Thesis &: Gender Understanding #TFA

With reference to Things Fall Apart, discuss how an understanding of gender influences how the text may be understood.

Thesis-
In the novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe explores the oppression and misconception of women during mid 19th century in Nigeria with the purpose to manifest an awareness of social structure hierarchy, theme of gender and understanding of the Igbo community and its values.

Topic Sentence 1-
Social structure hierarchy is established within the text by demonstrating the roles of women within the Igbo community in the ways of how they were treated and how they acted within the society.

Topic Sentence 2-
The theme of gender is created in the novel through the use of gender stereotypes and the abridgement of women compared to men at the time and period.

Topic Sentence 3-
The Igbo community's values are revealed through the text by showcasing how different genders carried out different tasks and what was considered acceptable and unacceptable.

Thesis- #TFA

Prompt: With reference to Things Fall Apart, show how sub-plots or secondary characters contribute to the reader’s understanding and appreciation of the work as a whole. 



Through the medium of a culturally and traditionally authentic book after the colonization of Nigeria, Achebe emphasizes the theme of power and fear through the contrast between secondary characters such as Unoka, Nwoye and the protagonist, Okonkowo, in order to challenge the idea of hegemony within a pure culture endowing cultural context of composition further developing Okonkwo's tragic hero archetype which is indirectly characterized throughout the novel by his actions displaying his need for masculinity and pride. 

Things Fall Apart: Tragic Hero

In many ways Things Fall Apart is considered a tragedy. Why would Achebe, taking into account the cultural context, choose to characterize Okonkwo using the tragic hero archetype? 

Things Fall Apart is considered a tragedy due to the protagonist conforming to the archetype of a tragic hero. Okonkwo was a tragic hero because he had a lot of internal problems, specially with his dad and his personal beliefs against the village's beliefs. Okonkwo was different and he dealt with things different in his own way. Furthermore throughout the book, his internal problems cause him to obtain external problems and that is when things get out of control. By committing a crime in the sacred peace of weak, killing Ikemefuna and accidentally being a female murder Okonkwo and his family are exiled for 7 years and in his return the missionaries have taken control of Umuofia. Okonkwo's downfall was a factor which contributed towards the missionaries establishing themselves in Umuofia. Maybe in an alternative book, if Okonkwo was there when the missionaries came, maybe he would have been brave enough to fight the missionaries and try to protect the village. However that was his downfall, losing something that was so important to him; his traditions, his yams, his culture and his village.

 Taking into account the cultural context when the book was written in 1958, when the British Had made their way to Nigeria with the purpose to colonize every single bit of the country. I believe that Achebe's intention when he characterized Okonkwo as a tragic hero was to in a sense replicate the country's and the people's misfortune of colonization, as they did not want it. Furthermore Achebe's message of the book is to convey the themes of perception of masculinity, complex language leading to cultural differences, pride bringing negative effects and the clash among change and tradition. In addition it can be said that he portrayed Okonkwo as a tragic hero due to the fact that he wanted the people of Nigeria to read this book and understand that colonization could bring a man to kills himself, if he had deep love and compassion for his traditions and culture. The ending of the book was meant to motivate the people of Nigeria for them to see what was happening to them in an extremist lens.

Things Fall Apart Rap Battle

Late 20th century, in Nigeria 

Okonkwo we all know your father n'était pas beau

Unoka, a common lie low

 Indebted, broke, a weak weak father

all you wanted was for him to be slaughtered 

The CAT arrived, it was the time to display your power 

And give him a blood shower 

your masculinity slays like a blue jay’s 

show them your pride so you can be satisfied

But hold it, why did you beat your second wife?

she just wanted to braid her hair 

But you had the audacity to be unfair 

and in the week of peace? what a coward crease

Shall I keep going? Not only did you kill Ikemefuna

but your gun was blowing in an ongoing funeral 

a female kind of murder, that was inexcusable 

 Man, real talk now, did you know life ain’t renewable? 

You don't listen to the Oracle

You got your family exiled 

All because you were such, such a stubborn child 

Now go, go cry to you mama in Mbanta 

You say you don't wanna resemble your father 

then why are you being a weak cold walker 

you don't give your children love

But Nwoye found religion up above

one, two, three weeks later 

You come back to Umuofia and see it as a traitor 

Missionaries everywhere

beware the white are on sight

We all know your arrogance is blown out of proportion

the pride you carry was a distortion

these yams gave you a wealthier reality 

however you come from a humble family, get your sanity  

  

Your fragile masculinity was your misfortune 

you couldn't use your heart but it was only another organ 

No more Kola Nuts were opened that day 

because Okonkwo hung himself and flew away 

Things Fell Apart 

Reflecting upon the rap battle, I believe that personally it was a very interesting approach into further understanding how Okonkwo fulfils the archetype of a tragic hero. Personally I believe that these lyrics illustrate the main events that lead to Okonkwo's downfall. Furthermore reflecting on my performance, it was very funny and unfortunately I started laughing at the end. But it was a fun experience. 

Igbo Background Assignment

Good Afternoon! What a beautiful audience is presented in front of me. I am delighted to be here today as I believe that it is my duty to open your eyes to the original and pure tradition, beliefs and culture of the Igbo people.

We as colonisers, we do not see the full story of tribes. We only see one story and it is usually not wrong however it is incomplete. Furthermore as colonisers although we think that by colonising countries, cities and tribes we might be contributing towards the people's benefits by introducing them to modern ways of living and traditions, we might be killing something that they believe to be pure and loved. 

Do you know how many languages have been extinct due to colonisation? Do you know how much connecting with ancestors is important to the Igbo tribe? Are you aware that the Igbo people form one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa?

After my expedition to the “savage lands” I was blown away. We have been wrong this entire time. After arriving in Nigeria with a closed mindset, I had finally realised how a book should not be judged by its cover. Although they are not so likeable towards the white skinned people, they were polite. The Igbo people are full of interesting traditions which they believe in with all their soul, however we name that as sorcery and nonsense.

The way I see things, respect should go both ways. Don’t sell me a dog and pretend that colonising brings out the best of those “savage” tribes. What it does it that it kills their pureness and forces them to live a lie, live within beliefs they don't believe and live within an unwanted superior force.

What if the Igbo tribe was your tribe, your people, your culture? Would you be okay with people you don't even know, simply invading it because they feel as hey are superior and changing everything around you, tradition and culture, important concepts for the tribe to survive?

Colonising should be applied, do not twist my words. However there should be a limit to the extent of that application. In my honest opinion, new modern ways concerning behaviour, culture and tradition should be presented towards the Igbo community in a persuasive way. Those that are interested in it can take part and become modern people and those who want to stick with their origins and purity should be able to do so. 

Let’s not send our mutton shunters into Africa with explicit orders to take over every land they find. Instead we can tell them to harmonise with the Igbo people and not take any violent acts towards them. Respect should go both ways.

Taking the egg over the Igbo people is not victory. Victory is to harmonise with them in a peaceful manner and share culture both ways. We all can learn from them as they can learn from us. 

In the name of Britain, we shall not be violent, we shall be civil. In the name of Britain we shall not disregard human rights, we shall re-enforce it. In the name of Britain, let’s consider what they have to offer and make our offer persuasive enough that they will have interest in it. 

Thank You!

Achebe's Interview

The most meaningful take away of today's discussion, in my opinion, is how the English Language is important and the powerful effect has on people. After Nigeria got Colonised by the British, English became the most spoken language there. Therefore, in  order for Achebe to reach out to his audience and express his feelings about colonisation to all, he had to utilise the English Language. It was a must for him to utilise the coloniser's language in favour of the people and against the colonisers. Furthermore he accentuates the importance of literature and the effect of it on the readers. He says that when a person is able to sympathise and relate to someone else that is completely unknown and far away, that is the true effect of literature right there and it is something beautiful. In addition, going back to the importance of the English language to his novel is that he uses it to create an image of how pure his community was before the colonisers occupied it and to create the idea of culture authenticity. 

"What's more difficult is to identify with someone you don't see, who's very far away, who's a different color, who eats a different kind of food. When you begin to do that then literature is really performing its wonders."

This quotes specifically can be used as evidence from the text in order to support my point of view or it can be used as a form to tool in order to demonstrate that even though it may not be the most important pert of the Achebe Interview, he was still reviling a pretty powerful message indirectly to us. Even though that the interview was not about literature, people forget that if it wasn’t for literature his book wouldn’t have existed. Personally I think that the fact that he accentuates what literature does and how it perform its wonders demonstrates what his young self was aiming to do while he was writing to do. This statement aim is to make the audience aware of his goal and make them aware that he reached it.

“We Shall Fight on the Beaches” by Winston Churchill //Paper 1\\

"We shall fight on the Beaches"

This text was presented by Winston Churchill, Great Britain’s Prime Minister on June 4th, 1940. This text is a political speech which incorporates great amounts of rhetoric devices such as euphemism, personal pronoun and anaphora while simultaneously containing flattery and a huge amount of appeal to patriotism. Winston Churchill utilises these literary techniques as a persuasive method to bring the British people together as a whole nation and to inspire them that no matter what happens in the war they will not give up. 

Considering the fact that this political speech was delivered in the House of Commons in Britain, it can be concluded that the text is targeting the British people however since it is targeting all different types of nation, it can also be considered multi-vocal. Although Churchill never directs the audience as “you” he does say “we” implying that the audience is his people, therefore the British people. Furthermore the aim of the speech is to convey the message to the British people that when war comes their way, the British will not give up. At the last paragraph Churchill says “we shall never surrender” which is the main purpose of the speech summed up in four words. Besides having the will to unify the British people, Churchill wants to prepare the nation for the war that will come their way. To further emphasise on the impact to unify the nation as the main purpose Churchill uses techniques such as appeal to patriotism which affects the British people by shifting their attention to the country as whole and forget about themselves as individuals. 

In the political speech delivered by Winston Churchill, he explained to the people how although they are doing everything to protect the people and the country, Nazi Germany might come for them and when that happens they will not give up. In addition Churchill reassures that the country is prepared to go to war and to fight in order to defend Britain by saying “We must never forget the solid assurances of sea power and those which belong to air power if it can be locally exercised”. This quote is a reference to the proud tradition and saying that Britannia rules the waves. Furthermore Churchill addresses the USA and U.S.S.R. at the end of the speech “the New World, with all its power and might, steps to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”. In this extract Churchill glorifies these two countries by indirect telling the British nation that when things come to worse, they will aid the U.K. and they will make them free again. 

The entire speech is spoken in an encouraging, persuasive and bold tone creating an intense atmosphere. In the speech Churchill utilises many rhetoric devices such as personal pronouns and euphemism in order to make the speech sophisticated however deliver the message as a unified nation. At the beginning of the speech he uses a metaphor “enemy aliens” which characterises them as the unknown therefore they cannot be predicted which is a justification for the British people to stay in alert. Then Churchill uses many personal pronouns to unify the nation and the shows a minimum sympathy for the enemy characterising Churchill as a good and considerate Prime Minister “I am very sorry for them, but we cannot, at the present time and under the present stress, draw all the distinctions which we should like to do.”.

The following paragraphs, in order to create some encouragement, Churchill flatters the British nation and says “I think that no idea is so outstanding that it should not be considered and viewed with a searching, but at the same time, I hope, with a steady eye.”. This phrase encourages people to keep in mind that Britain is trying to avoid confrontation but right now it simply cannot be an option. To further back up all that Churchill is saying he states that measures will be taken towards the country no matter what “At any rate, that is that we are going to do.” and by saying this the whole idea of the speech is strengthened. Furthermore he says “we shall not flag or fail” again emphasising that Britain will not give up and he is mentally preparing the nation to be strong and to be patient. By saying this, it reveals a lot about Churchill which is that the is determined to get Britain through this conflict. 

Sequentially the last paragraph of the speech is one of the most known and most important for encouraging the people and persuading them through the use of anaphora. Furthermore it unifies them and assures the nation to that they will fight together and that they will win. In the first 5 lines of the last paragraph of the speech “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender” there is strong use of anaphora which is utilised with the intent to stick those words and the idea to every civilian’s mind. By constantly repeating the words “we shall” he is killing two birds with one stone. Churchill unifies himself and the nation as a whole and he indulges the idea of taking action towards an issue. This is a very important and significant part of his speech which is concentrated with rhetorical and persuasive devices which aids to stick an idea in their heads. Moreover the entire speech has an interesting structure where the purpose of the speech which speaks about the inevitable fight with Germany is barely mentioned. Churchill instead of focussing on telling the people what is coming, he creates that awareness however the entire focus of the speech is to further unify the nation, because when chaos arrives they need to fight this together. 

Through the use of rhetorical and persuasive techniques Churchill unified the nation in his speech which is considered one of the most persuasive speeches in history. This is also due to the fact that it can be considered a prophecy “we shall fight on the beaches” which did happen during World War II. In addition the entire speech not only is powerful through the use of ethos because an important figure is saying it but it is powerful because he mentally prepared an entire country for war through few words. To conclude this political speech impacted the British people by unifying them as the nation they are to fight together as brothers and sisters through the simple implementation of rhetoric and persuasive devices.