Lexi Crow
January 8, 2012
Period: 4
Postcolonial
Lens
After
reading Things Fall Apart I have
decided to write about the novel through a postcolonial lens to the text while
analyzing it. Postcolonial theory reveals the novel in a way to better
understand the characters and their actions.
In
postcolonial theory the people being colonized take on a “double consciousness”
where their identity as a person and culture is compromised. The colonized get
trapped between their initial culture and beliefs and the newly instilled
culture by the colonizers. Those being colonized lose a sense of who they are
because they cannot really identify with either the new or old culture, due to
the clashing of ideals. This is relatable to Things Fall Apart in how the Ibo tribe was colonized and many of
the people got caught up between trying to fit into two polar opposite cultures
trying to dominate a person.
Many
being colonized face a conflict with their original and supposed ‘new’
identity. "The message sent to these "Others" by the dominant
culture has been clear and consistent- conform and be quiet; deny yourself, and
all will be well" Those being changed by colonizers suffer from undergoing
rapid change to who they are. If they didn’t conform quickly there was
reprimand from the colonizers; however, if the colonized did conform they were
typically banned or exiled from their tribe or original culture. “Others” are the minority group and can be
found in different tribes or even in our culture today. Unfortunately, these
Others are usually forced to conform to the social norm or accepted nature or
they are banned- much like in Things Fall
Apart.
The
postcolonialist ideas are apparent in Things
Fall Apart, and the lens is fitting to relate to the tribe and the trials
they face while figuring out what culture and identity they hold while
undergoing colonization.
