Abstract
Through its artistic and linguistic qualities, literature illuminates the complexities of human existence offering insights into the human condition. Chinua Achebe’s seminal novel, Things Fall Apart, is a literary masterpiece that explores the complex dynamics of societal change, cultural clash, and the consequences of colonialism in pre-colonial Nigeria. This paper delves into a critical examination of the theme of alienation as depicted in Achebe’s narrative and the cause and impact of alienation. The concept is often associated with sociological and psychological perspectives, exploring how individuals experience lack of connection or belongingness. The narrative unfolds the protagonist, Okonkwo’s journey through a rapidly transforming Igbo society, disrupted by the encroachment of colonial forces. The paper also shows that how the arrival of colonial power give rise to alienation in both individual and social level, which is illustrated through the main character Okonkwo who single handedly fought the meddling of white rule in the native life.
Keywords: Displacement, Colonialism, Alienation, Identity
REFERENCES
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart.New York: Anchor Books,Doubleday, Press,1994. Print.
Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 2009. Print.
prezi. “Literary Theories in Things Fall Apart”.www.prezi.com