DESIGNATION OF HUMAN VALUES IN CHINUA ACHEBE’S THINGS FALL APART: AN AXIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Things Fall Apart has generated controversy in the way readers and interpreters view its designation of human values. Achebe laid the foundation, while his readers and interpreters took the polemic farther. Now, since axiology is a branch of philosophy that basically deals with values and valuations, and since none of the earlier studies carried out such a dicey and value-related endeavour following strict axiological principles, this essay embraces some axiological principles and theories in studying Things Fall Apart. The aim is to retell the story to reveal some compatibility and harmony rather than incompatibility and disharmony among the characters as appraised in the earlier studies. The method of study is hermeneutic, since the success of this research heavily depends on interpreting and analysing the various terms that were misconstrued by earlier studies. Against this backdrop, the essay makes the following two recommendations: First, a greater open-mindedness, beyond the biases and prejudices of an author (not just Achebe), should be employed in the reading of any text. Second, society today should interpret human values or giftedness beyond the binoculars of success versus failure, bravery versus cowardice, or even strength versus laziness, etc., as noticeable in the work under review. After all, every quality has meaning only within the context in which it is found to be so; otherwise, it will be found wanting and then be committed to the flames.