An Image of Africa

The essay "An Image of Africa" gave me both a new perspective on the book Heart of Darkness as well as Thongs Fall Apart. At first, Achebe's writing gave me insight into Conrad's writing. I realized that there is inherent racism in the book because it uses a representation of the entirety of Africa as an untamable wilderness where "normal" (white) men go to lose their minds. There is also more direct racism in the description of the African people as being like dogs and implications that they do not have individual consciousnesses. The essay, however, was not simply an exploration of Conrad's work, it also exposed motives behind Achebe's writing. Based on his tone and the fact that he wrote "An Image of Africa" it is rather obvious that he is upset by the disregard Europeans felt, and perhaps still feel, towards Africa during the time of colonization. 

Things Fall Apart

My first impression of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was one of interest. I was interested because it exposed me to a world I know almost nothing about. Where I come from, a man gains little respect for his ability to wrestle other villagers, and how many yams he posesses will not influence his place in society. I am not a coward for being not wanting to go to war and I would be repulsed by someone drinking from a human head. The most interesting difference in our cultures is the way we speak. Okonkwo and the people in his tribe use metaphors and idiomatic language that is indicative of the world that they live in. They thank the gods, not just God, they hope for rain and compare things to animals that seem exotic to me. Chinua Achebe's writing exposes me to a real culture that I could never have imagined without him.