![]() ![]() By combining the two cultural heritages, Achebe demonstrates the battle between tradition and change that drives Okonkwo's story. The book intersperses the Igbo culture's language, proverbs, family histories and rituals throughout the story, but also references John Bunyan's Christian allegory "Pilgrim's Progress," the Book of Common Prayer and Biblical teachings. Achebe's narration makes a subtle commentary on this theme through blending western and non-western language and allusions. "Things Fall Apart" is largely about the disintegration of African tribal tradition at the hands of European colonists. The story of his rise and downfall sounds like something that could have been passed down across generations of Nigerians for the purposes of teaching a lesson. Because the Igbo heritage figures prominently in the story, this traditional tone helps reinforce the importance of culture to Okonkwo. The distance of this perspective choice, combined with the use of past tense narration, creates a narrative style that mirrors a folktale or parable. Achebe uses the third-person point of view, pronouns like "he" and "she," to showcase the narrative's cultural conflict through voice.
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