THE UNIVERSITY OF FAISALABAD

Assignment#3

Submitted by: Fajar Noor

Reg#: MAE-FA19-010

Subject: Modern Novel

Department of: English Language and Literature

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Submitted to: Ms. Zartab

INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL

Things Fall Apart is a novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts
pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late
19th century. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first to
receive global critical acclaim.

The novel follows the life of Okonkwo, an Igbo ("Ibo" in the novel) man and
local wrestling champion in the fictional Nigerian clan of Umuofia. The work is split into three
parts, with the first describing his family, personal history, and the customs and society of the Igbo,
and the second and third sections introducing the influence of European colonialism and
Christian missionaries on Okonkwo, his family, and the wider Igbo community.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE “THINGS FALL APART”

Pragmatically "Things fall apart" can be said when something we believed would last forever,
comes to an end. The title Things Fall Apart refers to the fact that without proper
balance, things do fall apart. The notion of balance in the novel is an important theme throughout
the book.

Title “Things Fall Apart” is self-explanatory even then much significance is given to it because it
summarizes the whole novel. No other title can define this novel better than this. May be Chinua
Achebe has chosen this title, by minutely observing the theme of this novel as we can ensure that
the main idea of novel is flattering of Igbo culture. Some writers, choose an ironic title, some
choose modest but Chinua Achebe’s novel is based on its title or vice versa. Thus, we can imagine,
just by a glance on the title, what is going to be happen in it. “Things Falls Apart” is actually a
story of devastating of something. We can hardly imagine any other meaning of this title.

It is not only a title but the main theme of the novel. The novel is about the people of Nigerian
society, spending life according to their culture and values. They have their own beliefs, enough
for them to pass their lives with satisfaction. The story actually describes about the values and
customs of a society, which are precious more than anything.

1
The recognition of an individual may be its deeds but the real appreciation of a society is based on
its cultures and social norms, which is also given the name of customs. In every corner of the
world, there are different nations and are recognized either by their names of their social habits,
called as their social norms. Every nation has its own morals as well as ethical values, which gives
them confidence to choose their way of living. They may be awkward for some nations but they
are acceptable and proud habits of that specific nation. It is relevant to mention here that African
people were not considered as cultured people in the eyes of other societies but Chinua Achebe
wrote this novel and showed the truth of those people who were much close and intensely attached
to their culture as well as social norms. The novel clearly paints towards the life of Nigerian people,
who were much depressed after the arrival of white men in their society as it shattered their
credibility. Hence, Things Fall Apart is not just a title but the main idea of the novel.

When the culture of Igbo society was ruined by the expansion of European society and coming of
white men with a new faith as well as customs i.e., Christianity. The effect on the people was much
deep and they were deeply weakened by the new religion. They were well aware with the datum
that it will finish their culture. As the protagonist of the novel tries his best to save his social norms
but he could not do so. Neither he could stop them to expand their culture nor he could save his
people from them and ultimately, he found no other way but suicide. He did not want to accept
and see his people converting to Christianity, thus he committed suicide.

Thus, there is no ambiguity in the title as it mainly focuses on Igbo society which fall apart by the
expansion of imperialism and Christianity but on the other side, the life of Okonkwo is also related
to it. He was a man of great strength, in the start, who by struggling, achieved respect and rank in
his society but by a mistake, when he inadvertently kills a boy, he has to face exile from his society.
The life of Okonkwo starts with prosperity and ends in poverty. Not only the culture of Igbo society
but the life of the protagonist is also relied upon the title of this novel. It is much shameful for a
nation when he accepts other cultures with happy hearts, while forgetting its original one. In this
backdrop, it can be easily justified that the title that it totally gives us not only a hint but
summarizes whole tale of the novel.

The End