Things Fall Apart Masculinity Essay

Okonkwo strives all of his life to become a stronger, more powerful, and a successful individual. He wants to do this because his father was a slack and lazy person who lived most of his life in debt and had no titles to his name. People often looked at his father as a women figure for the few achievements he redeemed. Okonkwo never wanted to be like his father and it eventually got to the point where he became fearful of becoming like him. Achebe uses the power of fear as a theme of to show how much it can devastate one’s

In the documentary “The Mask We Live In,” there was a lot of interesting material that is often overlooked within our society. The aspect that stood out to me was when former coach and NFL player Joe Ehrmann stated that the most destructive statements within our culture are “Be a Man.” I found this intriguing for the fact that within our culture we often use phrases such as "Man up" and" Act like a man" not understanding the actual context of the term itself. The documentary exposed that within society there is rules and expectation for men to behave in a manner that reflects strength and masculinity. As a result, these standards are confronted earlier on in a young man’s life.

Young men, specifically boys are pressured to follow a standard that has been set. It takes a toll on many as it is what defines their masculinity. In other words, it is what makes them a man. This poses the question: What makes a man? Although many young boys have followed the trend of what it is to be a man, the reality is that it is barbaric and mindless.

Despite his affection for his household, Okonkwo prioritizes his reputation of strength and masculinity, which is why he is observed to utilize fear tactics instead of providing his family with a sense of safety, as the head of family should care to achieve. Because Okonkwo lets this overwhelming fear dictate his life, it causes him to go to these extreme forms aggression in order to preserve his reputation. Therefore, through Okonkwo’s character, readers perceive how extensive focus on running away from one negative aspect, may lead one to fail in various other aspects, as Okonkwo failed to provide safety and love to his family for the purpose of achieving his own selfish determination of being strong. Moreover, the author wants to present to the reader that Okonkwo was not the harsh and violent individual that he seems to be, as he mentions that “Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man.” However, Okonkwo never reveals this side of him in fear of becoming weak or an agbala, an Igbo term for woman or a man with no titles, like his father, who was widely

Okonkwo thinks he is the owner of his household and he shows no mercy to anyone who angers him. “He ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives…lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children. Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness.” (Achebe, Chapter 2, p.8). Okonkwo beats his children and wives because of his temper which is influenced by the Igbo society; he puts on a hard exterior because he is afraid of being weak and unsuccessful. At one point, he attempts to kill his second wife with a gun because he thinks she is the cause of a tree’s death. In order to prove his power and strength, without thinking of the consequences, Okonkwo beats his youngest wife during the week of peace - a week when the village celebrates peace and who ever disrupts the peace will be punished by Ala, the earth goddess (Lycos, online). “His first two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with him that it was the sacred week. But Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating somebody half-way through, not even for the fear of a goddess.” (Achebe, Chapter 4, p.21). Okonkwo lives in a male dominant society where men are pressured to be strong and successful; because of these influences, Okonkwo develops an inner

In Chinua Achebe's, "Things Fall Apart", a man of admiration was one who displayed superiority through his masculinity, his honoring of traditions, and his merit as opposed to a feminine man who did not. In African Ibo culture a man with a strong sense of masculinity took care of his priorities as the man of the house and a warrior in society. An admirable man honored native traditions by worshipping the gods of his fathers, abiding by the laws of the land, and going to war with anyone who dared to challenge his culture. His merit gained him superiority in society because men of Ibo culture were judged by their possessions and the amount of possessions that they had. In Things Fall Apart, the main character Okonkwo is the manliest of men, his achievements as a husband, warrior, and member of society confirms why he is so admired by the men and women of his society.

The movie surveyed a wide array of the troubles faced by boys and men as they try to navigate the realm of masculinity. A common theme was the command “be a man” and the cultural baggage that comes with living up to that ideal. To “be a man” means to not cry, to not be sensitive, to not let people mess with you, to respond with violence, to be angry, to drink, to womanize.

In the novel “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is the main character that has been through many things in his life. His father was known for being extremely lazy to the point where he could barely provide enough for his family. As Okonkwo grew, he began to develop feelings of hatred toward his father. He did not want to become like his father and became the exact opposite. As the story progresses, Okonkwo’s actions, which are fed by fear of being seen as weak, will advance the plot and theme efficiently and effectively.

First, Okonkwo starts off as a poor child, as shown when the book states, “Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men usually had, he did not inherit a barn from his father. There was no barn to inherit” showing that Okonkwo and his family were penurious, compared to others in the Igbo tribe (Achebe 16). Eventually, through his hard work and effort, he became a noble leader, which emphasizes his role as a tragic hero. Throughout the story Okonkwo goes through many challenges, but “In the face of futility, however, he maintains his nobility of character”(Gaydosik).

In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, graphically demonstrates the authority that the men have in the Ibo culture. The men are allowed to perform things that are restricted to the women and be the way that they choose to be. The Ibo culture allows the men have several wives making them under the title of a successful man just for the fact that they are able to maintain several women and their children at the same time. The social group in that is being represented in a certain way are the men, they are represented in the Ibo culture as successful men depending on what they have achieved. The men are put under titles in their culture and having a title meant you were someone, but yet there were those who didn't have a title for being considered weak or without

His tragic flaw was used in which he wanted to be strong and manly. This tragic downfall had an affect on Okonkwo's family as well. “It descended on him again, this feeling, when his father walked in that night after killing Ikemefuna.” (Achebe 45) This shows what Okonkwo’s son was feeling after he had found out what had happened.

Okonkwo wrestles with his fear that any sign of weakness will cause him to lose control of his family, position in the village, and even himself. Like many heroes of classical tragedy, Okonkwo’s tragic flaw, fear, also makes him excessively proud. Okonkwo’s downfall is a result of the changes created by the coming of the British Colonisers to Igbo. The introduction of the Colonisers into the novel causes Okonkwo’s tragic flaw to be exacerbated. Okonkwo construes change as weakness, and as a result of his interpretation, Okonkwo only knows how to react to change through anger and strength. He derives great satisfaction, “hubris” or proud arrogance, from the fact that he is a traditional, self made man and thinks that to change would mean submitting to an outside force (Christianity).

The only thing he (Okonkwo) fears most is not ending up like his father, Unoka. However, Achebe ‘‘makes an insightful comment on the nature of masculinity through his representation of the tribal leaders. Achebe basically, was conducive in creating four alter egos of Okonkwo: one of which were the masculinity; next of his fatherly abilities; and the last of his family progress and four of his likelihood of success’’ (Achebe.179). My paper will explain how Okonkwo’s Masculinity from Achebe’s Things Fall Apart will be characterized by his fears, beliefs, and emotions for several reasons.

The novel Things Fall Apart took place in the Igbo Society-the part of the world that has very strict views on gender roles, but not just gender roles. It is likely that every individual in the Igbo society viewed or defined masculinity differently. To some, masculinity was expressed through anger and violence; to others, masculinity was expressed through a man’s responsibility. These different views on masculinity can create conflicts and can therefore impact individual's life. In the novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo and Obierika different interpretations of masculinity led them to a different life and such intention was successfully introduced through Achebe’s uses of foil characters.

In most cultures an individual’s gender will influence their characterization. For instance, Ibo tribes in Africa classify people according to their gender. Women are thought as submissive individuals who are to some extent weaker than men. Men on the other hand are thought of as strong beings with much expected from them. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart strongly emphasizes on the categorization of masculinity and femininity in the society of Ibo tribes. Throughout the book, Okonkwo’s idea about masculinity situates him with respect to his community. In his community Okonkwo is greatly praised for his masculine traits. It is Okonkwo integration with masculinity that leads to him becoming an