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영어

Achebe’s novels collectively trace Nigerian social development from the arrival of the British to the first post-colonial political purges. They depict the breakdown of bureaucracy based on a new class system. They also show the pitfalls of reformers who put their own needs in front of concern for their cause. The purpose of this study is to examine two novels, Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, which highlight the transformation of individuals and their societies due to the impact of colonialism. In Things Fall Apart, clans of the past belonging to Achebe’s own Igbo tribe see a decrease in their ability to maintain unity and order as the British influence increases. Behavior that serves both the individual and his community is replaced with self-serving behavior at the expense of the community. In No Longer at Ease, society has only vestigial forms of traditional values and corruption has become rampant. Each protagonist has personal interests that divert his attention away from community and ultimately prevent him from achieving success in his effort to improve society. The protagonists are connected through their efforts to halt the movement away from traditional values and towards selfish behavior. They also share a common failure to keep personal desire from interfering with the success of their causes. In addition, Achebe’s novels show the difficulties faced by native Nigerians trying to take power in a bureaucracy with built-in corruption and no guidelines for new inductees. Furthermore, they show the danger of public apathy towards corruption and the excesses it can lead to.