Through the description and development of events in his novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe makes use of myths and legends to assist in the establishment of the Igbo culture. Throughout the novel, proverbs and stories play a large role in the culture. They set up a strong establishment of oral culture they relied on in order to communicate their values and traditions throughout successive centuries. He uses them in order to familiarize the reader with the different practices and traditions of the Igbo people. They allow the audience to relate with the characters and to appreciate the culture for its richness of language. By further emphasizing on the oral culture universal among the clansmen, Achebe is able to add a greater sense of realism to his audience and immerse them more within Igbo land and add an element of empathy to the African characters who were so desperate to hold on to the last traces of their culture.
There is a clear appreciation for speech and the art of communication that is demonstrated throughout the novel using the character’s saying. Okoye is a character well known for his speaking and is held in high regard as an orator; it is clearly stated that “Okoye was a great talker.” He achieves this reputation with the use of profuse proverbs, which allow him to skirt around the subject before addressing it. Proverbs are a valued part of the Igbo culture and described as “the palm oil with which words are eaten.” Also, Unoka was well known for his speaking abilities which allowed him to put off the paying of debts. Through his use of proverbs and his ability to go around the subject when confronted, he was able to avoid paying back debts. He often told stories to Okownko, who did not appreciate these stories and regarded them as womanly. However, for the Igbo culture in general, his speaking abilities were what made him distinctive. This was because he was able to use words to his advantage and do what he wanted.
Stories are also a major part of the novel, especially bedtime stories. We know that Nowye preferred his mothers stories to his fathers, and this establishes the stories as the emotional aspect of the society. Without such stories, the culture may seem too rigid and unbelievable. Instead, they are constantly referred to in order to highlight how prominent stories and tales are.Through this, the audience will be able to relate to the characters. It establishes them as a realistic group of people with flaws and therefore we can fully appreciate them as an audience. As the novel progresses, and negative consequences are inflicted on the people of Igbo land, the audience can feel empathy for them.
Myths and legends are also a large aspect of Igbo culture, especially the stories told by the elders. The Igbo people can pass on their ideals and traditions through this form. This allows Achebe to establish the Igbo culture as one that is passed down through generations and strengthens the culture as a whole. By creating different stories which take into consideration various aspects of life, we can appreciate the Igbo culture and perhaps even relate to it. These stories are often used to explain aspects of nature. An example of this is the tortoise story told to Ezinma by her mother, which is used to explain the rough texture of a tortoise’s shell. This shows us that storytelling plays a major role in the Igbo people’s understanding of the world. Further, this story can be considered symbolic of a larger message which Achebe aims to communicate in his novel. It may be symbolic of colonialism as the tortoise asks the birds to adopt new names, which can be considered parallel to customs and traditions.
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