The Depiction of Transcendentalism in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

Abstract

In the 1830s, new England witnessed the birth of a new movement characterized by its significantly unique beliefs that strives in pushing human beings into becoming better versions of themselves, by following what they believe in and relying on themselves and not others as well as creating their own path than that of society. Thus, to turn to nature for life lessons, this movement is called American transcendentalism. By 1855 American transcendentalism started to fade out until it did eventually, however in the twentieth century it appeared again, but this time in an unexpected place, to be more specific in African literature. This research investigates the reappearance of this philosophy in African literature. This research paper aims at giving an explanation about this topic and shedding the light on the work of the postmodern African writer Chinua Achebe novel Things Fall Apart and the depiction of transcendentalism within it.