The struggle within: resistance and cultural hybridity in Achebe's trilogy

Abstract

Chinua Achebe's trilogy is not just about the differences between traditional and modern views but also about the resistance and impact of adoption of the constantly changing process of postcolonial Nigeria. The continuous narrative of the trilogy celebrates the end of colonial rule as it explores at the same time the struggle of the characters and their cultural transformation in a new Africa. On the basis of an empirical study of Achebe's artistic production, further supported by the evaluation of the scholars' views regarding this subject such as Homi Bhabha, Edward Said, Fratz Fanon and so on, this research is aimed at uncovering the multidimensional aspect of resistance in cultural context of hybridity. The paper delves into the aspect of how individuals in the trio wrestle with the conflicting ideas of indigenous customs and colonialism along with the formation of hybrid cultural identities that develop from these fallouts. The fundamental goal in examining Achebe's trilogy is to uncover the resistance which is not only a non-cooperation with colonialism but also an ambiguous process of the fight and self-reflection within the characters themselves. Achebe's intricate representation of resistance underlines the reality of it as postcolonial existence complexities where it involves the process of a person being the architect and the subject of change at the same time. Moreover, the thesis is going to analyze how cultural hybridity may be considered the terrain of both the conflicting and creative, the place where new modes of being are formed as a result of cultural elements' mix and blending. Each character's cultural hybridity experiences are examined in the paper, to present the resistance that evolves together with adaptation, assimilation, and invention. This thesis attempts to present a comprehensive investigation of Achebe's trilogy in which the author’s inner battle against social and personal tensions and the agony of cultural heritage are apparent. To put it simply, the work scrutinizes Achebe's traversing of the refusal and the process of complex cultural mix.