Things Fall Apart Gender Roles

Chinua Achebe’s critically acclaimed novel Things Fall Apart tells the story of a decorated and powerful chief of the Igbo village tribe named Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a strong independent man who came up from nothing in his life and refused to return to earth as the same way he started, he believed he was destined for greatness. Perhaps Okonkwo’s most driving factor for this is his father died a beggar and he became disgusted how his father went out with no achievements or accomplishments to his name. Okonkwo is very prideful as a result of his humble upbringing and believes that the only way one can be successful is through Old Ways of the Igbo Tribe. As a result, Okonkwo is hell-bent

Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, is a story of a traditional village in Nigeria from inside Umuofia around the late 1800s. This novel depicts late African history and shows how the British administrative structure, in the form of the European Anglican Church, imposed its religion and trappings on the cultures of Africa, which they believed was uncivilized. This missionary zeal subjugated large native populations. Consequently, the native traditions gradually disappeared and in time the whole local social structure within which the indigenous people had lived successfully for centuries was destroyed. Achebe spends the first half of the novel depicting the Ibo culture, by

The focus of the individual is prominent in Things Fall Apart, a tale of an almost anti-social being in a world dominated by change.  Achebe's main character, Okonkwo, is the window to the dramatization of social, economic, and political change of the nation known as Nigeria.  The focus of the narrative is the struggle of a strong and well respected individual to maintain his own life course, and to differentiate this outcome from the end result of his lethargic father's life.  The story embodies the ideal of embracing the individual's goals and aspirations to yield an outcome

The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, originally written in his native language Ibo, tells the tragic tale of an African pre-Christian tribe seen through the eyes of Okonkwo. Okonkwo became a very successful clan leader in his village, by working hard and refusing to be lazy like his father Unoka. Achebe uses irony to encourage character development, drive the contrast between Okonkwo’s dreams and his reality as others see him, and explain the culture’s beliefs in the way they treat women vs. the way women are revered.

Gender roles played a crucial part to the understanding of the people of Umuofia; especially to Okonkwo. But just as in today’s world, one person of a group cannot define the entire group, it was the same back then, which further proves how the District Commissioner’s view of Umuofia would not represent the entire clan, let alone Africa as a whole. Okonkwo’s motivation behind his views of patriarchy stem from his father Unoka; he wanted to be such a great man of the tribe, unlike his “agbala” of a father. Okonkwo’s son “[n]woye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell, and which she no doubt still told to her younger children…but he now knew that they were for foolish women

The book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is a fictional look at the social and cultural life of an African tribe of the lower Niger River region. It depicts the every day life of the tribe and its members. It also shows the culture and customs of the tribe.

I am surprised of how cruel that the people in Umuofia are. For example the people told Okonkwo to kill his son just because the oracle said so. Also the village banned Okonkwo, their best warrior, because his gun accidentally exploded and killed someone. Another thing is how the fathers treat their kids and wives. They will beat them for just not listening to him. Umuofia was a cruel village from the beginning of the book to the end of the book.

The novel “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe, is a tale based on the traditional beliefs and customs of an Ibo village during late 1800’s Africa. Through the telling of this story, we witness the remarkable depth of Igbo culture through its functions of religion, politics, judiciary and entertainment.

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.

Culture is a big part of identity, as is gender, but ultimately, family defines a person’s identity. Though one piece is a cautionary tale about imperialism, the other seemingly a war story, deeper themes are woven throughout. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo holds onto his cultural beliefs about gender roles, family bonds, and struggle with reputation and self identity. In “Deuce Out” by Katey Schultz, the protagonist, known as Steph, also struggles with family dynamic and gender roles, as well as self identity. Both of these works are cautionary stories of the destruction that can be brought about by holding on too tightly to a set of beliefs, or even ways of life. When people are too focused on presumed outcomes and fixed beliefs,

Nwoye’s betrayal in the novel is the same level of betrayal that Achebe is condemned with in his lifetime. African literary theorists who vie for the purity of African literature for African languages defy Achebe as a European traitor, writing his stories with his back turned to his native homeland. Yet this thesis argues for a reevaluation of that criticism. Achebe does not in fact deny his beliefs, his country, or his heritage. He rather aligns himself in a tragically ironic way with the hero of Things Fall Apart. Achebe writes his own struggle with colonialism into the life and death of Okonkwo. It is interesting to note that Achebe’s father was in many ways very similar to Nwoye. His father, Isaiah Achebe, was orphaned early in life and spent most of his childhood with his uncle, Udoh. Udoh was a man of the land; he prided himself on tradition and leadership. Chinua writes in his essay, “My Dad and Me,” that the differences between Isaiah and Udoh were seen early through the eyes of Chinua, a questioning child who was placed in the middle

Achebe shows in the book, Things Fall Apart, traditional life of the Ibo people tends to be related to the gender roles of the population. For the most part all of the Ibo people’s life is gendered. In Igbo culture, women are generally the more inferior gender, but have the qualities that let them be treated as people of society, like being able to birth children. The main role for women is, to make sure they’re a great bride for an honorable and worthy man, to be an obedient and submissive wife and, to have many many children. The perfect husband provides not only with food and money but fights valiantly for his family on the battlefield.

In the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, there are two roles in the tribe which are split between females and males. Although, the male gender is seen as far superior and has many more responsibilities. Men are also supposed to be the example of strength and dominance. "If Ezinma had been a boy he would have been happier" (63). Yet, women are seen as the cards of their society, they can be played and manipulated into certain ways decided by males.

Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” chronicles the life of Okonkwo, a strong man whose existence is dominated by fear and anger, and the Ibo tribe, a people deeply rooted in cultural belief and tradition. As events unfold, Okonkwo’s carefully constructed world and the Ibo way of life collapses. The story of Okonkwo’s fall from a respected and feared leader of the Ibo tribe to an outcast who dies in disgrace dramatizes his inability to evolve beyond his personal beliefs, affecting the entire Ibo tribe beyond measure. The “things” that fall apart in Achebe’s novel are Okonkwo’s life – his ambition, dreams, family unity and material wealth – and the Ibo way of life – their beliefs, culture and values.

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” In Achebe’s award winning novel, “Things Fall Apart,” he wants the reader to learn that we need to take away experiences from the past in order to keep the Ibo culture alive. The story is told through three generations of a family, Unoka (the grandfather), Okonkwo (the father), and Nwoye (the son), who are all a part of the Ibo culture. By comparing the lives of Unoka, Okonkwo, and Nwoye, Achebe tries to secure a platform of understanding- of believable and symbolic characters, Achebe builds empathy in the western reader.