Discuss the role of religion in at least two works studied (Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe AND the poetry of Emily Dickinson) . How is religion important in the work's central themes/ideas?
The importance of religion is highlighted by Achebe through his portrayal of the Igbo society. He utilizes emotive appeals--in particular appeals to culture and tradition---to emphasize how dependent the igbo are on their Gods. Achebe mentions how, “Twins were put in earthenware pots and thrown away into the forest,” because their birth was believed to be supernatural. The phrase, ‘thrown away into the forest’, magnifies the depth of their commitment to faith, since they are willing to throw away children into the forest. A place frequently mentioned throughout the novel as being ‘evil’ and unsacred. Achebe further displays the importance of religion through and appeal to authority. He stresses how the people of Umuofia do not proceed with any decisions unless it is approved by their prospective Gods. For Umuofia, “never went to war unless its cause was clear and just and was accepted as such by its oracle”. From this, it is evident that the Igbo society relies on its religion to begin anything. As religion is such a strong presence from birth to death. Achebe amplifies how far the Umuofian people are will to go for their faith, from leaving innocent children to fend for themselves in unsacred territory, to raging war. They will do what their oracle (a representative of the Igbo Gods on earth) declares.
However, in contrast to the Umuofia people, Dickinson does not express the same kind of dedication for her faith. Although she was raised a strict calvinist, her poem, I measure Every Grief I meet, illustrates subtle elements of a resentment towards such beliefs. In the sixth stanza of her poem she states, “Enlightened to a larger pain--In contrast with the love”. The use of the word ‘love’ creates a tone of discontentment. As she is referring to the ‘love’ of God, suggesting that instead of being healed or shown a new light by it, she is “exposed to a larger pain”. She continues to imply that the faith she was raised to believe brought (or possibly still brings her) great hurt. She finishes the poem with an allusion to Jesus’s crucifixion in the phrase, “Death--is but one--and comes but once--and only nails in the eyes”. This creates a strong image of death amongst the audience. The imagery of ‘nails in the eyes’ constructs a negative atmosphere that is not typically associated with religion. Dickinson is comparing her thoughts on her religion to a grieving death--much like the death of a key figure in the calvinist religion: Jesus.
