Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is such a beautiful expression of man - a novel that while it holds its roots in Africa, can be understood and related to by anyone and everyone. I particularly liked this book because it captures the essence of what I believes to drive humanity: insecurity.

The main character Okonkwo is seen as a strong man: he has multiple wives, he is attempting to become a more prominent leader in he village, and he has a son. However, he is painfully affected by society and societies desires that his supposed strength is a pale facade for his unbelievable fear and anger.

This novel hit home with me because as a whole, we are completely obsessed with society as our judgement, and rarely do we judge things of our own accord and our own mind. We use society as a crutch and live life accordingly. But the structure of society is ever-changing, and if we rely upon it without fail, society will surely fail us - and as the title suggests, what we know will surely fall apart.

Chinua Achebe tells us to run past our insecurities and the easiness of resting upon society's values and to create our own reason, our own morals, and our own ethics. Only then can we remain whole when things fall apart, because nothing is truer or stronger than what you believe in your own mind.

Things Fall Apart is what I believe to be an essential reading for the every day person, especially those who are growing up. I read this as a sophomore in high school and it gave me new insight as to how I shouldn't use society as a way to mask my insecurities as so many do. This novel is educational, and while considerably morose, effective in its purpose and Achebe's writing style is easy, yet magnificent.

10/10

Comments

No comments for this entry have been posted

Added by Charis 1 year ago on 16 August 2008 09:50