...Things Fall Apart Essay Often in times, the themes an author expresses in his or her book frequently serve as a microcosm of the entire book, and even sometimes the actual feelings in the world at that particular time in history. In Things Fall Apart, a book about Nigerian culture from the viewpoint of a strong-willed, traditional tribesman and the effect of European influence on Africa, Chinua Achebe expresses a main theme of masculinity, which encompasses many other ideas such as the relationships between masculinity and femininity, masculinity and the upbringing of children, and masculinity and bloodshed/violence. Similar to other African cultures in Nigeria in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the male figure was dominant to the female. Achebe shows this behavior through the character development of Okonkwo, and his interactions between his 3 wives. The males would often do the “manly” work of the village which required much strength and a good work ethic, such as farming, and other tiring activities, while the women usually confined to the houses or huts and the surrounding gardens to carry out the household chores and care for their many children. In that society, a prosperous man often had many wives, and in order to fully be recognized as a man, the male figure of the household would have to be able to manage his wives and children. This idea is shown in the book when Okonkwo, the main character in the story states that “No matter how prosperous a man was, if...
Words: 726 - Pages: 3
...“By comparing the 2 texts you have studied, how do they reflect the concerns of their time?” Texts are shaped by the concerns of their time and the comparison of texts provides an extensive insight into these ideologies. With the consideration of Chinua Achebe’s novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ (1958) and Niki Caro’s film ‘Whale Rider’ (2003) in tandem, the similarity in their didactic principles of the condemnation of ethnocentrism explores the impact of European imperialism upon Ibo and Maori societies. Both texts also criticise the suppression of females in the patriarchal view of the tribes, emphasizing the significance of gender recognition and together, they delineate the concerns that arise from 1900s colonialism Within Things Fall Apart (TFA), Achebe reprimands the subservience of traditional Nigerian Ibo culture through colonialism in the context of the nation’s independence in 1960. Presenting the loss of traditions resulting from imperialism, Achebe deliberately includes William Yeats’ “The Second Coming” in the epigraph to the novel as a foreshadowing of the imminent collapse of the Ibo tribe, thus immediately establishing the Greek tragedy convention. His use of proverbs where they are the “palm-oil which words are eaten” is an allegory that captures the intricacy of Ibo language, emending the European portrait of a ‘savage’ Africa which was a notion popularized at the time by Joseph Conrad’s “The Heart of Darkness” (1899). Furthermore, Achebe juxtaposes the Ibo’s...
Words: 937 - Pages: 4
...Masculinity has a huge role when talking about people in a position of power. Society's expectations of what a man should be--has caused some men to become corrupt and abuse the power they have. Noah Brand writer for The Good Man Project stated in his article, “Masculinity as Power” that “Men in our culture are supposed to be active; they are those who act, they are defined by their actions. Masculinity supposed to be something one does, one performs; it’s not simply granted to someone for identifying as a man, but it is earned through unceasing hard work” (Brand). Men feel pressured to be masculine and our culture tends to advertise it through television and social media that masculinity can be obtained through violent or aggressive actions....
Words: 1704 - Pages: 7
...English Literature Summer Reading Things fall apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe. In the novel of things fall apart there are many characters that stand out, such as, Okonkwo, Nwoye, Ikemefuna, Mr. Brown and more. One substantial character is Ezinma - The only child of The main character Okonkwo,'s second wife, Ekwefi. As the only one of Ekwefi’s ten children to survive past infancy, Ezinma is the center of her mother’s world. Their relationship is atypical—Ezinma calls Ekwefi by her name and is treated by her as an equal. Ezinma is also Okonkwo’s favorite child, for she understands him better than any of his other children and reminds him of Ekwefi when Ekwefi was the village beauty. Furthermore, he wishes that Ezinma were a boy because she would have been the perfect son. In the novel "Things Fall Apart" there are many themes and backgrounds, such as fear, sin and traditions. But the most frequent is respect/reputation. Reputation is extremely important to the men in the novel. Personal reputation is publicly denoted by the ankle bracelets men wear, which signify the number of “titles” they have earned. Reputation is based on merit – men gain reputation through bravery in battle, skill at wrestling, and hard work as seen through the size of their yam harvest. Reputation earns men positions of power and influence in the community as well as numerous wives. Okonkwo, the novel’s protagonist, is extremely concerned with reputation because he grew up with a...
Words: 582 - Pages: 3
...In Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo, the protagonist, represents the manly ideal in a native African society of the Igbo that puts great value on masculinity. He prides himself on the fact that he became a well-respected member of the community with little help from others. However, he is not without flaws. When European powers begin colonizing Africa, Okonkwo finds his way of life disrupted. His greatest challenge becomes accepting the beliefs of others and relating to the majority. Okonkwo resists change, trying to hold onto the old way of life. In Things Falls Apart, Okonkwo proves himself to be a notorious anti-hero as he struggles with his own self-image, rules his household with fear, and rejects changes in his society upon the arrival of the white man. Okonkwo’s own destruction is a result of his high expectations and obsession with toughness. His father, Unoka, was a good-spirited but generally unproductive member of the community. He acquired no fortune and preferred music and story-telling to hard physical labor. Okonkwo dismissed his father’s outlook on life as foolish, and devoted his time to masculine things such as wrestling, sharecropping, and the acquisition of titles. The culture of their tribe is to judge an individual based on their strength and proficiency, or lack thereof. To appear sentimental would be a reflection of his father’s persona. It is Okonkwo’s greatest fear to be judged as inept or weak. When the Oracle of the Hills demands...
Words: 329 - Pages: 2
...body of social theory and political movement primarily based and motivated by the experiences of women. Feminist theory tries to understand the nature of gender inequality and focuses on gender politics and relations. Subjects explored in feminism range from discrimination to stereotyping and many more. As the history of feminism has been studied, feminist movements began in the late 1800’s. Feminist ideas were not only observed in the work place or social life, but also in readings. In Things Fall Apart, there is clearly a feminist point of view. There are certain behaviors that women do not attain, they serve a specific role in the community, have arranged roles in the family, and are limited by the extended family. Although women are “Mother Supreme”, they were looked upon differently by the Igbo because of their feminist views. The opening sentence in Things Fall Apart begins with the description of an alpha male. It is hard not to have a feminist view when a role of masculinity is observed as early as the first sentence. Okonkwo is a self-made, well-respected member of the clan. He has become a wealthy farmer through his own hard work. Behaviors and attitudes that he considers masculine are to have a patriarch mindset, not show love and affection, have a great sense of personal pride, work hard, provide for your family, and being brave. Okonkwo believes that any slight show of weakness is feminine. For example, Unoka, his father, was in debt and did not own anything...
Words: 622 - Pages: 3
...this; most of the world, have separated religion from state (government). However in, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, their world is lived by the same idea for many years, until their culture is threatened. The character Okonkwo, from Things Fall Apart, is a proud, fearful, ambitious, and ill-tempered man. He is the leader in his family, and he is a great one at that. His father left him with and at nothing; he is a terrible example for Okonkwo. Okonkwo, unconsciously, changes his fate, and nonetheless becomes the opposite of his father. All this was put to trial when he was exiled for seven years for committing a female murder. All that he was, his essence was put to trial; him being leader of his family, had to leave his family, everything. If this wasn’t bad enough, while he was gone, white men started migrating to his land, and that’s when everything started changing. As the white men settled in quietly with their religion, after some time, they stayed and governed harshly over Umuofia. What changed first was Umuofia’s traditional system, which was masculinity. Titles were no longer important. As tradition changed, a new belief system came into the picture, Christianity. The white men introduced the Christian church to Umuofia, thus dividing the community. Society begins to steadily change with this new religion, and henceforth comes a new government. The way they dealt with things now was more “stable,” or “better.” After the seven years were up, Okonkwo finally is...
Words: 478 - Pages: 2
...Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” is a twentieth century work of art that serves the purpose of conveying the intricacies of African culture while at the same time giving voice to the underrepresented and exploited inhabitants of Nigeria. This work was written in response to Western writings on African culture, which treated Africa in a cultureless and subhuman light of view. “Things Fall Apart” portrays the conflict between the White colonial government and the indigenous Igbo people in Nigeria, illuminating the European and African perspectives on Colonial control, race, religion and culture. The Igbos believed that each man was responsible for his fate or destiny. They believed that a man has the ability to change his life and achieve status through economics and military accomplishments, the latter being through agriculture, and that all of this results solely from hard work. The Nigerian society, unlike European societies, was characterized by a Darwinian society in the way that people who achieved great feats were rewarded, rather than a caste-like system where there was no chance of improving one’s status. The ability to move up in rank in Nigerian culture is portrayed in the story of Onkonkwo. Born to an indebted and effeminate father, Okonkwo strives to rise through the social system and achieve everything his father could not. He is intolerant and biased towards women to the point where he describes weak men as women. Okonkwo views emotion as a weakness and thus...
Words: 1520 - Pages: 7
...From Warrior to Ruin In Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo, the protagonist, represents the manly ideal in a native African society of the Igbo that puts great value on masculinity. He prides himself on the fact that he became a well-respected member of the community with little help from others. However, he is not without flaws. When European powers begin colonizing Africa, Okonkwo finds his way of life disrupted. His greatest challenge becomes accepting the beliefs of others and relating to the majority. Okonkwo resists change, trying to hold onto the old way of life. In Things Falls Apart, Okonkwo proves himself to be a notorious anti-hero as he struggles with his own self-image, rules his household with fear, and rejects changes in his society upon the arrival of the white man. Okonkwo’s own destruction is a result of his high expectations and obsession with toughness. His father, Unoka, was a good-spirited but generally unproductive member of the community. He acquired no fortune and preferred music and story-telling to hard physical labor. Okonkwo dismissed his father’s outlook on life as foolish, and devoted his time to masculine things such as wrestling, sharecropping, and the acquisition of titles. The culture of their tribe is to judge an individual based on their strength and proficiency, or lack thereof. To appear sentimental would be a reflection of his father’s persona. It is Okonkwo’s greatest fear to be judged as inept or weak. When the Oracle...
Words: 760 - Pages: 4
...3 Most Damaging Words you can tell your Son Rationale In our current unit, we are focused on the topic of “Representation of Masculinity in the media” and how it is portrayed much differently to what it actually is. I will be writing as an analyst but also a parent who has gone through this time of where masculinity is the key to your success. Through this written task, the aim is to inform the readers “3 most damaging words you can tell your son” and it how it affects the children. The intended audience for this textual analysis would be parents who try and tell their children to grow up and stop whining. This type of analysis could be found online particularly on blogs that have a direct link to the video. In my written task, logos is the most effective stylistic device. For example, the statement “90% of students wrote pain and anger,” as a feeling they have oppressed due to societies influence on them. This statement makes the reader aware of the troubles they are putting their children though in order to raise them, as society wants them to turn out, engaging them to think of their past encounters with their children. The stimulus text for this piece was a three minute video titled “the 3 most damaging word to tell your son,” as it was a direct relationship with our current unit of representation of masculinity in the media. Another stimulus text that I looked at was a blog site to find the conventions into writing a blog article. Word Count – 253 words Written...
Words: 1253 - Pages: 6
...more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone." - Chinua Achebe. The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a brilliant story that opens the readers mind to an entirely different way of living in a Nigerian village. Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. He was raised in the large village of Ogidi, one of the first centers of Anglican missionary work in Eastern Nigeria. His life in Nigeria would later lead him to write Things Fall Apart which gave a different view on the colonization of Africa that previous novels portrayed in a negative way. Achebe allows us to enter the mind of the main character Okonkwo. Okonkwo, a very high ranked member in his village is very respected for his many achievements. Although he is arguably the most powerful man in Umuofia, his personal flaws of fear of failure and uncontrollable anger do not allow him true greatness as a human being. And although Okonkwo means well for his village, the novel invites the reader to see him as a flawed character who eventually suffers from the consequences of bad decisions that he makes throughout the book. Okonkwo allows his fear of failing cloud his judgement, which will eventually lead to his downfall. While Okonkwo is highly respected and a man of many achievements, he has failed to see his many flaws. That is why Okonkwo is a detestable character and human being. Okonkwo allows his self destructive masculinity to control his life. Okonkwo is known throughout Umuofia to be extremely masculine...
Words: 1847 - Pages: 8
...Spit in the wind and it blows back in your face Question: do you agree that Okonkwo’s behaviour in the novel “Things fall apart” comes as a reaction against his father? Why is this ironic? Chinua Achebe through his eloquent use of tension and irony displays how his main character Okonkwo an influential clan leader in Umuofian meets his tragic demise under the pressure of his own personal demons. Okonkwo is a product of the years of suffering he endured with his father Unoka. Unoka has a strong and influential role contributing to why Okonkwo’s tenacious behaviour and unpremeditated actions lead to his downfall in the novel, “things fall apart”. This downfall happens as he tries not to become like his father which is ultimately ironic. Okonkwo is a fierce worrier who rules his household with an iron fist, his word is deemed final and he is revered by many in his clan. Okonkwo’s is said to “had had no patience with unsuccessful men” and Unoka was a very unsuccessful man. He died without title and in debt. To the majority of the clan of Umuofia, he “was a failure”. Okonkwo “was ashamed of him” and due to this he tried with every fibre of his being to be the exact opposite of his father, he was determined not to be a failure. Achebe then introduces irony with Okonkwo’s eldest son Noweye, who is said to be feminine, weak, and lazy. Infect he has traits like Okonkwo’s father. This situation is very ironic because the person Okonkwo tries to be in stark contrast, the man who he...
Words: 914 - Pages: 4
...Franklin D. Roosevelt said that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” In the Ibo villages, strength and masculinity are prized traits. This novel tells about the story of one man Okonkwo, a strong and masculine warrior, who faces several life changing obstacles in his life. In spite of those characteristics Okonkwo has a deep fear of becoming like his father, Unoka, who was lazy, irresponsible, and weak. Furthermore, he also fears Nwoye, his son, turning out like Unoka. Fear not only consumes Okonkwo, but also his village of Umuofia, which causes them to be unable to have the courage to fight against the white missionaries. The Ibo culture’s fear of weakness comes from their insecurity of their strength and masculinity which is the cause for destruction and failure in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe....
Words: 518 - Pages: 3
...The novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe is centered around Okonkwo, who sets out a quest of self-perfection and indeed succeeds in doing so. His hyperbolic interpretation of manliness leads him into climbing the ladder of success; admired and respected by his clan. And so he soon becomes too deep in his ideology of masculinity which later causes his own tragic demise. The focus of this essay is to discuss the contribution of the various settings in the development of Okonkwo and its relevance in today's society. This novel is partitioned into three main parts which deal with three remarkably different settings. These are Umofia, Mbanta and the Umofia in change respectively. In the first part, which is in Umofia, Achebe offered an understanding of Okonkwo's nature who lived in fear of becoming like his father. Achebe furthered on providing precise characteristics of his father who was notorious for his unmanly behaviour and therefore died in dispute. He had always been associated with agbala; woman and titleless(pg 13). Through this, the reader's are privileged with the significant event that occurred in Okonkwo's course of life in which he grew up in in criticism. This experience has been essential in the formation of his character where he had always been haunted by the actions of his father and attempted to adopt totally opposite characteristics of his father. Although he managed to attain a position of wealth and prestige in his clan, he was always...
Words: 1512 - Pages: 7
...In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo, the main character is represented as a successful, strong, insensitive, and most honorable tribesmen man. Okonkwo is a man with his own perspective of what being masculine is like. He is one of the most respected men in his village and in the Igbo culture. He is a strong wrestler and a leader. For Okonkwo, being a strong and cruel man is the definition of being masculine. Anything that was a sign of weakness was hated by him. He did not like unsuccessful men, as a matter of fact, he did not like anything that reminded him of his father, Unoka. Showing no emotions was also a characteristic of masculinity for him. Okonkwo was afraid of showing any kind of emotions because revealing any...
Words: 839 - Pages: 4
