Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

Although they’re classified “differently” than men, that doesn’t stop them from being hard workers and spouses. Women play very important roles in the Igbo culture as well as in the novel by giving birth, taking care of children, and doing domestic activities such as cooking food, and cleaning the house. By women doing all of these things that is what has made them important pillars of their society. Achebe writes, “A child belongs to his father, but if the father beats the child, the child seeks refuge in the mother’s house. A man belongs to his father’s land when he has a good and sweet life to lead, but in times of sorrow, his mother’s house is the ideal area of comfort”(134).This further says that a woman is seen as a protector in the Igbo society and looked upon as being very mothering, loving, and nurturing. Although women in the Igbo society aren’t looked upon as being strong and superior like the men, they overpower the men in the Igbo society by taking on a bigger duty and they are the ones who act as the basic foundation of people and the clan. Although this is just one of the ways that women contribute to their society. An African woman named Sahndra Fon Dufe once said, “Whatever you are looking for is also looking for you. You see, don’t only look. Be available and ready when it shows up.” (That Igbogirl) I chose to use this woman's quote because I feel like it ties in with how the woman

Historically, women have been viewed as inferior to men due to a female's lack of physical strength. In the candid novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe clearly defines gender roles; women are the caretakers and cooks- simply existing to satisfy men’s desires. Although “Things Fall Apart portrays the women as weak ,inferior, and being put in their place by men; however, Achebe also notes their importance during several parts of the story. By incorporating powerful dialogues and scenes to develop gender conflicts, Achebe uses the completely divergent character of Okonkwo, who constantly strives to achieve manliness to demonstrate that although women in the Igbo society are important, they are not treated as such. Chinua Achebe, the author suggests that there is a constant conflict which exists between the two genders and the expectations of the roles in which each of them must play.

The Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a straight to the point story, embedded with interesting elements that capture readers’ attention. In my view, when I read the story, I found many interesting things about the theme of the book. But The Masculinity Okonkwo was what captures my attention. The story opens up to a Traditional Igbo lifestyle, a theme which is highly stylized from its ritual to the actions performed for certain ceremonies. Most of the action Igbo tribe has been an attempt to show respect to the gods, for example, when ikemefuna became sick and his stomach swelled up their traditions says that he take them to the evil forest and kill him. The story also seems to focus on gender,

Therefore, there is evidence in “Things Fall Apart” that women are not equal to men and children must build themselves a successful future by following Igbo customs. Men are kept to be the highest in their power. Women are there to nurture their children to become successful. Chinua Achebe succeeds by showing this when it comes to ruling with a heavy hand, parenting, and trying to find success to define fate through power. The roles are different for each gender, but it is not to say that one role is more important than the

The belief in African inferiority has existed since at least the 16th century. The 17th and 18th centuries saw European scientists going to great lengths to find scientific proof of the inferiority of Africans, even the theory that Africans were the descendants of apes who raped white women was accepted during the 17th century. Europeans used their belief that Africans were primitive, cultureless subhuman beings to justify the enslavement of what UNESCO estimates to be between 25 and 30 million Africans between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. With the exceptions of Brazil, Puerto Rico and Cuba, slavery in the Western world had been abolished by 1870, yet the belief in African inferiority continued throughout Europe and the United

In history many ancient and early cultures lived in a society where gender influenced their way of life. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the Igbo tribe in Africa bases their people’s social status and everyday life on gender. Women are expected to be submissive and thought to be weaker compared to their male counterparts. Men on the other hand are thought of as strong and must live up to the expectations of the clan. There are several instances in the book that strongly emphasize the masculine roles in the Ibo tribe’s society. Throughout the book, Okonkwo’s extreme views on masculinity gains him the respect of his community. In his community Okonkwo is greatly praised for his masculinity. It is Okonkwo’s desire to be accepted by his community and insecurities that leads to him becoming an outcast in his community which eventually led to him committing suicide. Okonkwo would rather die than to develop a feminine reputation like his father. As a clansman of the Igbo, being a well provider for your family, a strong protector, and an influential fatherly figure are things that define masculinity.

The key to understanding our differences within cultures is to first, understand our similarities within cultures. If our daily activities were the base of cultures, this would mean that our differences only come from our similarities. For example, one can see the differences through the similarities in a simple aspect like our daily activities such as food and clothing. Everyday we all do the same action to put clothes on, but depending on where we are in the world (geographically), traditions, perceptions, and fashion, what we will wear will be different than someone else from the other side of the globe. With this paper, the similarities and differences of globalization and colonization will be explored.

“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart” (Achebe 146). This quote, spoken by Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe 's novel Things Fall Apart, is the most significant quote in the novel itself. This story was set in the 1890s. During this time, missionaries and colonial government intruded the Igbo society. In a traditional African village, lived a well-recognized man, Okonkwo. Okonkwo was ambitious, powerful, strong, short tempered, and depended on physical strength and African morals. He also believed

The book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe takes place in Nigeria during the 19th century. This is during the pre European imperial era. In this era the Igbo culture has a very straight forward structure of society, man is afraid of failure, and shame brought to his family. Ever man is trying to take the top position in the clan, working day and night to feed and take care of their family. Our main character, Okonkwo, has been dominated by “the fear of failure and of weakness” throughout his entire life, predominantly to blame by his father, Unoka. Unoka, throughout his entire life was considered as a coward, spending most of his days in idleness, never proving his manhood. Unoka was looked down upon by his fellow tribes men. He always

Things Fall Apart, a novel written by Chinua Achebe, introduces readers to a strong-willed man who is desperate to be the opposite of his father: successful. Throughout the novel, Okonkwo unknowingly embarks on a figurative journey that highlights his character and illuminates the theme, which is that the sacrifices of one affects many, especially in the case of a family. Though he travels physically with his family, single-minded Okonkwo travels alone mentally, emphasizing the figurative nature of his journey. Obstacles faced on Okonkwo’s journey have caused his charactered to be developed in a negative aspect, because he becomes more vicious and afraid to show endearment.

Imagine a person who has been successful and independently for years living by their own personal standards. Now imagine that same person having every aspect of their life changed and controlled by a ruler who says the person’s way of living are outdated and savage. Also, imagine that if that person refuses to follow these new rules, and sticks with their original ways of living, that person will see his or her demise. Would this person be happy? Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a story written to show Christian missionaries and colonists invading African clans with the intent to take over and reform every aspect of the African clans’ traditional culture, customs, and traditions with their modern culture, customs, and traditions that they are executing their plan wrong, as cultures do not easily blend. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe shows how old culture, customs, and traditions do not easily blend with modern culture, customs, and traditions through the event at Abame, the conflicts between the church and the Ibo clan, and Okonkwo’s ultimate demise and failure.

Author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky wrote, “Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody” (Change). Change is inevitable to people at least once in their lives. While change can be intimidating, change can be both positive and negative in different aspects. The title of “Things Fall Apart” suggests the change that is to occur through the story and that most things cannot last forever. Titles of any work of literature hold valuable significance towards the meaning and the interpretation of the work towards the readers. In Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” the story’s title applies to the main character, Okonkwo, and his entire society.

In the world today there are many gender based stereotypes that almost all people follow, or believe in them to be true. The main stereotype that I see most days at school is the idea that girls are usually only friends with girls, and boys are almost always only friends with boys. Many parents may have certain expectations that their kids must follow. In some cultures, women have jobs that are only intended for women to do and men have certain jobs that are specifically intended for men to do. This novel Things Fall Apart is taking place in Umuofia, a clan in Nigeria in the late 1950’s, where gender plays a prominent role in society. The society is based around the gender stereotypes of the clan. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe uses the role of gender to convey his message of the way the clan is run in Umuofia and what ideas are accepted through marriage customs, traditional events of the Igbo culture, and the way that the family household is run.

There are many different definitions as to what a woman is. A woman is the adult female human being. A woman is the evolution of a young girl who has finally entered her adulthood. A woman is a wife. A woman is a mother. A woman is a person who has the potential to change the world in a positive way but is often refused the opportunity to do so. A woman is a plethora of things that make her amazing. A woman is smart. A woman is beautiful. A woman is strong. A woman is capable. A woman is a silenced human being. A punching bag for her husband. A woman is what weakness and failure are represented as. A woman is what many don't want to be or are ashamed of being. No matter the culture or location in the world, the position of women is often disrespected and dishonored. Women are seen as only having the ability to do domesticated chores. They are expected to get married, have children and do all the housework that needs to be done in order to keep her husband happy. In many cases, women also fear their own home because of their husband’s violent tendencies. The women depicted in the novel “Things Fall Apart” written by Nigerian novelists, Chinua Achebe, are a prime example as to how women are disrespected and dishonored. The novel is set in the Umfuafia and Mbanta villages of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria around the 1900s. During this time, every aspect of life in the Igbo tribe was severely gendered. The men would go out and take care of the important business and the women would

“Boom! He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and children” (Achebe 39). In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, a historical fiction, African based novel, the woman are misrepresented and silenced. Things Fall Apart takes place in the late 19th century in what is now modern day Nigeria. In the novel the reader is immediately introduce to power and polygamy because of Okonkwo's achievements by defeating the Cat with his wrestling abilities. The women in the novel are silenced and viewed as items to the members of the Igbo tribe.