Critique of Colonialist Ideology in Achebe’s Arrow of God

Abstract

Achebe’sArrow of Godresists the colonial thrust by using a form of historical novel, which takes its central theme for what George Lukacs called ‘downfall of gentile society’.Achebe appeals his characters to resist against the colonial rule. InArrow of God, Achebe has presented the rebellious characters. His goal to present the rebellious characters is to promote and preserve the native values, emotions feelings, rituals, and religions. In the novel, Ezeulu’s wife Ugoye strongly resists against the vision of the killing the python. She says that the culture regards the python as their own kinsman. Therefore, when the white colonizers try to kill or destroy the python or snake, Ugoye strongly resistsagainst it. Chinua Achebe presents Ugoye as a rebellious character to preserve the native’s values and religions.Achebe claims that the natives are not ready to tolerate any kind of hegemony of foreigners in the culture of natives. Ujiugo strongly rejectsthe idea of her brother Oduche to kill a snake called python.Finally,Achebe as a postcolonial writer strongly resists against the British administration ruling in Nigeria through his novelArrow of God.