Notion of Balance in Things Fall Apart by Achebe Essay

Notion of Balance in Things Fall Apart by Achebe The notion of balance in Achebes novel is an important theme throughout the book. Beginning with the excerpt from Yeatss poem, The Second Coming, the concept of balance is stressed as important, for without balance, order is lost. In the novel, there are many systems of balance which the Ibo culture seems to depend upon. It is when these systems are upset that things fall apart. Okonkwo, the Ibo religion, and ultimately, the Ibos autonomy were brought to their demise by an extreme imbalance between their male and female aspects. These male and female aspects can be generally be described as the external, physical strength of the male; and the internal, passive, and nurturing†¦show more content†¦Okonkwo is eventually defeated when he finds that his physical strength is not powerful enough to overcome the white men, and, unable to accept this, he hangs himself. The Ibo Religions Demise The Ibo religion falls in much the same way. This religion is centered about the worship of male gods and ancestors. The female god among these may be the Earth goddess, but Okonkwo offends this goddess twice in the story to save his masculine image: once when he beats his wife during the week of peace; the other when he strikes down his adopted son. The gods functions are mainly to help in war, and to aid the yearly yam crop, which is considered a mans crop. The highest members in the religious organization are the most respected men in the society; during ceremonies, they don costumes and play the role of the deceased ancestors. The primary influence women have in this religion is in the role of the oracle, who is a woman, although she embodies a male god. It is the women, also, who practice witchcraft, which is greatly feared in the tribes, but it should be noted that even this is a passive force with only intangible connections to any physical effects. When the Christian religion is introduced, preaching universal acceptance, many members of the clan who are dissatisfied with the Ibo religion are drawn toward it. Some of the title-less men described as women in the tribe are immediately drawn to it. Nwoye, who dislikes the practiceShow MoreRelatedChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1325 Words   |  6 Pages Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Thing Fall Apart, first published in 1958, is Chinua Achebe’s first and most acclaimed novel. Achebe illustrates an approving rendering of Nigerian and African tribal life prior to and subsequent to colonialism. Achebe presents various aspects of a native African community, including war, women mistreatment, violence and conflict, while maintaining a balance in social coherence, customs and tradition. Achebe portrays a clash of culturesRead MoreThings Fall Apart: The Relationship Between Cultural Relativity and Superiority1352 Words   |  6 PagesBy utilizing an unbiased stance in his novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe promotes cultural relativity without forcibly steering his audience to a particular mindset. He presents the flaws of the Ibo tribe the same way he presents the assets—without either condescension or pride; he presents the cruelties of the colonizers the same way he presents their open mindedness—without either resentment or sympathy. Becaus e of this balance, readers are able to view the characters as multifaceted humanRead MoreA Civilization Falls Apart Essay1167 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature, talks about the changes from an un-dignified lion-chasing culture to that of a semi-dignified European society. The novel Things Fall Apart by Nigerian-born author Chinua Achebe, tells the story of a Umuofian villager named Okonkwo, and how Okonkwo has to come to grips with the changes that are happening in everyday Ibo life. The novel Things Fall Apart is not your typical tall African tale. The novel is a story, a story not just about one person, but about an entire civil-societyRead MoreThings Fall Apart-Notion of Balance Analysis1633 Words   |  7 PagesNotion of Balance in Things Fall Apart The notion of balance in Achebes novel is an important theme throughout the book. Beginning with the excerpt from Yeatss poem, The Second Coming, the concept of balance is stressed as important, for without balance, order is lost. In the novel, there are many systems of balance which the Ibo culture seems to depend upon. It is when these systems are upset that things fall apart. Okonkwo, the Ibo religion, and ultimately, the Ibos autonomy were broughtRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1974 Words   |  8 Pages â€Å"Things Fall Apart† is a novel written by a Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe in 1958. The author belongs to African culture and for this reason most part of the novel reflects the value of African culture. Many European countries moved to Africa and many other regions of the world in the end of the 19th century where they inaugurated colonies. With the new developing idea of colonization, a number of villages of Nigeria especially those involved in Umuofia confronted new institutions and politicalRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1696 Words   |  7 PagesFeminism Introduction Things Fall Apart is Chinua Achebe’s first novel published in 1958. Achebe lived from 1930 to 2013. Things Fall Apart was written as a rejoinder to European works of fiction that portrayed Africans as savages in need of the white man’s enlightenment. Chinua presents his history to the reader, highlighting both the strengths and the weakness by describing, for instance, the Igbo cultural festivals, their devotion to their gods, and their ritualistic ceremonial practices thatRead More Okonkwos Tragic Flaws in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay3094 Words   |  13 Pages     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   An increasing amount of contemporary literature traces its origins back to the early works of Greece. For ages, humans have fascinated themselves with the impossible notion of perfection. Unrealistic expectations placed on those who were thought to be the noblest or most honorable individuals have repeatedly led to disappointment and frustration, either on the part of those particular individuals or those they influence. Classic characters, like Odysseus and Oedipus for instance, exemplifyRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1294 Words   |  6 PagesA common societal problem is the obsession over masculinity and femininity. Society is confused about what it actually means to be masculine and feminine. In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the protagonist character, Okonkwo, was so obsessed over masculinity that he was willing to sabotage relationships with friends, family and community members to prove his manliness. There are many theories to why societies have problems with masculinity and femininity. Okonkwo’s obsession with masculinityRead MoreGender Roles : Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart2246 Words   |  9 PagesOne of these authors is Chinua Achebe, who wrote the novel, Things Fall Apart that reflects the conditional of society. The significance of one’s culture affected gender roles and allowed society to determine an individual lifestyle; therefore, I attend to identify the structure of gender roles in Things Fall Apart on how women were important to men, yet they do not receive the treatment they deserve. When I first began reading Things Fall Apart, it helped me understand about theRead MoreThings Fall Apart Essay1843 Words   |  8 Pages Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart is an excellent piece of literary work that addresses the history of post-colonialism in Africa. The writer intentionally situates a colonized people as the cultural norm while portraying the colonizing people as outsiders, or as â€Å"the other†. Achebe’s work is meant to correct people’s misconception that African culture and society is savage and primitive by narrating the story of the colonialization of the Igbo people from an African point of view. The novel

Meaning of Life - 1425 Words

The Meaning of Life The meaning of life, defined by Victor E. Frankl, is the will to find your meaning in life. It is not the meaning of life in general, but rather the specific meaning of a persons life at a given moment. He believes that if you are approached with the question of what is the meaning of my life or in this case, life is meaningless, then you should reverse the question to that person asking the question. For example: What are you bringing to me? What are you as an individual contributing to this life? This forces the person in question to take a look at themselves and to ultimately be responsible. Frankl says that if you are a responsible member of society than the meaning of life transcends from yourself rather†¦show more content†¦Another aspect about suffering is that it stops being suffering the moment we find meaning in it. Now that possible reasons for why a person may be feeling that their life has no meaning has been addressed, here are some possible solutions that Fra nkl might suggest. Once the person has discovered why their life is meaningless they need to rediscover their meaning that they lost. They could ask themselves a question like, what was I born with and what is the greater meaning in that? Because it is believed that youre born with a meaning that every single person on this Earth is born with a meaning. Life doesnt owe you anything. Basically youre the responsible one for all the stuff you put out into the world during your life. Another thing that he might talk about is what the person does everyday. If they arent doing anything with their life he might suggest them getting involved with something to help create tension. Since tension drives us and pushes us to reach our goals, it helps give us meaning. Frankl also sees responsible-ness as the essence of human existence. He says that everyman has a specific, unique job in life that he is too fulfill an that no one else can do this or replace this one person in the same way. As each situation in life represents a challenge to man and presents a problem for him to solve, the question of the meaning of life may actually be reversed. Each man is questioned by life and he canShow MoreRelatedThe Meaning Of Life1639 Words   |  7 Pagesexperiences shaped us. The search for the meaning of life gives everyone part of their purpose or reason for existing. It gives us hope and self-satisfaction that we can use our talents to make the world a better place. Meaning and experience are closely related. They focus on living in the moment and questing ideas that surround us. Experiences allow us to take part in the world and to have first-hand emotions that give new perspectives. The meaning of life directs our actions to the positive well-beingRead MoreThe Meaning of Life826 Words   |  3 PagesThe meaning of Life? 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Although the world can be a very cruel place to live in and, it can mentally damageRead MoreMeaning of Life Essay1392 Words   |  6 PagesJermaine Smith Period 7 The True Meaning of Life What is the meaning of life? Well known Greek philosphers such as Socrates and Plato believed that our purpose in this life was to gain knowledge in preparation for the next life. Other Philosophers such as Epicurus believed that pleasure is the main goal in life. After giving these ideas lots of thought, I have come to my own conclusion that the true meaning of life is far more complex than either of these; far too complex for any humanRead MoreEssay on The Meaning of Life843 Words   |  4 PagesThe Meaning of Life My few years on this planet have been a bit confusing. I have learned of many aspects of life from which one can draw meaning, if indeed such meaning can be drawn. I have also learned that there can be no singular meaning of life to stand for us all, or even any one of us. What I have learned above all is that trying to put words to the meaning of life is a task of absolute absurdity. This is not to be confused with the idea that life has no meaning, for life certainlyRead MoreMeaning to Life Essay1402 Words   |  6 PagesMeaning to Life Is there a meaning to life? First, to clear up any misunderstandings in the next few paragraphs you are about to read, I shall explain a few things. I am not talking about the individual people in our lives, that mean so much to us, or individual lives. That is a whole other matter. What I mean by the meaning of life, is the greater picture. There are people all over the world, doing their own thing, living their own lives, in their own areas. Is there a point to this? TheRead MoreEssay on The Meaning of Life2288 Words   |  10 Pages The Meaning of Life The most difficult thing in life is finding something worth living for. The second most difficult thing is knowing when youve found it...... by Jamie Andreas Okay, lets be light hearted for once. Lets not talk about some heavy subject. Lets pick something more down to earth and fun. How about the meaning of life? Yes, the meaning of life, and the purpose of our lives. Teen-agers (that group of people who are most likely to begin to play the guitar) love to think aboutRead MoreThe True Meaning Of Life1880 Words   |  8 PagesThe true meaning of life comes in many different ways depending on the individual. As we grow older, we begin to contemplate what our true purpose is. For some, it might be the pursuit of love, happiness, or success. The truth is that many times these questions begin to arise when a person comes in close contact with someone that has passed away. A young child or teenager, for the most part, doesn’t think that death is close because our society has created this idea in which older people are depictedRead MoreWhat Is The Meaning Of Life? Essay1924 Words   |  8 PagesWhat is the Meaning of Life? The topic of life and its meaning has always been an obscure concept. Is life just about being prosperous and getting things done in time as if we are crossing things off a list or is there a deeper meaning to it? Before we go on I would like to ask this, what is the deeper meaning of life for you? This can be a challenging question for some because they might not have thought about this topic and or requires deep amount of discussion in oneself. Everyone will answerRead More Meaning of life Essay1372 Words   |  6 Pages The True Meaning of Life nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;What is the meaning of life? Well known Greek philosphers such as Socrates and Plato believed that our purpose in this life was to gain knowledge in preparation for the next life. Other Philosophers such as Epicurus believed that pleasure is the main goal in life. After giving these ideas lots of thought, I have come to my own conclusion that the true meaning of life is far more complex than either of these; far too complex for any human

Keats hellenism free essay sample

‘’Keats is essentially a Greek among the English poets’’- discuss./ Discuss Keats’ use of classical elements in the odes you have read./ Write on Keats’ Hellenism in his odes. Keats, as is well known, was not a classical scholar, yet he has been famous for his Hellenism, a term which may be defined as a love of Greek art, literature, culture and way of life. Keats had an inborn love for the Greek spirit,-their Religion of Joy and their religion of Beauty. He once wrote to one of his friends that he never ceased to wonder at ‘all that incarnate delight’ of the Greek way of life. In fact, he was driven to the world of Greek Beauty because he wanted to escape imaginatively from the harsh realities of his present. It should, however, be noted that ‘Keats was a Greek’ because he could enter lovingly and imaginatively into the world of the ancients, and not because his knowledge of it was accurate and scholarly. We will write a custom essay sample on Keats hellenism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page His presentation of Hallas is romantic and not realistic. Keats’ mind was saturated with Greek literature and mythology. He habitually chooses Greek stories for his poetry. Endymion. Hyperion, Lamia, Grecian Urn, Psyche etc,- all have the themes borrowed from the Greeks. The Grecian Urn is a monument of the poet’s power of entering imaginatively into another world. We as readers feel that we have been transported entirely to the Hellenic world of beauty, love, festivity and ritual. It is permeated through and through with the Greek spirit. It may also be noted that the ‘Ode’ form, which he made particularly his own and in which he excels all other English poets, is typically a Greek verse form. Moreover, there are countless allusions to Greek legends and stories in poems which are not directly based on Greek themes. He frequently refers at all places to Muses, Apollo, Pan, Narcissus, Endymion, Diana, and a number of other classical gods and goddesses. In Ode to Nightingale, we have references to Dryads (That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees), the goddess Flora (Tasting of Flora and the country green), and Bacchus and his pards (Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards). In Ode on Melancholy, references are made to the river Lethe, goddess Proserpine and Psyche. These allusions are not mere conventional personifications as with other poets;Â  there is a tone of enjoyment in these allusions which shows that Greek mythology had really taken possession of his mind. The Greek temper of Keats is also revealed particularly in his joy in the Beauty of nature and his zest for an out of door life lived in her midst. Like the Greeks, Keats also takes a sensuous, childlike pleasure in the forms, colours, scents and sounds of nature and sees a god or goddess behind every object and phenomenon of the external world. The following lines can be cited in this regard- And haply the Queen –Moon is on her throne, Cluster’d around by all her starry Fays; The Greeks had a zest for life in nature and loved the activities of such life; but they also loved the serenity and quiet of pastoral life. Both these aspects are combined vividly in the Ode on a Grecian Urn. For example, the scenario of the Bacchanalian procession consisting of the flute players, the youth singing under the tree, and the lover about to kiss represent the joy of youth and its energy. On the other hand, the picture of the lowing heifer being led to the sacrificial altar represents the charm of a serene and quiet life. In fact, in his worship of Beauty, Keats justifies the remark of Shelley that he was a Greek. The Hellenic spirit was re-incarnated in Keats. Through his contact with Greek sculptures, he imbibed, as if by instinct, the classical discipline, simplicity and austerity. He was basically a romantic, and in the beginning his art is characterized by the romantic excess. But at times, he could achieve the clearness of outline, the directness and restraint and the austerity and finish of the classics. As Matthew Arnold points out, the last three lines of the Ode on a Grecian Urn, ‘is as Greek as anything from Homer or Theocritus’. Similarly the stanza of this Ode beginning, ‘Who are those coming to the sacrifice’ has been described as having ‘the clear radiance of Greek style’. In his description, Keats often achieves not only clarity, directness and simplicity, but also the happy combination of movement with repose which characterizes Greek art. For example, in the Ode on Melancholy we get; ‘Beauty that must die And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lipsbidding adieu’ Keats also has the passion for perfection of the Greeks. He has the epigrammatic terseness and brevity of the Greeks. Phrases like ‘drowsy numbness’, ‘leaden-eyed despair’, ‘leaf-fringed legends’, ‘cold pastoral, ‘wakeful anguish of the soul’ etc bear enough testimony to this. The opening two lines of the Ode on a Grecian Urn have even been called by Rossetti as the ‘Pillars of Hercules of the human language’. However, this Greek note in Keats’ poetry should not be exaggerated. He surely has the romantic melancholy, romantic exuberance and the love of colour and pageantry of the romantics. As a matter of fact, he got his knowledge of Greek mythology and literature through the study of the Elizabethans and in the process also imbibed their romanticism. In his poetry, we find a rare combination of classicism with romanticism. As Legoius and Cazamian put it, ‘ Keats affects the rare union of classical discipline, guided by the examples and precepts of the ancients, with the more intrinsically precious matter, which the artist finds in romanticism’. We may also add that he is not always content with the enjoyment merely of the beauty of form. He often tries to penetrate to the real significance and truth which may lie at the back of formal beauty.