A Comparison of the Culture of Things Fall Apart and Western Culture :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Culture of Things Fall Apart vs. Western Culture       Many societies have beliefs root deep in ancient holiness. Some beliefs include polygamy, polytheism, and patriarchy, or rule by men. One such elaboration is that of Achebes Things Fall Apart. Polytheism and polygamy are custom in the clan, and the role of each family member is truly defined. The men are overly domineering. The women and children are treated poorly and often beaten. Life in Achebes Umuofia would seem very different to someone living in modern day America.   Chinua Achebes 1959 novel, Things fall Apart, takes place in the 1890s, just before British colonization. The novel focuses on the cardinal Ibo-speaking villages of Umuofia, which is Ibo for People of the Forest. Umuofia is the village in which Okonkwo, Achebes protagonist, prospers in everything and is able to secure his manly position in the tribe. Now known as Nigeria, this land was a early agricultural society complet ely run by men. Umuofia was known, and as Achebe says, ...feared by all its neighbors. It was powerful in war and in magic, and priests and medicine men were feared in all the surrounding country (11). Perhaps, its most powerful and feared magic was called ... agadi- nwayi, or old woman it had its shrine in the centre of Umuofia ... if anyone was so foolhardy as to pass by the shrine past dusk he was sure to see the old woman(12). The people of Umuofia are very devoted to their religion and their magic. These ancient beliefs were believed to give the people some sort of power over their oppressors.   One custom of Umuofia that would be very different from Western culture is Polygamy, the shape of having many wives. This custom is practiced in the connected nine villages of Umuofia. In fact, a mans wealth is partially measured by the number of wives he has. A wealthy man described in Things Fall Apart, had nine wives and thirty children. Okonkwo had three wives and eight children.   Polygamy is not something many Americans are accustomed to. Western culture teaches that monogamy, as opposed to polygamy, is the proper, accepted form of marriage. Western culture places that morality into its people, often from youth.