Art & Things Fall Apart

In the novel Things Fall Apart, art never really came up but sort of did indirectly. The only way we could think of is that their culture is surrounded by ojects that are hand made by the people to be used in everyday life, such as the robes, pots, huts, war masks, etc., so technically their culture could be very impacted by art whether you consider these objects art or not.

Religion and Philosophy

Things Fall Apart is strongly connected to religion and philosophy. In the novel religion is unlike religion in our world today. In Okonkwo’s clan religion is a life style – almost like a philosophy. They live everyday in fear of sin and as seen in the novel, go to extremes to cleanse the town and themselves their transgressions or tufia (a curse or an oath).

• Oracle of the Hills – called Agbala, lives in a cave which serves as a shrine. People come to her to discover what the future holds for them or to consult the spirits of their dead fathers.
• Music – is a huge part of the clan it serves as a way to honor ancestors and worship God. A lot of the women and children also sing songs to keep themselves busy during the day or for enjoyment.
• Egwugwu - a tribesman who impersonates ancestral spirits of the village.
• Ceremonies – every ceremony involves the village from weddings to court cases everyone attends. There are also many ceremonies where the Egwugwu dance.

Science and Technology

In the novel Things Fall Apart there are very few connections to science and technology. The only connection we could find was indirect. We assumed that when the white men missionaries came to Umuofia and Mbanta they brought with them some type of technology or a more industrial way of living.

Importance of Music

Music has a large importance in the novel. As seen many times in the novel, knowledge is often exchanged through melodious music and simple folksongs and these songs are handed down from generation to generation. Also, when the villages gather in the market place, drums are beaten to begin certain festivities, whether it be a wedding or an important meeting. The beat and rhythm keep flowing within Okonkwo and the people of the village, which can relate to the rhythm of life, changing throughout its path, but continuing nonetheless. Lastly, the events that occur in Okonkwo's life in the novel can mirror a song that has different sections that evoke emotions of happiness, disappointment or sorrow, and the end of the novel represents the end of Okonkwo's beat and rhythm within him, much like the ending of a song.