“A man's life was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer to his ancestors” (Achebe 122). – One of the impacts of colonization is the disappearance of cultural or traditional practices. This quote shows how a life of an individual is related to his or her culture or origin.
“Behind them was the big and ancient silk-cotton tree which was sacred. Spirits of good children lived in that tree waiting to be born. On ordinary days young women who desired children came to sit under the shade” (Achebe 46). – This quote illustrates the richness of the culture of the tribe of Okonkwo. It also reminds the readers about the culture and tradition of other indigenous people.
“Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son's development and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna.” (Achebe 52) – This quote shows how the indigenous people consider women in their tribes. It is one of the main differences between the western colonizers and the tribes.
“He [Okonkwo] wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of handling his father's household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors” (Achebe 52). – This quote represents how the tribes are concern about how to protect their people even when they are gone.
“Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness.” (Achebe 13) – This quote shows the weakness of the people from the tribes. In a process of colonization, the colonizers have everything to gain while the tribes have everything to lose.
“Does the white man understand our custom about land? How can he when he does not even speak our tongue?” (Achebe 101) – This quote shows how the tribe feels during colonization. In most cases, colonizers show how the customs of the tribe is bad and theirs are good.
“How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us?” (Achebe 101) – This quote shows the main problem of the tribe. They are not united against the colonizers which is common throughout the world.
“He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” (Achebe 101) – This quote shows how the colonizers have won against their tribe. It also shows the common strategy of most of the colonizers. They try to break the bonds that held the people from the tribe.
“But he says that our customs are bad; and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad”. (Achebe 101) – This quote shows the main problem of the tribe. They are not united against the colonizers which is common throughout the world. It also shows the common strategy of most of the colonizers.
“It was this man Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights” (Achebe 3). – This quote shows how the tribe value the spirits and their culture. They believed that their God could save them from all of their enemies.
“They [the colonizers] must have used powerful medicines to make themselves invisible until the market was full” (Achebe 139). – This quote shows how the colonizers used their knowledge to fool the people from the tribe. This also represents how colonizers used knowledge to control other people.
“He told them they worshipped false gods, gods of wood and stone” (Achebe 145). – This quote represents how colonizers fool the people from the tribe and tried to break their bonds. In general, one of the elements that could bind people from the same group of people or tribe is their belief in their God or Religion.
“The white man was also their brother because they were all sons of God.” (Achebe 145) – This quote shows how people became attached to the others using religion. In most cases, religion could become the source of power of a nation since they are united towards their goal which is based on their beliefs.
“He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger” (Achebe 145) – This quote shows how colonizers used studies and publications in order to prove to other people that their objective in colonizing the tribe is good.
“He was a man of action, a man of warOn great occasions such as the funeral of a village celebrity he drank his palm-wine from his first human head” (Achebe 10). – This quote shows how primitive the people from the tribes are. These facts could be used by colonizers to prove that their customs are bad.
“He [Okonkwo] drank palm-wine from morning till night, and his eyes were red and fierce like the eyes of a rat when it was caught by the tail and dashed against the floor” (Achebe 63). – This could shows what tribesmen felt when there are tragedies. These facts show that tribesmen are also normal people like the colonizers.
“Why should man suffer so grievously for an offense he had committed inadvertently?” (Achebe 125) – In this quote, Obierika questions the traditional practices of their tribe. This shows that even people from the tribe could question their beliefs which results to accepting other types of religion.
“No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children he was not really a man” (Achebe 63) – This quote shows how tribesmen value masculinity. It also became the dominant advantage of the colonizers against the tribe or clan.
“To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength.” (Achebe 63) – This quote shows how people value strength and dominance. It also became the major advantage of colonizers to tribesmen.
“Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten”. (Achebe 21) – This quote shows how tribe value rhetoric. This is also the main communication barrier for the tribesmen and the colonizers.
“An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb.” (Achebe 21) - This quote shows how tribe value rhetoric. This is also the main communication barrier for the tribesmen and the colonizers.
“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.” - This quote shows how the colonizers used their knowledge to fool the people from the tribe. This also represents how colonizers used knowledge to control other people.
“Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!” (Achebe 89) – This quote shows how tribesmen value the word of God. This also represents how colonizers used religion to control other people from the tribe.
“We have heard stories about white men who made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas, but no one thought the stories were true.” (Achebe 122). -In this quote, it shows that people from the west are more advance in most ways than the people from the tribe. This also represents how colonizers used knowledge to control other people.
“It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone.” (Achebe 21) – This quote represents the failure of the tribesmen. They are not united against the colonizers which is the reason why they failed.
“How can a man who has killed five men in battle fall to pieces because he has added a boy to their number?” (Achebe 56) – This quote represents the difference between the colonizers and the tribesmen. It shows how tribesmen pity the ones they have killed.
“After such treatment it would think twice before coming again, unless it was one of the stubborn ones who returned, carrying the stamp of their mutilation - a missing finger or perhaps a dark line where the medicine man's razor had cut them.” (Achebe 69) - This quote illustrates the richness of the culture of the tribe of Okonkwo. It also reminds the readers about the culture and tradition of other indigenous people.
“No one had ever beheld Agbala, except his priestess.” (Achebe 21) - This quote shows how the indigenous people consider women in their tribes. It is one of the main differences between the western colonizers and the tribes.
“Umuofia has decided to kill him. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves has pronounced it. They will take him outside Umuofia as is the custom, and kill him there. But I want you to have nothing to do with it. He calls you father” (Achebe 57). - This quote shows how the tribe feels during colonization. In most cases, colonizers show how the customs of the tribe is bad and theirs are good.
"But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error. And so people said he had no respect for the gods of the clan. His enemies said that his good fortune had gone to his head." (Achebe 26) - This quote represents the failure of the tribesmen. They are not united against the colonizers which is the reason why they failed.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
“Being hungry, you know, and kept on my feet too, I was getting savage” (Conrad 79) – This quote shows how Marlow described the life in a forest. It is also a description of how people from the jungle lived.
"The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much." (Conrad 4) – This quote shows how people from the cities view people who lived in the jungle. It is one of the quotes that provide a description of how people view tribesmen.
"I couldn't help asking him once what he meant by coming here at all. ‘To make money, of course. What do you think?' he said scornfully." (Conrad 16) – This quote shows the real objective of the company for taking the jungle. It also represents the major conflict between tribesmen and businessmen in the modern times.
“‘And this also,' said Marlow suddenly, 'has been one of the dark places of the earth.'" (Conrad 3) - This quote shows how Marlow described the life in a forest. It is also a description of how people from the jungle lived.
“Imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate.” (Conrad 4) - This quote shows how Marlow described the life in a forest. It is also a description of how people from the jungle lived.
"She talked about 'weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways,' till, upon my word, she made me quite uncomfortable. I ventured to hint that the Company was run for profit." (Conrad 9) - This quote shows the real objective of the company for taking the jungle. It also represents the major conflict between tribesmen and businessmen in the modern times.
"He had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion, a straight back, an ascetic aspect, and, with his arms dropped, the palms of hands outwards, resembled an idol." (Conrad 54) – This is a common description of a western colonizer or a modern day businessman. It is also a description of one of the main characters of the story.
“We called at some more places with farcical names, where the merry dance of death and trade goes on in a still and earthy atmosphere as of an overheated catacomb” (Conrad 68) – This quote represents the main character’s view about colonization and imperialism. In most cases, profit is the main objective of imperialism.
"He is an emissary of pity and science and progress, and devil knows what else." (Conrad 83) – This quote represents the ideals from the mind of an imperialist.
"The mind of a man is capable of anything—because everything is in it, all the past as well as all the future." (Conrad 98) - This quote represents the ideals from the mind of an imperialist.
“Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his lusts.” (Conrad 128) – In this quote, Marlow described the minds of Mr. Kurtz which eventually have fallen to darkness. It also represents how minds of an imperialist work.
“It was unearthly, and the men were—No, they were not inhuman. Well, you know, that was the worst of it—the suspicion of their not being inhuman. It would come slowly to one.” (Conrad 4) - This quote shows how Marlow described the life in a forest. It also represents how most people view individuals who lived in the forest.
“Ugly. Yes, it was ugly enough; but if you were man enough you would admit to yourself that there was in you just the faintest trace of a response to the terrible frankness of that noise, a dim suspicion of there being a meaning in it which you—you so remote from the night of first ages—could comprehend.” (Conrad 4) - This quote shows how Marlow described the life in a forest. It also represents how most people view individuals who lived in the forest.
“I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself from laughing in their faces so full of stupid importance.” (Conrad 146) – This quote represents the view of Marlow after he became similar with Mr. Kurtz. It shows the mind of a common imperialist.
“Droll thing life is—that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose.” (Conrad 144) – This quote represents the view of Marlow after he became similar with Mr. Kurtz. It shows the mind of a common imperialist.
Works Cited:
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor Books. 1959. Print.
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. London England: Blackwood Magazine. 1902. Print.
