'Things Fall Apart' | Empire Writes Back to the Centre

 

‘THINGS FALL APART’ an Embodiment of Empire Writes Back to the Centre

Chinua Achebe was conscious of the invasion of Western culture on the easy-going Nigerian culture. Hence, his writings mostly reflect the imperialist and colonial biases of the West. Therefore, he is known as a giant of Postcolonial Literature.

His famous novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ manifests cross cultural skirmishes particularly when a belligerent and hostile culture or civilization attacks on another culture or civilization.

These very cultural clashes result in making the things fall apart. The White man (the commissioner who writes his book during his stay in Umuofia) has come to Umuofia in order to impose their system of justice and resultantly strangles the already existing democratic system of Nigeria. Actually, the West has developed a notion that people of Africa are not civilized enough to manage things for themselves. Therefore, they have come to this piece of peaceful land in order to teach them how to be civilized. On the other hand, the Africans claim that;

 

“African history is as unique as the Western history.”

 

They boldly assert that whatever is praiseworthy in the Western system is also found in the Nigerian culture. But the commissioner writes only in favour of their so-called good culture (=writes back to the centre) despite the fact he has butchered a number of Umuofians needlessly behind the curtain of cultural clashes.

African language and culture are rich in proverbs. ‘Breaking of Kola nuts’ is a cultural metaphor which symbolizes honour and regard paid to the worthy guests. ‘Yams’ is another metaphor that represents manhood and prosperity. This linguistic enrichment is also in line with the Western advancement in the same field. But the Westerns hold a misconception that their language is superior to that of others which ironically strengthens the readers’ notion about how cleverly empire writes back to the centre.

In ‘Things Fall Apart’, we see several series of clashes between both the cultures i.e., the Western and African. Obierika, who is considered the conscience of society, clarifies with a heavy heart;

 

“The White man has put a knife on the very thing that had held us together and we have fallen apart.”

 

The ibid statement shows that it is the knife only that is the major cause of devastation in Nigeria. Achebe writes with a heavy heart;

 

“The knife of British administration, sporting the cause of missionary campaign, fell on the culture of happily living Igbo people and cut it to bleed and die.”

 

This statement depicts the true picture of the British and American ideology. Being so called colonizers, the Whiteman has been butchering the cultural and social setup of poor, wretched, naked and footless African people. Nevertheless, the commissioner, appointed in Umuofia, writes in the favour of the Whites and against the Blacks and thus satisfies the notion of ‘Empire Writes Back to the Centre’.

These are only the White men who are responsible for the destruction in African societies. Otherwise, the Black people were enjoying their lives smoothly and without any interruption. Achebe writes;

 

“Africans have a culture of their own.”

 

They lead their lives according to the traditions of their culture and they are proud of sticking to them. He informs excitedly;

 

“African were hospitable by nature. They offered Kola nuts and palm wine to their guests.”

Furthermore, the establishment of museums in Nigeria is a clear proof of their long historical civilization.

 

“Museums confirm what we know that we are human beings”.

 

The element of colonialism and imperialism is hidden behind the White man’s baffled notions that English language is highly valuable and superior semiotically to African language. But, throughout the novel, we hear the Africans and other characters often speaking in proverbs. Africans have a fantastic proverb pertaining to their use of proverbs in their language;

 

“Proverbs are the palm oil with which the words are eaten”.

 

Add to this, the Africans’ strong realization of the following statement has a gravity of their awareness with what is known as ‘Empire Writes Back to the Centre’;

 

“Until the lions produce their own historian, the story of the hunt will glorify the hunters”.

 

In a nutshell, the above-mentioned clashes between both the cultures are no more than a war of words. However, the commissioner, in his book, has tried to show that Nigerian culture is inferior to that of the White. Perhaps, it is a part of Whiteman’s culture. Nonetheless, every reader of ‘Things Fall Apart’ knows that the commissioner has written everything thoughtfully to satisfy their empire meaning thereby, ‘Empire Writes Back to the Centre’.