Currently I am reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. To be perfectly honest, a part of me expected it to be boring. I mean, how interesting can an assigned book be, right?
Wrong!
Turns out I love the book. And I'm not just saying that because I know my professor will read this blog. The writing style is engaging and the characters draw you in. I love it and very much recommend it.
In particular, I am drawn to a character named Chielo. Chielo is the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and Caves. In Umuofia (her village, or rather group of villages) the priestess lives a double life. Although at times she is the priestess, Achebe says, "In ordinary life Chielo was a widow with two children" (this is on p. 49 for anyone reading the book) . In my stereotyped misunderstanding I had believed that a woman in pre-colonial African culture could never be of much importance to the community. Yikes, that makes me sound like an awful person. What I mean is, I believed the women did incredible work but were not outwardly acclaimed for it. Surprisingly, the priestess is described as fearful and, more importantly, powerful (17). This is actually the second time power is attributed to a woman in Things Fall Apart. The first time is in reference to the old woman of their oral tradition who created the "medicine" to which Umuofia attributes its' good fortune. I love that the person highest to the god is a woman.
(African Priestess)
I also appreciate Chielo's softer side. She is described as quite friendly in ordinary life, completely unrecognizable as the priestess of Agbala (49). She has a special connection to Ezinma, the spunky daughter of the book's protagonist Okonkwo. She calls Ezinma, "my daughter" which to me reinforces her image as a motherly kind of woman within the village.
Interestingly, these two lives seem to come together at times. Towards the end of the first part of the book, Chielo comes to Okonkwo's home as the priestess of Agbala and demands to see Ezinma. Surprisingly, she refers to Ezinma here again as, "my daughter" (101). Does this mean that Ezinma is affectionately called the daughter of the village widow or of the god itself? Looks to me like she is both. Chielo has the capability both as a woman and as a priestess to recognize the power in Ezinma. I love that the women who show bold traits are given the highest honors in the village.
Here is the genius himself, Chinua Achebe
2 comments:
it is nice to see that you are very intrigued by the book and the strong female characters. I have to admit that I thought what you thought of women in the tribes, that they were "below" the men but that is why we are reading books such as Things Fall Apart. The positive surprise that women are high in society and closer to God thrills me, not that I am a radical feminist that believes that women should be considered better than anyone else, that women do play an important part in the tribem, if not one of the most important parts. Chielo is an interesting character, almost regular person by day and super-woman by night. Authors such as Chinua Achebe will change ones perception of typical stereotypes. Can't wait to read more of these inspiring books.
hey im reading this book too! (:
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