Essay explaining in depth one of the comments in the book "Things Fall Apart."

Essay by daydreamer4evrHigh School, 12th gradeA+, December 2003

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"Like many African writers, Achebe paints a sympethetic protrait of tribal life as it comes in conflict with European civilization. He fuses ancient proverbs and political ideologies to make his point." The novel "Things

Fall Apart" has a fairly sympethetic and understanding tone. The words and sentances that he uses to decribe the feelings and emotions of some of the characters are very detailed and it seems that Achebe himself truely understands and relates to the charcters situation. When he describes how Nwoye felt when Oknonkwo came home after killing Ikemfuna, he says "...something seemed to give way inside him, like the snapping of a tighened bow. He did not cry. He just hung limp." To me, this seems like

he actually sympethizes with Nwoye, and understands his pain.

Achebe seems to truely understand the feelings and emotions of his charcters while placing no harsh or critical judgement on them.

Because of this, I believe that Achebe can sympathize and indentify with these

characters and these feelings.

"Ikemefuna felt his legs melting under him. And he was afraid to look back." This is another example of Achebe's sympathy. It seems that most of his sympathy and understanding is directed more towards the charcters unlike Okonkwo, who suffer not because of their own actions, but

because of others, or even more so the Ibo culture itself.

With Okonkwo, Achebe does not seem to sympethize or try to justify any of his actions. He only says what is done and goes on with the story. He does not try to give reasons for these actions, such as when he kills Ikemefuna. He only says, "He was afraid of being thought weak." He does not justify Okonkwo's killing the boy who has lived with them for over 3 years and who...