Thesis and Topic Sentence Blog Post

The personal history of an author can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his/her writing. Comment on specific instances of such influence in Things Fall Apart.

Introduction:

Literature is a medium used by writers to allow them to express their agendas and present complex narratives. Chinua Achebe's, a Nigerian author brought up in a Christian household, Things Fall Apart, produced in the wake of Nigeria's independence, serves as to present African literature and culture as never before. The story explores the flaws and strengths of Igbo, the ethnic natives of Nigeria, culture through its main character, Okonkwo, and the characters around him, and is contrasted by the introduction of Christianity by European colonizers. This context allows Achebe to accurately present Igbo culture through a narrative showcasing that it is neither savage nor benighted, but rich in complex values and traditions.

Topic Sentences:

Achebe's cultural duality, a Nigerian raised in Christianity, allows for an authentic contrast between Christianity and Igbo, presented through the conflict and characterization of Okonkwo juxtaposing Nwoye's characterization.  

Achebe's production, of the book, in the wake of Nigeria's independence, results in Achebe to focus on presenting the Igbo culture, doing so through the characterization of Okonkwo as the physical manifestation of the culture's values. 

Okonkwo's tragic end, his demise, his suicide acted upon hopelessness, provides insight on the intensity and gravity of colonization and how it had affected the Igbo resulting in the loss of ethnic identity of the current generation of Nigerians.