Unit: Unit: Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apartby Chinua Achebeby Chinua Achebe

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

Western AfricaWestern Africa

West African HistoryWest African History

1800’s: European scramble for Africa1800’s: European scramble for Africa

Reasons: Reasons: – Wanted to “civilize” the savagesWanted to “civilize” the savages– Natural resources ($)Natural resources ($)– Expose the Africans to Christianity. Expose the Africans to Christianity.

Lasted until late 1800’s when countries started to Lasted until late 1800’s when countries started to gain independencegain independence

Early ExplorationEarly Exploration

Nations claiming ownership: Portugal, Nations claiming ownership: Portugal, Spain, Dutch, France, Netherlands, England Spain, Dutch, France, Netherlands, England and others soon followed…and others soon followed…

Main commodities: slaves, gold, ivory, Main commodities: slaves, gold, ivory, rubber plants, diamonds and spicesrubber plants, diamonds and spices

Africa DividedAfrica Divided

European Views of AfricaEuropean Views of Africa

During this time, most Europeans thought During this time, most Europeans thought that Africa was a dangerous country, full of that Africa was a dangerous country, full of cannibals. Explorers brought back stories of cannibals. Explorers brought back stories of strange traditions, people and customs.strange traditions, people and customs.

Africa was known as theAfrica was known as the

““dark continent”dark continent”

The Dark ContinentThe Dark Continent

Considered Dark for several reasons:Considered Dark for several reasons:– The skin color of the people The skin color of the people – Dark in jungle areas (due to overgrowth, trees, Dark in jungle areas (due to overgrowth, trees,

etc.etc.– Dark because customs seemed barbaric.Dark because customs seemed barbaric.– Dark because lack of Christianity (Showing Dark because lack of Christianity (Showing

them the “light” of God”them the “light” of God”

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

Short novel, written by Polish born writer, Short novel, written by Polish born writer, Joseph ConradJoseph Conrad

Fiction, but based on Fiction, but based on

his travels throughhis travels through

Africa on the CongoAfrica on the Congo

riverriver

SummarySummary

Published in 1902, the story follows Charles Published in 1902, the story follows Charles Marlow, a ferry boat captain who was hired Marlow, a ferry boat captain who was hired by a Belgian trading company to travel into by a Belgian trading company to travel into the Congo in an attempt to transport ivory the Congo in an attempt to transport ivory downriver.downriver.

Summary Cont.Summary Cont.

On his journey, he is also responsible for On his journey, he is also responsible for finding a large supply of ivory that the finding a large supply of ivory that the previous captain is holding captive.previous captain is holding captive.

As he continues to travel down the Congo As he continues to travel down the Congo river, Conrad instills fear in the reader by river, Conrad instills fear in the reader by describing the Africans and their customs.describing the Africans and their customs.

Summary Cont.Summary Cont.

As Marlow travels down the Congo river, he As Marlow travels down the Congo river, he gives details of how the native people live.gives details of how the native people live.

He creates an atmosphere of fear and He creates an atmosphere of fear and mystery while describing various stories mystery while describing various stories along the way.along the way.

Summary Cont.Summary Cont.

Marlow eventually discovers that Kurtz has Marlow eventually discovers that Kurtz has found power in leading the Africans, rather found power in leading the Africans, rather than taking their ivory. They look to him as than taking their ivory. They look to him as a God, and he finds himself battling his a God, and he finds himself battling his European views and the realities of traveling European views and the realities of traveling through Africa.through Africa.

Dark ContinentDark Continent

Conrad spends a lot of time discussing how Conrad spends a lot of time discussing how dark the Africans were, how dark their dark the Africans were, how dark their customs were, the barbarism of the African customs were, the barbarism of the African ways and hints to the fact that some of this ways and hints to the fact that some of this might be because they are not Christians. might be because they are not Christians.

Quote:Quote:

It was unearthly, and the men were—No, It was unearthly, and the men were—No, they were not inhuman. Well, you know, that they were not inhuman. Well, you know, that was the worst of it—the suspicion of their was the worst of it—the suspicion of their not being inhuman. It would come slowly to not being inhuman. It would come slowly to one. They howled and leaped, and spun, one. They howled and leaped, and spun, and made horrid faces; but what thrilled you and made horrid faces; but what thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity—like was just the thought of their humanity—like yours—the thought of your remote kinship yours—the thought of your remote kinship with this wild and passionate uproar. Ugly. with this wild and passionate uproar. Ugly.

PublicationPublication

Heart of Darkness was very popular when Heart of Darkness was very popular when first published. first published.

Many European countries sent missionaries Many European countries sent missionaries to Africa.to Africa.

The novel confirmed their ideas of what The novel confirmed their ideas of what Africa and Africans were like.Africa and Africans were like.

Chinua AchebeChinua Achebe

Born in Nigeria in 1930Born in Nigeria in 1930 Worked as a radio producerWorked as a radio producer Awarded over 25 honorary doctorates from Awarded over 25 honorary doctorates from

Universities throughout the world. Universities throughout the world.

Chinua AchabeChinua Achabe

Achabe, felt that Achabe, felt that Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness is a is a racist novel and that it’s author, Joseph racist novel and that it’s author, Joseph Conrad was a racist. Conrad was a racist.

He wrote Things Fall Apart (1959) in an He wrote Things Fall Apart (1959) in an attempt to show that what Europeans attempt to show that what Europeans thought was strange, actually had meaning thought was strange, actually had meaning and importance.and importance.

TodayToday

Things Fall Apart is read worldwide in high Things Fall Apart is read worldwide in high schools and colleges.schools and colleges.

It’s story of a man who “falls apart” as his It’s story of a man who “falls apart” as his culture is destroyed by the views and ways culture is destroyed by the views and ways of white settlers.of white settlers.

SettingSetting

NigeriaNigeria End of 1800s, right before the arrival of End of 1800s, right before the arrival of

white menwhite men Centers around the Ibo tribe.Centers around the Ibo tribe. Told in 3 parts:Told in 3 parts:

StyleStyle

Simple sentences: simplicity of lifeSimple sentences: simplicity of life

Imagery: metaphors and similesImagery: metaphors and similes

Proverbs: used to comment on human Proverbs: used to comment on human behavior, importance of oral communication.behavior, importance of oral communication.

Folk Tales: show values of societyFolk Tales: show values of society

Religious BeliefsReligious Beliefs

Different than Christianity:Different than Christianity:– Supreme God: ChukwuSupreme God: Chukwu

Represented by many minor godsRepresented by many minor gods

– Personal Gods: ChiPersonal Gods: Chi In control of personal destinyIn control of personal destiny

– AncestorsAncestors Represented by masked men at social gatherings. Represented by masked men at social gatherings.

Highly respected and worshipped, provides Highly respected and worshipped, provides interaction between the worlds of living and deadinteraction between the worlds of living and dead