Subjugative cultural transformation in Chinua Achebe’s arrow of god

Abstract

Chinua Achebe's Post-Colonial novel, Arrow of God, was released in 1964. This novel is a component of the African Trilogy, which also includes two other novels – Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease. In Arrow of God, the astounding tale of a man's loss of faith and subsequent collapse in a community that colonialism has irrevocably altered is told. It serves as an example of the clash between indigenous customs and beliefs and the changes that the British intended to impose on colonial countries. This paper explores how colonialism, brought about by British imperialism, altered native African culture irrevocably. This demonstrates people's fragile psychological states since they are so quickly swayed by the new culture (Christianity). The combined effects of colonialism and psychology on humans as a result of cultural change are illustrated in this paper.