Things Fall Apart and An Image of Africa

Upon reading Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” it is difficult to connect oneself to some of the discussed events that occurred. The culture and practices in Africa are obviously much different than the European traditions that most children learn in school. Achebe defends his heritage in his essay “An Image of Africa” in which he speaks directly of Joseph Conrad’s bigoted description of people and practices. After having read both of Achebe’s work as well as an excerpt from Conrad’s writing, it is evident that Achebe’s labeling on Conrad to be a “bloody racist” is legitimate and well founded.