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Although, in Chike's eyes he also suggests that Chike is better prepared to understand the world by leaving traditional teachings and embracing a more modern method of learning
The story focuses on a family in Igbo to demonstrate the common social phenomenon under the effect of post colonialism. Three generations in the family are impacted by western cultures in different level. Their life experiences compared to the other people in the village are different as well
The impact of post-colonialism when it comes to the cultural conflict between traditions and western cultures
“The child received three names at his baptism---John, Chike, Obiajulu. The last name means "the mind at last is at rest." Anyone hearing this name knew at once that its owner was either an only child or an only son.”
Baptism ---Christianity
John & Chike ---English names
Obiajulu ---African name
(An only child or an only son)
“One day a neighbour offered a piece of yam to Chike, who was only four years old. The boy shook his head haughtily and said, "We don't eat heathen food." The neighbour was full of rage, but she controlled herself and only muttered under her breath that even an Osu was full of pride nowadays, thanks to the white man.”
Osu: the lowest social hierarchy in Nigeria
Positive aspect: bring equality to
society to some extent
Negative aspect: western superiority
“And he liked particularly the sound of English words, even when they conveyed no meaning at all. Some of them simply filled him with elation. "Periwinkle" was such a word. He had now forgotten how he learned it or exactly what it was. He had a vague private meaning for it and it was something to do with fairyland.”
Chike liked particularly the sound of English words even though he didn't understand the meaning.
Example: Periwinkle
Correct meaning: a small plant that grows along the ground
Chike's understanding: Fairyland
“Chike’s father was not originally an Osu but had gone and married an Osu woman in the name of Christianity.”
Analysis
Higher caste people are not allowed to marry lower caste people in India
“Sarah taught her children not to eat in their neighbours’ houses because “they offered their food to idols.” And thus she set herself against the age-old custom which regarded children as the common responsibility of all so that, no matter what the relationship between parents, their children played together and shared their food.”
In relating the ferocity with which Chike snobs playmates from non-Christian families, the story pinpoints the terrible cultural consequences of the European colonial takeover
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
https://www.google.com/search?q=things+fall+apart+summary&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=eH5tToXQGKSJRM%253A%252CcM_tC0_77lw9YM%252C%252Fm%252F01199qqf&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTT9sj252tSQtPVWbya-daF5OxRqA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj4wdyWxe_hAhWDdN8KHTFeBAoQ9QEwAXoECAwQEg#imgrc=eH5tToXQGKSJRM:
In the end, we can say that Achebe was a very well educated and aware man. Chike's School Days made us understand a story of a man and his family as they struggle in day to day life, with aspects no one should, for reasons out of his control.
Amos understood not only what was going on with his family, but the bigger picture of everything around him. Being able to disassociate himself and his family from the on goings of his country helped him see things many others were not able to. Allowing him to do what made him happy, such as marrying Sarah and having Chike.
Sarah shows a strong sense of independence by not caring what society thought of her families situation. This helps develop Amos as a character since it directly supports him, while also showing why Chike developed the way he is, with a sense of arrogance. In this context we can translate it to a sense of pride for what his Mother and Father did, going against societal norms.
Chike shows what the future can be, whether you see it good that cultures mixing, or bad. Regardless of your opinion, Chike is the product of what came to be when a certain boundaries were crossed, societal, cultural and political. Something that must happen for change.