Last embodiments of Traditionalism: Comparing Responses to Colonialism in the Protagonists of "Twilight in Delhi" and "Things Fall Apart"

Abstract

This comparative analysis examines how the protagonists in Ahmed Ali's "Twilight in Delhi" and Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" respond to colonialism's cultural and political influence on their societies. This study examines how the protagonists, Mir Nihal and Okonkwo, symbolize traditional values and beliefs threatened by colonial forces, drawing on postcolonial literary theory. This analysis reveals how the protagonists' responses to colonialism differ, with Mir Nihal striving to protect traditional values in the face of colonial encroachment. However, Okonkwo's response is characterized by violent resistance. This paper also examines how colonialism affects cultural identity and traditionalism in India and Nigeria, including social structure and language changes. Finally, this study contends that the characters' responses to colonialism in these novels can be used to comprehend colonialism's more significant cultural and political effects on traditional civilizations.