Thoughts About Things Fall Apart

After reading about half way into the novel of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, I've come to appreciate the novel's simplicity and descriptions, those of which insinuate a larger message about Igbo culture and their people. A large part of the novel is comprised of the author detailing the everyday lives of the people, such as what each role every person has in the village, such cooking, cleaning, thus, allowing the village to flourish in its full functionality. By integrating traditional Igbo words, as well as the cultural traditions of the people, it has immersed me thus far into a world that's incredibly distinct from my own, and has ultimately fascinated me as a reader. I am able to depict what the author is painting through his descriptive words, and put myself through the perception of each kind of person in Igbo society that's treated differently. Through the interaction and dialogue of characters such as Okonkwe to his children or wives, like Ojiugo, I am able to infer that Igbo society is patriarchal. The heavy emphasis on weakness versus strength in the novel also alludes to what values the people revere, and deem most honorable. Although I've read the book only partially, the author has already done as excellent job of engrossing me into the novel, complete with its detailed descriptions of the setting, people, morals, and distinctive cultural shock.