Haggard's King Solomon's Mines and Chinualumogu Achebe's Things Fall Apart written within a century. These novels give a unique opportunity to analyze the attitudes of the colonial as well as post colonial writers towards the land of Africa and its people
History, societal stereotypes, influential people, as well as literature play a major role in shaping an individual's perceptions. In the recent past, the world has undergone a prodigious change in attitude towards culturally diverse groups of people as well as places. This change is apparent in the study of Sir Henry Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines and Chinualumogu Achebe's Things Fall Apart written within a century. These novels give a unique opportunity to analyze the attitudes of the colonial as well as post colonial writers towards the land of Africa and its people. Haggard, unlike other colonial writers, has shown an effort towards distancing himself from the stereotypical views of the 'mysterious land'. His attitudes towards the land and the people contradict previously published accounts by complacent and blindfolded colonial writers. This, however, does not overshadow the main theme of the novel King Solomon's Mines, written as an adventure for men, young and old alike. After reading the outrageously inaccurate representation of his people in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Chinua Achebe was deeply hurt and disappointed. He decided to write Things Fall Apart in order to educate the ignorant western society as well as eradicate many false perceptions of Europeans towards his motherland. Even though Achebe is successful to a greater extent in offering a highly credible as well as historically accurate account, both novels, Things Fall Apart and King Solomon's Mines have conveyed the perceptions of their writers towards Africa and Africans, exemplifying their unique belief systems, values in society as well as the prevalent natural beauty of the land.
Beliefs set each individual apart as well as form an important component of every civilization. Haggard and Achebe have both written about the common beliefs of the native people. They both mention the dependency of the people on supernatural forces in their everyday life. In King Solomon's Mines, the king of Zululand always asks Gagool, the witch doctor as well as the voice of god, before performing any task. Similarly, the Ibo people portrayed in Things Fall Apart consult Agbala, the Oracle of Hills and Caves when uncertain about their actions:
The Oracle was called Agbala, and people came from far and near to consult it. They came when misfortune dogged their steps or when they had a dispute with their neighbors. They came to discover what the future held for them or to consult the spirits of their departed fathers. (Achebe, 11)
In King Solomon's Mines, Haggard describes a festival where the brutal king sacrifices many young men in order to please the god and shows their general lust for blood and destruction. The novel perceives the natives as being violent brutal men who lust for killing ...
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The Oracle was called Agbala, and people came from far and near to consult it. They came when misfortune dogged their steps or when they had a dispute with their neighbors. They came to discover what the future held for them or to consult the spirits of their departed fathers. (Achebe, 11)
In King Solomon's Mines, Haggard describes a festival where the brutal king sacrifices many young men in order to please the god and shows their general lust for blood and destruction. The novel perceives the natives as being violent brutal men who lust for killing and blood.
There they stood, the hands twitching, the lips apart, the fierce features instinct with the hungry lust of battle, and in the eyes look like the glare of bloodhound when after long pursuit he sights his quarry. (Haggard, 203)
Festivals have been depicted as an integral part of Ibo tradition. Contrary to Haggard's brutal description however, these occasions are to celebrate the prosperity of the clan, as well as thank the gods and goddesses for a successful year. As Achebe elaborates, "No work was done during the Week of Peace. People called on their neighbors and drank palm wine." (Achebe, 26), and "The Feast of New Yam was held every year before the harvest began, to honor the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits." (Achebe, 31), Ibo people, apart from making offerings of produce and sacrificing animals, followed elaborate customs that involved maintaining peace and conducting grand feasts. The natives had developed a belief system upon which they could explain occurrences of various natural phenomenas as well as the significance of events in daily life.
African society is depicted as one dominated by men. Haggard acknowledges the presence of a type of system under which the tribes are organized but he still considers Africans as uncivilized people and states "It is always well when dealing with uncivilized people, not to be in too great a hurry. They are apt to make politeness for awe or servility" (Haggard, 125) Moreover, Umbopa, the native servant refers to the Europeans' lust for wealth and diamonds commenting "the diamonds are surely there, and you shall have them since you white men are so fond of toys and money" (Haggard, 122) This suggests that Africans lack a monetary system. Twala, the merciless king, is also shown to abuse his power and brutally murder innocent men. On the other hand, Things Fall Apart emphasizes that harmony was maintained by a group of men. Power comes from unity. Success was a direct product of hard work and dedication "Fortunately, among these people a man's worth was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father." (Achebe, 5) and measured by possessions such as wives, children, barn etc... "There was a wealthy man ... had three huge barns, nine wives and thirty children."(Achebe, 15) These men held titles which gave them a higher status in society. It was the responsibility of the clansmen to watch out for other individuals in their society.
We do not ask for wealth because he that has health and children will also have wealth. We do not pray to have more money but to have more kinsmen. We are better than animals because we have kinsmen. An animal rubs its itching flank against a tree, a man asks his kinsmen to scratch him. (Achebe, 145)
This exemplifies the values of a traditional Igbo society where the bond between fellow members of the society as well as health was greatly cherished. They held the life of their kinsmen very high. Achebe goes a step further in describing the elaborate family system of the natives. Unlike Haggard's previously discussed perception implying the underestimated value of money, agriculture played an important role in supporting the polygamous household. The natives grew crops and also reared and tamed animals such as chicken and goats. Achebe's attitude discretely explains that the native society in the mid 19th century was civilized contrary to the image established by Sir Henry Rider Haggard.
Africa is known for its majestic beauty, flora and fauna. King Solomon's Mines offers wondrous descriptions of the landscape and wilderness found in the untamed, uncivilized, unadulterated land. "There are the deep kloofs cut in the hills by the rushing rains of centuries, down which the rivers sparkle; there is the deepest green of the bush, growing as God planted it..." (Haggard, 32) The possibility of untold treasures still to be discovered within the hidden parts of the land naturally sparks ideas of heroic adventures. Haggard considers the unexplored land as being dark and evil. "But here and there you meet ... make out a little piece of history of this dark land." (Haggard, 18) On the other hand, Achebe's novel is embedded with multitudes of descriptions of the natural environment as well as how people have modeled their economy around it:
The last big rains of the year were falling. It was the time for treading red earth with which to build walls. It was not done earlier because the rains were too heavy and would have washed away the heap of trodden earth; and it could not be done later because harvesting would soon set in, and after that the dry season. (Achebe, 142)
Similar to Haggard, Achebe has depicted Africans as living in mud huts, but the distinction in their attitude can be easily made through analyzing the following description:
Oknonkwo's prosperity was visible in the household. He had a large compound enclosed by a thick wall of red earth. His own hut, or obi, stood immediately behind the only gate in the red walls...The barn was built against one end of the red walls, and long stacks of yam stood out prosperously in it. (Achebe, 11)
Things Fall Apart describes the homes were the representation of the owner's prosperity and success in the society. The attitudes exhibited by both writers towards the topography of the land are similar, even though Achebe describes the significance of seasons and climatic changes in the natives' lives.
Sir Henry Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart are concise novels which offer insightful descriptions of Africa and Africans as discussed above. They elaborate upon the beliefs, values and harmony of the people with their native land. Haggard's description of Africa and Africans shows that his attitude is not completely detached from the stereotypical European beliefs. Achebe is successful in offering a credible and historically accurate description of the rich land, diverse culture and unique traditions. His attitude cannot be considered completely just nor unbiased as he is discussing the history of his own people. However, the analysis of the two novels brings out an interesting pattern. The perceptions presented in the novels preserve the thinking of the society when the two novels were each written. The post colonial society of today is much more accepting of the diversity present in indigenous cultures. This acceptance and appreciation was suppressed in the colonial era when strong nations such as Britain were colonizing other parts of the world. Overtime, our global society has prodigiously evolved and continues this progression implicating a growth of acceptance and appreciation of cultural diversity.
Evolving Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Africa: The Land and its People
Aditi Khandelwal