An Interpretation Of Achebe’s Deconstructionist Ideas Embodied In The Tragedy Of Okonkwo

Chinua Achebe, known as the “father of modem African literature”, is one of themost prominent writers of Nigeria and is considered among the most significant worldwriters. Of all Achebe’s works, Things Fall Apart is the one read most often, and hasgenerated the most critical response. It is regarded as a milestone in African literatureand one of the first African novels written in English to receive global critical acclaim.The novel is set in the1890s and portrays the clash between European colonizers andthe traditional culture of the indigenous Nigerian Igbo people. It especially presents usthe customs, society and culture of Igbo before the contact with European. However,with the invasion and influence of British colonialism and Christian missionaries, thetraditional Igbo society and culture gradually collapsed. The central character,Okonkwo, a man of action for whom the idea of strength is paramount, hangs himselfat the end of the novel when he realizes that his clan will not fight against thecolonizers alongside him.Okonkwo has long been considered a Greek tragic figure whose death is usuallyattributed to his fate that he cannot control. However, by adopting JacquesDerrida’s(1930～2004)deconstruction approach, this paper attempts to analyze thedeep causes of Okonkwo’s tragedy, so as to reveal the real object that Achebe attacksand makes fall apart in the novel.Deconstruction challenges the western philosophy that relies on a metaphysic ofpresence or logocentrism. One of the major tasks of deconstruction is to subvert the“violent hierarchy” or the binary opposition, which are essential structural elements inlogocentric language. Derrida’s strategy of deconstructing the binary oppositionbegins by noting the hierarchy, proceeds to reverse it by showing that the primaryterm can be made out to be derivative from, or a special case of the secondary term,and finally resists the assertion of a new hierarchy by displacing the second term froma position of superiority too. That is to say, deconstruction does not simply subvert theoriginal hierarchy by subversively pointing that the latter is superior to the former one.Deconstruction enables people to break down the oppositions that they have beenaccustomed to so long and helps them to refuse either point in the system to becomethe center and even the guarantor of presence. The paper gives an incisive analysis of the causes of Okonkwo’s tragedy. Thecolonization and invasion of westerners out of Eurocentrism is the social cause of histragedy. The colonization brings tremendous wounds and destruction on the localculture and society and it inevitably leads to some personal tragedies. Okonkwo’sstrong conception of logcentrism is the personal cause of his tragedy. Okonkwo hasthe opinion of violent hierarchy between man and woman, tradition and change. He isinclined to go to extremes and can not well handle the balance between two opposingforces. After fully analysis, it finds out that both social and individual causes arerooted in the deep influence of logcentrism and conception of binary opposition,based on which it further explores how Achebe collapses the binary oppositionbetween Europe and Africa, between men and women, and between tradition andchange. On the one hand, Achebe subverts the privileged and superior position ofEurope, man and tradition; On the other hand, he does not introduce a new center toreplace the original center by absolutely disparaging the first term and magnify thelatter one. He holds a neutral and objective attitude towards both the former and thelatter.Through the above analysis, it clearly shows that Achebe demonstrates hisdeconstructionist ideas in the novel. He not only criticizes the one-sided points ofview held by Okonkwo and western colonists, but also presents us a real Africa andcolonization time. His writing is neutral and objective and he provides us a reasonableway to see the world. In the multi-cultural society, respecting and tolerating thedifference is very necessary for the balance and harmony of the world. With regard toa nation, it is better to hold an objective and rational attitude towards its own cultureand others’. Abandoning those bad customs and promoting those good ones of one’sculture and receiving the useful aspect of other culture is an important way for thesurvival and development of a nation and its culture.