THE PORTRAYAL OF IGBO LIFE IN CHINUA ACHEBE’S NOVEL THINGS FALL APART

Abstract

Abstract This research was aimed at reflecting how Chinua Achebe reveals the social, political, economic and religious life of Igbo people before and after the coming of the missionaries as well as the invasion of British in the southeastern part of Nigeria during the late 19th century. This research is considered significant and worthy since it is an exertion to convey historical knowledge and life lessons about how social political, economic, and religious life of Igbo people in southeast Nigeria before and after the arrival of the British colonists at the end of the 19th century. This research is descriptive qualitative research and applied the theory of literary sociology proposed by Laurenseon and Swingewood (1972) to understand and evaluate literary works by considering social aspects. The findings of this research shows that the changes in social, political, economic and religious life carried out by white people brought enlightenment and positive life changes for Igbo people. Keywords: Igbo people, social life, political life, religious life, economic life.