Albert Chinualumogu Achebe was born the son of Isaiah Okafo, a Christian churchman, and Janet N. Achebe November 16, 1930 in Ogidi, Nigeria. He married Christie Chinwe Okoli, September 10, 1961, and now has four children. He attended Government College in Umuahia from 1944 to 1947 and University College in Ibadan from 1948 to 1953. He then received a B.A. from London University in 1953 and studied broadcasting at the British Broadcasting Corp. in London in 1956.
Since the 1950's, Nigeria has witnessed "the flourishing of a new literature which has drawn sustenance from both traditional oral literature and from the present and rapidly changing society," writes Margaret Laurence in her book Long Drums and Cannons: Nigerian Dramatists and Novelists. …show more content…
Achebe is indebted to Yeats for the title as it has been taken from Yeats’ poem The Second Coming. Achebe is a fastidious, skilful artist and garnered more critical attention than any other African writer. His reputation was soon established after his novel Things Fall Apart. He made a considerable influence over young African writers. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English. It seeks to discover the cultural zeitgeist of its society. Critics tend to agree that no African novelist writing in English has surpassed Achebe’s achievement in Things Fall Apart. Things Fall Apart is a milestone in African literature. It is considered to be Achebe’s magnum opus. Things Fall Apart is Achebe’s sincere attempt to guide people in their struggle to make their freedom meaningful, functional and relevant. He is a committed writer who believes it is his duty to serve his society. Things Fall Apart is an attempt to redeem the dignity of …show more content…
Whatever was written earlier about Africa was to depict it as a dark continent. It in turn symbolizes people who are primitive, irrational and superstitious without any reason and logic. In fact racists have labelled them as savage. And it was considered White Man’s Burden to enlighten such ignorant people. Achebe reminds that Africa had a rich past and a legacy and that not only the whites have a right to have history and a rich past.
In the novel, Achebe explains the role of women in pre-colonial Africa. Women are relegated to an inferior position throughout the novel. Their status has been degraded. Gender divisions are a misconception of the patriarchy. Cultures crumble and civilizations disintegrate in Things Fall Apart. The novel is set in a traditional Ibo village community at the turn of the century when the first European missionaries and administrative officials were beginning to encroach
Since the 1950's, Nigeria has witnessed "the flourishing of a new literature which has drawn sustenance from both traditional oral literature and from the present and rapidly changing society," writes Margaret Laurence in her book Long Drums and Cannons: Nigerian Dramatists and Novelists. …show more content…
Achebe is indebted to Yeats for the title as it has been taken from Yeats’ poem The Second Coming. Achebe is a fastidious, skilful artist and garnered more critical attention than any other African writer. His reputation was soon established after his novel Things Fall Apart. He made a considerable influence over young African writers. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English. It seeks to discover the cultural zeitgeist of its society. Critics tend to agree that no African novelist writing in English has surpassed Achebe’s achievement in Things Fall Apart. Things Fall Apart is a milestone in African literature. It is considered to be Achebe’s magnum opus. Things Fall Apart is Achebe’s sincere attempt to guide people in their struggle to make their freedom meaningful, functional and relevant. He is a committed writer who believes it is his duty to serve his society. Things Fall Apart is an attempt to redeem the dignity of …show more content…
Whatever was written earlier about Africa was to depict it as a dark continent. It in turn symbolizes people who are primitive, irrational and superstitious without any reason and logic. In fact racists have labelled them as savage. And it was considered White Man’s Burden to enlighten such ignorant people. Achebe reminds that Africa had a rich past and a legacy and that not only the whites have a right to have history and a rich past.
In the novel, Achebe explains the role of women in pre-colonial Africa. Women are relegated to an inferior position throughout the novel. Their status has been degraded. Gender divisions are a misconception of the patriarchy. Cultures crumble and civilizations disintegrate in Things Fall Apart. The novel is set in a traditional Ibo village community at the turn of the century when the first European missionaries and administrative officials were beginning to encroach