confronting the ‘white man’ and his power
his people were cheering him up and encouraging him to go further. But when he
committed the murder that was to be his nemesis the very people cheering him up
to teach ‘white man a lesson’ started asking: why did he do it? Okonkwo
held sway at home with the firmness of a dictator. He lived on the notion that
use of force can make things easy and possible. He sees life perpetually as a
wrestling that he must emerge the winner. Okwonkwo’s eldest
son Nwoye lived with constant severe beating for showing traits of
the laziness of his grandfather. The killing of Ikemefuna, as required by
tradition was so painful that even the strongman in Okonkwo struggled through
it.
Through The District Commissioner we saw racism and arrogant
assumption that simplifies culture and traditions of the ‘conquered.’ Okonkwo
doesn’t want to be seen as weak or feminine. Ironically, for a man who does
many harmful things so that he will not be considered a ‘woman’ his favourite
child is Ezinma – a girl. Obierika a close friend of
Okonkwo is a figure of moderation; often questioning some traditions. Almost
every character in this novel brings out more than the bitter encounter between
primitive African society east of the Niger and the civilizing missionaries
from Victorian court. There was a lesson in the consequences of ‘fear.’ There
was a lesson in the danger of taking actions at the prompting of cheering
crowd. They can abandon you at the critical hour. There is a lesson in the
consequences of following traditions without questioning them – where
necessary.
Falling ‘from grace to grass’ can happen as a result of a single
decision or action.
Over the years ‘Things Fall Apart’
has been receiving reviews and criticism with varied perspectives. Some critics
consider it a work not really judged for its quality but for its
‘representation.’ It came onto the literary stage at a point in time when the
western world was looking for anything, just anything to give them an idea of
what African societies look. Achebe benefitted from that yearning – that vacuum
with ‘Things Fall Apart.’ Many supported this argument by pointing out that
majority of praises for the novel are based not on its artistic qualities but
on the penchant for the exotic; the story of turmoil in an African village at the
dawn of colonial conquest.
The ability of Achebe (or is it
mastery) made it look effortless to transfer thought and symbolism from Igbo to
English. Largely, one would not need a dictionary to progress from beginning to
the end of the novel. The clarity and narrative coherence are both captivating
and precise. The novel is full of Igbo proverbs and imagery that found fitting
equivalents in English language.
At 60 ‘Things Fall Apart’ raises
questions about the relationship between the weak and the powerful, between
destiny and expectations of the society on individuals. It also stands as a
chronicle of the chaos that permeated many African societies at the dawn of
colonial exploits. What can happen to a society stuck in traditions; oblivious
of the inevitable need to change and make progress? Is it reasonable to be
hostile to anything ‘new’ or ‘strange’?
Celebrating ‘Things Fall Apart’ at
60 is also a good moment of contemplation on WB Yeats “Second Coming” (1919)
Each line may appear as if it was composed this year, or perhaps last year:
Things fall apart; the centre cannot
hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the
world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and
everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is
drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while
the worst
Are full of passionate intensity
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the
world
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