V.S. Naipaul\'s Enigma of Arrival and Chinua

V.S. Naipaul's Enigma of Arrival and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart both show how colonialism affects individuals as well as whole societies. While Naipaul's book is more optimistic in tone and less tragic in plot than Achebe's is, both of these novels create compelling accounts of how colonialism changes the consciousness of human beings. The consequences of colonialism are difficult to treat in novels because of the varied manifestations of colonial practices and the different ways people react. Although both told from the perspective of the colonized, Enigma of Arrival and Things Fall Apart are completely different in tone, theme, and plot. The differences between the two novels illustrate the wide range of disparate experiences of colonization. One of the things I appreciated most about these two books was in fact receiving an alternative account of history, told through the eyes of the oppressed.

The theme of transformation is also dealt with differently by both authors. Naipaul and Achebe both focus on change and transformation as central themes in their respective books. However, Naipaul depicts change as a slow and gradual process, similar to the changes of the seasons. His meandering story reflects this slow and gradual type of transformation, the kind that is more noticeable in retrospect than in real-time. In fact, the pace and style of Enigma of Arrival also mirrors this type of slow change, for during the course of the book nothing much happens. Only after putting it down did I feel moved, changed in my outlook and perspective.

Things Fall Apart also treats change as long-term process. For example, the things that fall apart for Okonkwo, his family, and his village do so over time. Both Naipaul and Achebe show that the transformations brought on by colonialism are in some cases subtle. On the other hand, often the changes are forced by colonialism on traditional societies. These rapid changes can be traumatic and devastating to individuals and communities, and Things Fall Apart captures these types of shocking shifts in consciousness. What Enigma of Arrival does that Things Fall Apart does not do, however, is show how colonialism affects the oppressor culture as much as the oppressed. Naipaul's description of the transformation of the English countryside into a place ripe for industrialization illustrates how the entire world can be reshaped through the actions of a few individuals.

Enigma of Arrival is unique because of Naipaul's writing style. Things Fall Apart is more traditionally a novel with a protagonist, a central conflict, and a plot, whereas Enigma of Arrival is almost like a poem in its lyrical intensity and lack of a typical story line. I enjoyed reading both because of these differences in style. The change in pace from one novel to another is refreshing, showing that writing literature is like any other creative process. Moreover, as works of post-colonial authors, these two books help dispel the myth that all colonized cultures are the same. Not only are the settings in Things Fall Apart and Enigma of Arrival almost polar opposite, but the characterization, tone, style, and mood of the two books is amazingly different. Books like these should be included as much in history classes as in literature classes because of their relevance in completing the picture of the history of colonization.