Things_Fall_Apart

In the novel of Things Fall Apart, Achebe employs the content of the language as a major component of his novelty, which not only develops the English language but also helps the reader to experience the whole Ibo culture. By doing so, Achebe portrays the practices involved in the Ibo community that is conversely unique from that of contemporary American culture. Three examples that makes Ibo culture unusual from contemporary American culture is the practice of abandoning new born twins, polygamy, and polytheism. Therefore, such custom practiced in both of these cultures are reflected by the discrepancy in values in which each cultures preserve. According to the Ibo culture and custom, new born twins are repeatedly seen as a curse from the gods, or even portrayed as a demonic possession. When a mother would conceive more than a baby at a time, the people of Ibo would conduct a sequence of cleansing and atonement for the gods. In the eyes of the Ibo people, numerous births were seen to be only what animals should produce and a single birth was assumed to be what only humans should produce. On the contrary to that of Ibo, the contemporary American culture sees the birth of new born twins to be totally natural. In the perspective of contemporary culture, the concept of forsaking new born infants is generally deemed to be inhumane and unethical; and can be seen as a miracle rather than a curse. In fact, these natural born causes allude to signs of a health and wealth. Not only are these phenomenon cases commended in the American culture, but also is seen as favorable signs from the heavens in diverse cultures. Therefore we can conclude that such happenings are not only founded upon religious principles but also in a cultural perspective. One custom preserved by the Ibo that is not accepted in the Western culture is Polygamy, the practice of having many wives. Polygamy is practiced well throughout the Ibo people and is acknowledged to those who are wealthy and respected. In fact, a man's wealth is measured by the number of wives he has. Polygamy is not a common concept that many Americans are accustomed to. Western culture teaches that monogamy, as opposed to polygamy, is the proper, accepted form of marriage. In the Western culture, having more than one partner in is often the sole cause for divorce and is usually frowned upon. In essence, polygamy in the eyes of the Western culture is deemed to be shameful and disloyal. Another common custom in Ibo is polytheism, the worship in many gods. Included in the customary practice of polytheism is the chi, or personal god. Achebe says, "A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi" (131). He goes on to say, "Unoka was an ill-fated man. He had a bad chi, or personal god, and evil fortune followed him to the grave..." (18). Achebe demonstrates that this is a god of great importance that foretells one's future. It is custom to make atonements to the gods, like Unoka in Achebe's novel tells, "Every year... before I put any crop in the earth, I sacrifice A cock to Ani, the owner of all land. I also kill a cock at the shrine of Ifejioku, the god of yams" (17). Western culture does not practice the ceremony of sacrifice; most western religions look down upon this concept. In most states, killing a creature would result in animal cruelty and is illegal in most of the U.S. To conclude, we can say that the customary structures of Western and Ibo culture vary greatly. From the practices preserved from these two cultures reflect the discrepancy in values. In the perspective of Western culture, polygamy, polytheism, and twin killing is deemed to be unethical and inhumane; however, in the eyes of the Ibo such practices are mandated, encouraged, and acknowledged by the people as a whole. These two customs are what make society evolve and run in the Western and Ibo world. Disregarding such customs could eventually lead to chaos and anarchy as an act of mutiny. In the end, it is the judgment of the people that can conclude from what is right and wrong for the people.