The novel Things fall
apart by Chinua Achebe, explain nature of the cultural clash. The novel getting
focus to readers about clash between the African Igbo culture and the Christianity.
Before white man arrived to village of Umuofia, They had peaceful Igbo culture
.Igbo culture is based on natures of Umuofia. People of Umuofia believed theirs
god as earth, sky, Amador or the thunderbolt. The clan and oracle is the main
characters of the umuofian people. They believed and surrender for the oracle. Oracle
was control the village and people do whatever it saying. The Drums sounds are
very significant part of Umuofian people. For example story says “The drums
were still beating, persistent and unchanging. Their sound was no longer a
separate thing from living village. It was like the pulsation of its heart. (p44)
That means drums sound is very close to people life.When people hear deferent
drum beat, they already know something happen to village. After the white man
arrive in to Umuofia, Everything changed. They lost their peaceful Igbo
society. White man introduces Christianity to Umuofians. They changed people
mind very carefully. First they changed their drums sound as songs. Story
saying Then missionaries bust into the song.(p 146).After white man arrived old
man of clan asked question from the white man about who is theirs god. “What is
the god of yours, “he asked the goddess of the earth, the god of the sky,
Amadiora or the thunderbolt? White man replied “All the gods you have named are
not gods at all. (p146).That was the starting point of clash between Igbo
cultures and Christianity. White man had totally diffident idea about god, than
Umuofian people. The white man said oracle is not your god anymore and its kill
your people and destroy innocent children .Old
man so mad about that and didn’t agree with white man. They thought it
was joke. But white man argues with Umuofian old man and finally changed his
mind. That how Christian missionary start destroyed Igbo culture. Missionaries
become a so successful and the people of Umuofia don’t know what to believe
anymore.
Quote
1) And
in fairness to Umuofia it should be recorded that it never went to war unless
its case was clear and just and was accepted as such by its Oracle – the Oracle
of the Hills and the Caves. And there were indeed occasions when the Oracle had
forbidden Umuofia to wage a war. – I liken This Quote because it’s explaining
about Igbo culture and how peaceful them. They don’t like to fight and blood. The
Umuofia are so close to natures that they will not make any big political moves
without the gods of the Oracle. (p8)
2) “What
is the god of yours, “he asked the goddess of the earth, the god of the sky,
Amador or the thunderbolt? Or what? White man said “All the gods you named are not
gods at all. They are gods of decent who tell you to kill your fellows and
children. There is only one true God and He has the earth, the sky, you and me
and all of us”- (p146) this quote express how did white man introduce
Christianity to Umuofian people. I think this is the starting point of
Christianity of the Umuofia.
3) The white man is very clever. He came quietly and
peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him
to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one.
He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.-(ch22)-
This quote express how did white man spared Christianity to Igbo culture. The
missionaries come to convert the people; they destroyed the Umofia’s tradition
and directly moved them to Christianity.
