"Reflection on Things Fall Apart" (In depth)

Question:

Think reflectively of the issues found in the novel:

Based on your reading of the novel, what aspects of the Igbo culture allow the British to take over?

Since Sarawak has also undergone colonisation, how has this affected aspects of culture in our society?

Are there any changes brought about in the lives of the indigenous tribes in Africa and Sarawak?

   Since the novel is about the Igbo culture that has taken over by the colonization of the British, I do think it is their firm of their own belief that plays important role for the culture to last long. The Igbo people do not have strong belief on their culture. For all this while, they are just practising it because they are by generation practising the same culture. Once the mothers give birth to twin children, they are sent to the Evil Forest to be buried alive. For generation, they are just blindly believes that it is the right thing to do. However, they do not have strong firm for that. So, when new culture comes and somehow it makes them wonder what has been wrong in their practise for all this while, they are easily moved and accept a better one.

   Furthermore, I believe everyone has been given their sense of humanity by nature. Everybody is able to think rationally without anyone tells them to do so. So, in this case where it is in their culture the burying of the twin babies is compulsory and practised in their culture, perhaps they know it is wrong and they might have sympathy toward the mothers but just because their culture taught that is what is supposed to do, they carry the practise without negotiating much. But then, when the missionaries in a nice way teaching that it is not the right thing to do, they might have thought all over again and reason well. That is why the Igbo culture is easily moved by the British missionaries.

   The colonization of the British has brought great impact to the culture in our society. The people are taught about Christianity where they come to know the Lord Jesus.

After Sarawak has been colonised, certain aspect of culture in the society has been affected. One of them is the hunting of human’s heads by the Iban people. Long time ago before the colonization of the British, they used to hunt people’s head to be their collection; the more they get, the better. That is their proud. However, when British took over, Christianity takes place and the people are taught about God.

 By,

Angela Devung

    

   The Igbo culture is a unique culture that is rarely been exposed to the world. However, there are a lot of opportunities that allows the British to take over. One of the aspects of the Igbo culture that allows this to happen is through religion. The Igbo culture believes in many God whereas the British, which are Christians, believe in only one God. Therefore, this allows them to develop a stronger belief towards the Christian religion. Furthermore, Christianity do not allow baby dumping and killing people as a sacrifice. The British approach the Igbo people softly and at last they succeed in dominating most of the culture.

   Sarawak is also one of the states in Malaysia that had undergone colonisation a few years ago.   Therefore, there are changes that can be seen clearly from the colonisation. The mix marriage in Sarawak nowadays is a very common thing. European people got married to a Sarawak people can be accepted in the society. The Christian religion also spread in Sarawak because in the olden days, Sarawak people also believe in the existence of many Gods. There are also changes in the law, whereas people do not cut off the head of the people that had done wrong. The colonisation helps the people in developing better rules so that everything is fair and not done cruelly.

   As stated above, there are many changes brought by the colonisation. People in indigenous tribe become more civilized and better in terms of religion, laws and many more. In my opinion, there are pros and cons brought by colonisation. Whether it is good or bad, both teach a lesson for the people, which is to be more advanced than other people from other countries so that we are not controlled by other people from other countries. 

                                                                                                                               Elfera Achin

                                                                                                                                (TESL R1)