things fall apart masculinity essay

Things Fall Apart

Chinua achebe, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Okonkwo dedicates himself to being as masculine as possible, and through his rise to become a powerful man of his tribe and subsequent fall both within the tribe and in the eyes of his son Nwoye , the novel explores the idea of masculinity. Okonkwo believes in traditional gender roles, and it pains him that his son Nwoye is not more aggressive like he is. As a result, it's revealing that he expresses the wish that his daughter Ezinma were a boy—from this we know how fond he is of her. Additionally, in a meeting towards the very beginning of the book, Okonkwo insults a man without title by calling him a woman, demonstrating how much masculinity is valued when ranking those in Umuofia society. Ultimately, though, Okonkwo's adherence to masculinity and aggression leads to his fall in society—he becomes brittle and unable to bend with the changes taking place in his clan. In keeping with this principle of masculinity, Okonkwo forces himself to kill his own surrogate son, murder the white man against his better judgment, and hang himself before a punishment can be imposed by others. Okonkwo's aggression makes him weak in the end—it leaves him with no room to maneuver against the more subtle ways of the white man.

Nwoye struggles with this idea of masculinity, as he wants to please his father by being aggressive and traditional, but ultimately, he's repelled by the violence in Umuofia rituals and joins the Christians. Nwoye's departure can also be linked to this idea from Okonkwo's uncle, Uchendu , after the family is exiled from Umuofia: “'It's true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut.'” Likewise, after being beaten by his father, Nwoye leaves to seek solace in the more feminine and seemingly gentle Christian religion.

Masculinity ThemeTracker

Masculinity Quotes in Things Fall Apart

…[Okonkwo] was not afraid of war. He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike his father he could stand the look of blood. In Umuofia's latest war he was the first to bring home a human head.

Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness, and even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father was agbala . That was how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could also mean a man who had taken no title. And so Okonkwo was ruled by one passion – to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness.

Okonkwo did as the priest said. He also took with him a pot of palm-wine. Inwardly, he was repentant. But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error. And so people said he had no respect for the gods of the clan.

Nwoye 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…

Ezinma took the dish in one hand and the empty water bowl in the other and went back to her mother's hut. “She should have been a boy,” Okonkwo said to himself again. His mind went back to Ikemefuna and he shivered.

“The world is large,” said Okonkwo. “I have even heard that in some tribes a man's children belong to his wife and her family.” “That cannot be,” said Machi. “You might as well say that the woman lies on top of the man when they are making the children.”

It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years…

Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.

Patriarchy and Masculinity in Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” Essay

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The protagonist of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo, is the personification of radical masculinity and patriarchy. The protagonist’s self-identification as a warrior, husband, and father is brutal and often based on cruelty and aggression. To the greatest extent, Okonkwo’s personal qualities are manifested against the background of other characters who find themselves in similar situations. Thus, the novel is built on the juxtaposition of concepts, ideas, and concepts, thanks to which the reader can fully understand the main character’s perception of the concepts of masculinity and patriarchy.

Notable is his father’s influence on the formation of Okonkwo’s personality and worldview. The main goal of the protagonist’s life is not to be like his father. He carries this opposition into all areas of his life, from farming to dealing with children. Also, Okonkwo’s qualities as a father when comparing how he treats his children and Ikemefuna, and Okonkwo and Ikemefuna’s attitude towards Nwoye. Another noteworthy feature of the protagonist is the cruel treatment of his wives, while his uncle treats women with respect and reverence.

The main opposition in the novel is the clash of tradition and innovation. The author conveys this confrontation through the conflict between African traditions, embodied in Okonkwo, and Christian ideas, brought by missionaries. Even though at first glance, these concepts are opposite, they still have similar features. One of these features is the cruelty and aggression with each side defending its interests.

Khan, S. N., Sardaraz, K., Khan, I. U., & Khan, A. K. (2021). Exploring behavioral characteristics in Chinua Achebe’s Things fall apart. PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology , 18 (18), 1209-1217.

In their study, Khan et al. describe the critical characteristics of the protagonist. Among the main character traits of Okonkwo, researchers list competitiveness, self-confidence, ambition, and fearlessness. An analysis of Okonkwo’s personality is necessary to understand the motivation for his decisions and actions, as well as the factors that influenced the formation of the character. Moreover, a study by Khan et al. (2021) analyzed the father’s influence on the protagonist, concluding that Okonkwo’s behavioral patterns were formed as the complete opposite of Unoka. This source helps to understand the character’s main characteristics better, as well as to identify scenes in the novel in which the protagonist deviates from his classical model of behavior. I will cite this source in my research project to support my argument about the general perception of the concepts of masculinity and patriarchy by the protagonist.

Kiran, A., & Pareek, S. (2022). Narrativizing patriarchy within the framework of Things Fall Apart. Specialusis Ugdymas, 1 (43), 8519-8528.

Kiran and Pareek analyze the patriarchal patterns in the Ibo community depicted in the novel. In particular, researchers focus on how the patriarchal structure of society influenced the distribution of dominant roles. Using the example of Okonkwo and his wives, Kiran and Pareek demonstrate how these dominant roles can be embodied in traditional African culture. Researchers also conclude that society predisposes men to act under specific patterns. I will use the results presented in the source to understand the nature of the patriarchy illustrated in the novel better.

Ngendahayo, J. D. (2021). The protagonist’s masculine perceptions in Things Fall Apart as the sign of Igbo society breakup. Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics(JLLL ), 75 , 5-10.

Like Kiran and Pareek (2022), Ngendahayo (2021) focuses on the role of women in the society depicted in the novel. The research focuses on defining gender roles in the community and how the protagonist perceives it. Ngendahayo focuses on how Okonkwo understands the concept of a man as a husband. This approach helps better understand the Ibo community’s social structure and how radical and brutal Okonkwo is in his views. In addition, the article touches on the topic of confrontation between the indigenous African tribes and the British colonialists, which is also of great importance for my future research. Ngendahayo notes that despite the difference in views, the approaches to solving situations between people of the clan and missionaries have standard features. Thus, the results of this study will help me establish how different the traditional and innovative Roma society is. In addition, I will use this source to support my argument that the missionaries and Okonkwo had similarities despite their apparent differences.

Chinua, A. (1959). Things fall apart. [eBook edition]. Anchor Books.

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Masculinity in Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a groundbreaking African novel that gives insight into the complex and frequently controversial concepts of masculinity and gender roles within an Ibo culture. The novel tells the story of Okonkwo, a proud and enormously respected member of the Ibo tribe who is deeply rooted in subculture and culture. As the novel progresses, Okonkwo’s experience of masculinity and his region inside his tribe and society is challenged and examined by the arrival of Christianity. The novel explores the typical thought of masculinity inside the Ibo subculture and how the arrival of Christianity challenges it. In the usual Igbo culture, masculinity is described through strength, power, and domination. Okonkwo is viewed as an image of this traditional masculinity and is revered for his energy and courage. He is now not afraid to take the danger and is unafraid to challenge those who oppose him. His power and courage are often considered a source of pleasure and respect inside the tribe.

However, when Christianity arrives in the Ibo tribe, Okonkwo’s feel of masculinity is challenged and tested. The Christian missionaries deliver a distinct notion of masculinity based on peace and humility. This new concept of masculinity is in stark distinction to the common Ibo masculine beliefs of strength and power. This new concept of masculinity conflicts with Okonkwo’s sense of identification and place within his tribe and society. Throughout the novel, Okonkwo is compelled to confront his inside conflict between his normal thought of masculinity and the new Christian notion of masculinity. He faces reconciling the two concepts and discovering his region inside his tribe and society. In the end, Okonkwo cannot reconcile the two principles, and his experience of masculinity is destroyed.

Things Fall Apart is a vital novel presenting a perception of the complicated and frequently controversial standards of masculinity and gender roles within an Ibo culture. The novel explores the standard concept of masculinity and how it is challenged and examined with the aid of the arrival of Christianity. Through Okonkwo’s hostilities to reconcile the two standards and locate his region within his tribe and society, the novel gives a vital lesson about the strength of identity and the significance of the perception of exclusive cultures.

Okonkwo’s masculinity is a source of pride and admiration among the Ibo people. He is a leader, a warrior, and a provider, and these characteristics are exceedingly valued with the aid of the Ibo people. His masculinity is rooted in the thinking of power and the potential to provide. He believes that energy and braveness are the most necessary features for a man to possess, and he strives to embody them in his actions. He is a self-made man, having labored tough to become one of the most respected and feared men in the Umuofia clan. He values challenging work and expects identical from his household and tribe. Okonkwo’s masculinity is also defined by his aversion to emotion and his ability to remain stoic in adversity. He is a man of few words; however, his phrases raise an exquisite deal of weight when he speaks. He is a man of action, not words, and can take decisive motion when necessary. He also no longer shows any emotion, as emotion signals a weak spot in the Ibo culture. This stoic nature approves Okonkwo to remain strong in the face of adversity and take integral steps to guard his household and tribe.

Okonkwo’s masculinity is a source of electricity and delight amongst the Ibo people. He is an example of how a man has to behave, and his instance is used to train the younger generations of Ibo guys on the importance of strength, courage, and difficult work. He symbolizes power and balance in the Ibo culture, and his masculinity is something to be admired. Okonkwo’s masculinity is an instance of how a man has to live his life. He values energy and challenging work and expects equality from his family and tribe. He does not show emotion now and is rapid in taking decisive motion when necessary. He is an image of electricity and steadiness in the Ibo culture, and his masculinity is something to be admired. Okonkwo’s masculinity is a supply of delight and admiration among the Ibo people and is a testament to his power and courage.

The arrival of Christianity in Umuofia was a major cultural shift for the tribe. Before the arrival of Christianity, the guys of Umuofia were anticipated to display strength, dominance, and courage. These were exceedingly valued qualities in the tribe and have been seen as the defining characteristics of a precise man. Okonkwo, the protagonist of Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, is an ideal example of this traditional view of masculinity. His friends admire him as a sturdy and effective man for his electricity and courage. However, the arrival of Christianity brings with it a new set of gender roles and expectations for the men of the tribe. Christianity presents a complete view of masculinity based on compassion and appreciation as an alternative to strength and dominance. This new view of masculinity is in stark distinction to Okonkwo’s regular view and affords a tough project for him to accept and embrace.

The Christian missionaries promote a view of masculinity based on humility, gentleness, and mercy. This starkly contrasts Okonkwo’s view of masculinity, which is based totally on energy and dominance. The missionaries also undertake Okonkwo’s standard appreciation of gender roles. They argue that guys and ladies are equal and be treated as such. This is difficult thinking for Okonkwo to be given and understand, as he has been raised to accept as true that men are top of the line to women. The Christian view of masculinity provides a hard challenge for Okonkwo and the other guys of the tribe. They have to figure out whether or not to be given the new view of masculinity or hold to the ordinary view they have recognized for generations. Ultimately, Okonkwo cannot take delivery of the new view of masculinity, and he struggles to reconcile the two views. He is unwilling to be given that there is a unique view of masculinity, and he finally chooses to hold onto the ordinary view of masculinity.

Despite the assignment posed via the Christian view of masculinity, the arrival of Christianity in Umuofia, in the end, has an advantageous effect on the tribe. The Christian view of masculinity encourages the guys of the tribe to be compassionate and understanding, traits that are indispensable for a prosperous and harmonious society. The Christian view of masculinity also encourages the men of the tribe to treat girls with admiration and to value them as equal participants in society. This is a nice step forward for the tribe and helps convey a more harmonious and just society.

Okonkwo’s conflict to reconcile the normal and the present day is further problematic using his interior warfare to hold his sense of Okonkwo’s trip of struggle to reconcile the typical and the modern forms a main part of the novel Things Fall Apart via Chinua Achebe. This is a ride of internal conflict. Okonkwo is forced to confront the reality that his typical view of masculinity may no longer be gorgeous daily in his society. Okonkwo’s normal view of masculinity is based on the concept that men should be strong, brave, and unafraid of taking risks. This usual view of masculinity is at odds with the new values of the Christian missionaries who have come to Umuofia. The missionaries price education, humility, and kindness, values that are now not in line with the ordinary view of masculinity that Okonkwo holds dear. He is compelled to confront the truth that his usual view of masculinity may no longer be suitable or usual in his society. Okonkwo’s battle to reconcile the usual and the cutting-edge finally leads to his downfall. It is a cautionary tale of the dangers of clinging too tightly to outdated notions of masculinity.

Things Fall Apart explains the complicated and often controversial principles of masculinity and gender roles within the Ibo culture. Through the story of Okonkwo, Achebe presents a glimpse into the struggles of reconciling typical and modern views of masculinity and the challenges of retaining one’s feel of identification and area within a changing society. The novel serves as a reminder that common views of masculinity may also not constantly be terrific or typical in the cutting-edge world and that we must be open to trade and new ways of thinking.

Chinua, A. (2021). Things fall apart.

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Patriarchy and Masculinity in “Things Fall Apart”

Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” is a thought-provoking masterpiece that explores various themes, including the role of patriarchy and masculinity in Igbo society. Set in pre-colonial Nigeria, the novel presents a complex portrayal of these concepts and challenges readers to question long-held assumptions about gender and power. In this blog post, we will delve into the intertwined themes of patriarchy and masculinity in “Things Fall Apart,” examining their impact on the characters and society portrayed in the book.

The Patriarchal Structure of Igbo Society

At the heart of “Things Fall Apart” lies a deeply patriarchal society. In the Igbo culture, men hold the reins of power, while women are relegated to subservient roles. The title itself suggests the fragile nature of masculinity when faced with cultural upheaval. Okonkwo, the novel’s protagonist, embodies the stereotypical ideal of masculinity in Igbo society – strong, dominant, and fiercely independent. However, his adherence to these cultural norms becomes his tragic flaw, ultimately leading to his downfall.

The Pressure to Conform to Masculine Ideals

From a young age, Okonkwo is groomed to embrace stereotypical masculine traits. He is taught that strength and aggression are assets, and any sign of weakness is a blemish on his honor. This societal pressure pushes Okonkwo to adopt an overly macho persona, shunning any form of vulnerability or tenderness. As a result, his relationships become strained, and he struggles to maintain genuine connections with his wives and children.

The Suppression of Femininity

With patriarchy comes the suppression of femininity, which is evident throughout “Things Fall Apart.” Women are confined to domestic roles, expected to bear children, cook, and maintain the household. They are often silenced and treated as property, with no agency when it comes to decision-making. This suppression of femininity perpetuates an imbalance of power and prevents the growth and progress of Igbo society.

Exciting Topic: Symbolism in Things Fall Apart

The Role of Women in Challenging the Patriarchy

While “Things Fall Apart” primarily focuses on masculinity, it also highlights the resilience and strength of women in challenging the patriarchal norms. Characters like Ezinma and Ekwefi defy societal expectations, displaying intelligence, courage, and independence. Their actions disrupt the established order and provide glimpses of a more equitable society.

The Conflict Between Traditional and Colonial Masculinities

The arrival of European colonialism in “Things Fall Apart” introduces a clash between traditional Igbo masculinity and the ideals imported by the colonizers. The white man’s presence challenges the authority of the Igbo men, creating a crisis of identity and purpose. Some characters, like Okonkwo, view the colonial influence as emasculating and threatening, further driving them to cling onto traditional masculine values.

Colonialism as a Catalyst for Change

Although the introduction of colonialism disrupts Igbo society, it also offers an opportunity for reevaluating and redefining gender roles. The colonizers bring with them a different set of masculine ideals that could potentially subvert the existing patriarchal structure. Some Igbo men, like Nwoye, recognize the limitations of their traditional masculinity and find solace in the new perspectives presented by the colonial influences.

The Fallout of Patriarchy and Masculinity

Throughout the novel, we witness the devastating consequences of a society built on patriarchy and strict adherence to masculine norms. The suppression of emotions leads to an inability to cope with change, resulting in violence and oppressive behavior. Okonkwo’s relentless pursuit of masculinity isolates him from his loved ones, ultimately leading to his tragic downfall. This serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the destructive nature of unchecked patriarchy.

“Things Fall Apart” presents a complex tapestry of patriarchy and masculinity in pre-colonial Igbo society. Achebe invites us to critically examine these themes, challenging our preconceived notions of power and gender roles. The novel’s exploration of the consequences of rigid masculinity serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and empathy in shaping a more equitable society. If we are to avoid the downfall portrayed in “Things Fall Apart,” we must recognize the limitations of patriarchal systems and work towards embracing diverse expressions of gender and identity.

With its timeless themes and thought-provoking narrative, “Things Fall Apart” continues to resonate with readers around the world. Achebe’s masterful storytelling forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, privilege, and the often-damaging effects of patriarchal systems. By engaging with this novel and reflecting on its messages, we can contribute to the ongoing dialogue on gender equality and challenge the societal norms that hold us back.

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Things Fall Apart: Theme & Key Quotes: Masculinity

Things fall apart: theme & key quotes: masculinity, theme: masculinity, definition and overview.

Masculinity is a central theme in Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’, and it is closely tied to the protagonist Okonkwo’s identity and view of the world.
Masculinity in the novel is often linked to strength, aggression, and stoicism . Emotional display or any form of perceived ‘weakness’ is considered unmanly in Okonkwo’s society.
The societal standards of masculinity in Umuofia have a deep impact on characters, driving their actions and decisions throughout the novel.

“Okonkwo told him that it was the male child’s right to give his name to his father. That was why such a child was called ‘Nwoye’, Father’s Belonging.”

This quote establishes the traditional father-son relationship in Umuofia society, reinforcing patriarchal ideals and the importance placed on a male heir.

“The world has no time for cowards. When a man shuts his eyes and begins to quiver, the world moves on, leaving him behind.”

Okonkwo reflects on the demands of bravery in his society. The quote highlights his belief that masculinity is tied to fearlessness and challenges, and that anyone who cannot meet these demands would be left behind.

“No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man.”

Here, masculinity is linked with the ability to control and rule , especially over women. Okonkwo views control as a fundamental aspect of manliness, reflecting the deeply ingrained gender hierarchies in his society.

“He heard Ikemefuna cry, ‘My father, they have killed me!’ as he ran towards him. Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak.”

This tragic scene shows Okonkwo’s fear of appearing weak overpowering his affection for Ikemefuna. It stresses the destructive effects of the societal standards of masculinity in the novel.

Studying these aspects of masculinity in ‘Things Fall Apart’ can enrich your understanding of the novel’s character development, social dynamics, and overriding themes. Looking at how each character deals with these ingrained expectations can provide deeper insight into Achebe’s perspective and critique of these norms.

“ Masculinity” in Things Fall Apart

An igby prize essay by nidhi singh on achebe’s things fall apart and its flawed idea of masculinity that defined the life of its hero okonkwo.

The Kalahari Review

Kalahari Review

What Achebe accomplishes with Things Fall Apart is exemplary. He renders the “wild and passionate uproar” of the “savages”, as described by Marlow in Heart of Darkness , with meaning. He assimilates their rites into the realm of orderly complexity, strong tradition, a vibrant culture which gives a beautiful recognition to humanity’s relationship with nature. He tells us of the unremitting hard work invested by them in agriculture, their proud self-sufficiency, and the fascinating mix of folklore, dance and music which breathes an imaginative vigour in the everyday life and celebrations of Igbo society. Hegel’s declaration of the characteristic point of Negro life as being devoid of that realisation “in which the interest of man’s volition is involved and in which he realises his own being” seems preposterous as Achebe documents the organisation of life in a society in which “a man was judged according to his and not according to the worth of his father” — a principle only the most sophisticated societies can hold to. The other important aspect of Achebe’s documentation is that it is honest and neutral, it doesn’t glorify and it doesn’t diminish. This is the strength of his narrative which humanises the ‘dehumanised’ — he never looks away from the degeneration that festers within, he never fails to spot the weak linings that threaten to turn into fissures which would split wide open the whole structure. Achebe’s portrayal of the Igbo society is hard-hitting because it is intensely human — there are societal forces shaping the individual, there are imperfections in the hero it idolises, there is violence and injustice that is normalised and overlooked. Achebe never looks past the imperfections and never offers any deliverance. Because, these are things which are not within his bounds — Igbo society bristles with life and decomposes as any society would, which battles the invasion of colonialism while harbouring sinister limitations. One of the major limitations of the Igbo society is its flawed idea of masculinity which defines the life of Okonkwo who, perhaps unconsciously but perpetually, exerts to align himself with the socially sanctioned concept of ‘heroism’ and ‘masculinity’. Okonkwo’s life is dominated primarily by two things: “the fear of failure and of weakness”, and his quest to establish himself as one of the greatest men of his clan. What is posited against this idea of weakness is the idea of strength that constructs itself only with the negation of sensitivity: “To show affection was a sign of weakness — the only thing worth demonstrating was strength. He therefore treated Ikemefuna as he treated everybody else — with a heavy hand.” Such construction of strength and masculinity, thus, is in opposition with the values of love, kindness, compassion and it invalidates an environment in which these values could mature and develop. It puts a huge limitation on the individual and his self-exploration because the end of any such journey has been pre-decided. Okonkwo, as a small boy, has already settled on what he wants to and what he doesn’t want to become. There are no alternatives considered, no mutability allowed. Okonkwo, perhaps “is not a cruel man”, but what propels most of his actions is not the presence of an unapologetic cruelty, but the readiness with which he overcomes each of these emotions — the potency of his desire to “tremble and subdue” puts down his kindness and compassion. A man’s life so constituted by ruthless masculinity and a desire for success in his society, calls into question the dictatorial values of the whole society — because his manhood is the function of the latter. Igbo society seems to believe in the ‘maleness’ and ‘femaleness’ of people, things, and actions. The latter is considered extremely undesirable in context of the former and there is a constant attempt to distance the two. The idea of bravery and heroism emanates from an accomplishment attained by overcoming of the ‘feminine’ by the ‘masculine’, the ‘passive’ by the ‘active’, ‘demonstration of affection’ by ‘apathy’, ‘domestic folklore’ by ‘the stories of war’. This is how masculinity in Igbo society is understood and defined — in a constant opposition with femininity, by keeping maleness in a domain separate from all things apprehended as female. The only realm in which the feminine is respected, its power recognised, and its voice heard is the realm of divinity — the earth goddess of fertility, the motherland which protects its warrior son in adverse times, the prophetic priestess of Agbala. In ordinary life, the priestess of Agbala, is “a widow with two children” who puts everyone into disbelief by being someone deific and prophetic in another realm. In ordinary life and in the local space, the woman loses the voice and agency she has in the orbit of divinity. This is in stark contrast, with men functioning as ‘egwugwu’, the spirits of the ancestors. If it is suspected that Okonkwo could be one of the egwugwu behind the mask, it is never expressed because, “if they thought these things they kept them within themselves”. The contradiction in the idea of a man’s participation in the realm of divinity and his ordinariness in life isn’t questioned but the same circumstances when applied to a woman are met with incredulity. The rigid separation of ‘maleness’ and ‘femaleness’ in the Igbo society produces a constant duality which is never resolved and that weakens its strength from within. Storytelling has a central place in Igbo society. It is an integral part of the everyday Igbo life, of everyone’s experience of childhood and growing up. Nwoye has a great love for the stories of his mother and Ikemefuna. They tell him of the quarrel between the earth and sky, the disagreement between “a man and a mosquito”, “of the tortoise and his wily ways”. He is also introduced to Okonkwo’s stories which are “masculine stories of violence and bloodshed”. His mother’s stories are gradually discarded in favour of his father’s masculine stories because he is made to understand that it is a part of growing up, his initiation into manhood — this relegation of the feminine. But it has also been stated how “he feigned that he no longer cared for women’s stories”. This leads to a perpetual duality, a chasm in the self and its wholesome flourishing. The feminine stories more beautifully and harmoniously integrate humanity with nature. They are more in line with the communitarian values of Igbo society and the animism of its religion — a reminder of how life exists not just inside the territory of man and his associations, a gentle acceptance of the difference and discord that is inherent in such a framework. This is contradictory to the masculine stories which are based on tales of brute force and decimation. The exclusion of Nwoye from this world of stories, takes away from him the power of language and expression, the ability to articulate the “vague chill” that descends on him when he “heard the voice of an infant crying in the thick forest”. It takes away from him the power to express pain and fear, the power to identify and speak against evil and injustice. It is an ailment that plagues not just Nwoye but the whole Igbo society — it handicaps language and expression. It deforms personalities. One of the major reasons why the Igbo society was unable to protect its culture, traditions and religion from missionaries and colonialism was its rigid conception of masculinity. Christianity assimilated everything that was considered odious, cancerous, throwaway by the Igbos — the outcast osus, women who had been the most compromising victims of patriarchy, and tortured souls like Nwoye who finally found a space which gave voice for the criticism of sinister practices. Everything that was broken, battered and overridden by the obsessive exaltation of masculinity, found a space to accumulate and build up. The Igbo society failed to recognise the cracks within. It failed to remedy its diseased state and reinvent. It never relented its grasp on individuals like Okonkwo who grew, lived and got distorted in its calcified cell.

Nidhi Singh lives in Bangalore, India. She studied English literature at the University of Delhi and was a Fulbright FLTA at Ohio University. She loves African literature and feels most fulfilled as a person when she reads or writes. Someday, she will visit Africa.

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Okonkwo Between Two Worlds: Investigation of Masculine/Feminine Binaries in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

In Chinua Achebe's masterpiece of the destructive forces of colonial conquest in Africa, "Things Fall Apart", Okonkwo is driven to control his family and achieve power through fear and violence; using his masculinity to destroy any signs of femininity in his sons. Ironically, in the end, Okonkwo is reduced to a feminine status by the British colonizers that overthrow his power with fear and violence as well, leaving him stripped of power and his masculinity - transformed into what he feared most: of becoming effeminate and powerless like a woman and like his father -who he resented and was ashamed of.

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Purwarno Purwarno

This essay is an attempt to a deconstructive interpretation of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe's " Things Fall Apart ". It begins by reviewing literary comments on Chinua Achebe and later dovetails an explication of the meaning of deconstruction as a way of enabling to grapple with the realities of this post structuralist critical formulation. This essay observes that Okonkwo is not only a brutal cannibal but also a barbarian. This refers to the backdrop of his penchant for killing as shown in the novel. This opinion is buttressed by Okonkwo's ruthless habit of drinking from his first human head, which is a tilled smack of cannibalism. Based on the theory of deconstruction, it concludes that the scientific reading relies only on the text which functions as the real mirror of society which literature is all about.

Farhana Bukhari

All African writings, specially novels, are at once literary pieces, a social protest and a medium of political reassertion. The African writings portray the post-colonial African reality in all its varied colours and texture. Writers like Chinua Achebe, in their works, have delineated the characters of their fictional heroes as leaders of the struggle against colonial and neocolonial forces stubbornly obstructing the process of social regeneration and political nativization. Literature occurs under the glow of certain socio-phychological impacts upon the author. Chinua Achebe confirms the validity of this observation most forcefully in the sense that his novels faithfully mirrors the post-colonial colours that shadow the hopes and aspirations of the community that he belongs to. The present paper attempts a critique of post-colonial discourse of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. The cross-currents that enrich the texture of the novel consists of the emergence of neo-colonialism along with the lingering shadows of old colonialism, the resistance of the post-colonial struggle of maintaining the native originality on the one hand obsessional hand washing of the old tyranny on the other, the agony of the exile, the longings of diasporic looking back into once own native past, the emotional trauma of being a witness to the structure of one's own dream falling apart and, above all, the agony of one's being misunderstood by one's own kith and kin. The post-colonial milieu of the novel Things Fall Apart finds a poignant treatment by Booth James, in such a way that the readers feel the true spirit of the post-colonial ways of life. It is relevant to reproduce the observation of Booth James regarding the post-colonial shadows that cover the efficacy of the Nigerian progress and development ; With the six years of independence Nigeria was a cesspool of corruption. Public servants helped themselves freely to the nation's wealth … Elections were blatantly rigged… The national census was outrageously stage-managed; Judges and magistrates themselves were manipulated and corrupted by foreign business interest. 1 The literary construction of post-colonialism within the force of a novelistic discourse produces the necessity of fore grounding of the quests for identities, the voices of resistance and the conditioned mind of the subjugated swinging between it's innocent individual learning and the compulsive obligations of the social expectations. To set the thesis initially, it would be proper to quote the following conceptualizations of post colonial conditions by Homi Bhabha ; … a range of contemporary critical theories suggests that it is from those who have suffered the sentence of history, subjugation, domination, diaspora, displacement-that we learn our most enduring lessons for living and thinking. There is even a growing conviction that the affective experience of social marginality… transforms our critical strategies. 2 Achebe views the novel as an exercise in self discovery. It is through writing, he believes, that an African can determine and establish his identity by exploring and rediscovering his roots. This reflexing and self defining nature of the novel is singularly important to post-colonial writers who have been confronting an erosion of their traditional values owing to the overpowering exposure to European culture which has already made insidious advances upon the native way of life and local customs, modes and habits in many countries. Things Fall Apart is a typical Igloo novel which describes Okonkwo's rise and fall. He was well known throughout the 'nine villages and even beyond.' 3 (p.3) His greatest achievement at the age of eighteen was 'throwing Amalinze the Cat.' Amalinze, the great Wrestler was called the cat because his back would never touch the earth. But Okonkwo threw the cat at last. It was said that Okonkwo never used his words, when he was angry he used his fists instead. His father Unoka owed every neighbor some money, from a few cowries to quite substantial amounts. In the first part of the novel various ceremonies of the triables are narrated. From the very beginning of the first part, Okonkwo's place in the Iglo society is highlighted. It is Okonkwo's will, determination and boldness which take him to the rank of one of the lords of the clan. He is a prosperous man, one who is acclaimed by the nine villages as a great warrior. In one year the harvest was unsatisfactory A farmer committed suicide in Okonkwo's village but Okonkwo tried not to lose his head. His

Andy Ukpong

The African people have varying behaviours, mannerisms, beliefs, thought patterns and way of interaction and all of these differences formed their culture and impacted their way of life. However, with the coming of the Europeans to Africa came cultural infiltration, pollution as well as alteration. This research analyses Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart (1958) from the angle of masculinity and culture clash (traditional vs. western) as brought about by westernisation. The method of investigation is analytical and descriptive, using the formalist approach: that is looking at the actions, events, sentences and interactions of the characters in order to identify and discuss how males are portrayed, paying attention to issues of cultural realism, behaviours, actions and statements of the characters. The findings of the research confirmed that African viewpoint of masculinity and culture tends to be opposed to that of the Europeans, as the actions and behaviours appropriate to a man in each society tend to differ. This led to different clashes from religious, cultural, ideological, to social beliefs. The research reached the conclusion that cultural clashes exist in the work and contributed to the final play-out of the story, where the traditional belief system had to make way for western ones; making things (cultural beliefs) fall apart. The research reveals that the male characters have both cultural and individual masculine idiosyncrasies and that the complexities of male roles confirm the pluralistic and slippery nature of masculinity.

International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation (IJLLT)

Being a postcolonial narrative, Things Fall Apart experiences a wide critical acclaim. From the pen of Chinua Achebe, the Igbo cultural complexity has come into being a theme that opens up a historical account of the clash of two cultures. Okonkwo, a very well-known public figure in his community falls under the threat of a new culture brought by the white missionaries preaching the gospels of the Christianity. After the arrival of the Christian culture, the first collision that takes place is the division at the individual, and then at the societal levels. When a number of the Igbo people, including Okonkwo's son, change their religion, it creates chaos and confusions throughout the community. Although the Igbo people have a well-established way of life, the Europeans do not understand. That is why they show no respect to the cultural practices of the Igbo people. What Achebe delivers in the novel is that Africans are not savages and their societies are not mindless. The things fall apart because Okonkwo fails at the end to take his people back to the culture they all shared once. The sentiments the whites show to the blacks regarding the Christianity clearly recap the slave treatment the blacks were used to receive from the whites in the past. Achebe shows that the picture of the Africans portrayed in literature and histories are not real, but the picture was seen through the eyes of the Europeans. Consequently, Okonkwo hangs himself when he finds his established rules and orders are completely exiled by his own people and when he sees Igbo looses its honor by falling apart.

Adegbite Tobalase

The African people are a unique race, different in colour, behaviour, mannerism, beliefs, thought patterns and way of interaction; all of these formed their culture and way of life. However, with the coming of the Europeans to Africa came cultural infiltration, pollution as well as alteration. This research analyses Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart from the angle of masculinity and culture clash (traditional vs. western) as brought about by westernisation. The African viewpoint of masculinity and culture tends to contrast that of the European, as the actions and behaviours appropriate to a man in each society tend to differ. This led to different clashes from religious, cultural, ideological, to social beliefs. The research reached the conclusion that cultural clashes exist in the work and contributed to the final play-out of the story, where the traditional belief system had to make way for western ones, making things (cultural beliefs) to fall apart.

Mikaela Anne Laxa

This paper will focus on analyzing one of the factors that contributed to the European’s success in taking over their society, which is the Igbo’s treatment of women. That is to say, I will be talking about the different kinds of injustices towards women in the novel, Things Fall Apart which are primarily: silencing, physical abuse, and removal of autonomy. These three things are the main elements that actively contributes to the marginalization of women, and I argue that precisely this marginalization of women becomes one of the catalysts in the whites’ colonization over their society. And so, this paper will first discuss those injustices, as well as where they are explicitly shown in the novel, and then explain how it influenced the process of subjugation of Okonkwo’s people by the missionaries.

Andrew Bula

Suhair Fuaad Hajo

A first reading of the novel reveals the fact that what fall apart in Things fall apart are Igbo’s cultures and traditions. Accordingly a lot of readings have been done on the novel with almost similar disclosures; considering it as a postcolonial novel and as Achebe’s response to the white racism embedded in European literature, which presented Africa as a primitive and socially retrograde nation. Hence, reading Things Fall Apart from a new and distinct perspective with the aid of trances from reader response criticism, this study aims to answer the question of; what really falls apart (in Things Fall Apart) and how? Through a close and transactional reading of the novel this study demonstrates that Igbo’s culture and religion didn’t fall apart but changed and in fact, what falls apart in Things Fall Apart is Okonkwo, the protagonist of the novel. By studying and comparing his conducts, before and after killing Ikemefona it reveals that his mortal sin parts him beyond the limits of his cultural conventions, in the process of gaining his individual purposes, which later leads to his downfall.

pradip behera

Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics(JLLL)

Jean Damascene Ngendahayo

Things Fall Apart (TFA) is the novel written and published by Chinua Achebe in 1958 for recounting all social and cultural life and beliefs as well as the arrival of British Colonizers in the Igbo society of Nigeria. This paper aims at identifying the effects of the protagonist’s masculine perception in Things Fall Apart as the sign of Igbo society breakup. Okonkwo, the protagonist of the TFA is said in the whole novel and his different behaviors are still analyzed until now. This study elucidates the Okonkwo’s resistance against the British colonizers where he refuses to submit himself to them after slaying their messenger and prefers to die as a man by hanging himself, the act the Igbo society consider like an abomination. Along with that, the research analyzes how much Okonkwo scorns the women by considering them like weak people. Based on the analytical findings, this research reveals how his masculine perceptions portray the breakup of Igbo society socially and culturally as it has been noticed from TFA where he often blames those who behave like a woman among his clan members. The protagonist’s suicide openly exhibits the end of traditional Igbo society for the benefit of the British colonizers.

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Bearing Witness, With Words

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By Dwight Garner

March 22, 2013

“If you don’t like someone’s story,” Chinua Achebe told The Paris Review in 1994, “write your own.”

In his first novel and masterpiece, “Things Fall Apart” (1958), Mr. Achebe, who died on Thursday at 82, did exactly that. In calm and exacting prose, he examined a tribal society fracturing under the abuses of colonialism. The novel has been assigned to generations of American high school and college students — my college dispatched a copy to me before my freshman year.

In many respects “Things Fall Apart” is the “To Kill A Mockingbird” of African literature: accessible but stinging, its layers peeling over the course of multiple readings.

“Things Fall Apart,” its title taken from William Butler Yeats’s poem “The Second Coming,” has sold more than 10 million copies and been translated into some 45 languages. Time magazine placed it on its list of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005.

The novel tells the story of Okonkwo, a stoic clan leader and former wrestling hero who returns to his village after seven years in exile. (He’d been sent away after his role in an accidental death.) The changes that Christian missionaries and other white men have brought are intolerable to him. “Things Fall Apart” rolls toward a bleak denouement.

What sticks with you about the novel is its sensitive investigation, often through folk tales, of how culture functions and what it means. Mr. Achebe (his name is pronounced CHIN-you-ah Ah-CHAY-bay) had plenty to say about notions of traditional masculinity, as well, not to mention his braided observations about nature, religion, myth, gender and history.

The novelist grabbed the subject of colonialism “so firmly and fairly,” John Updike wrote in The New Yorker in the 1970s, “that the book’s tragedy, like Greek tragedy, felt tonic; a space had been cleared, an understanding had been achieved, a new beginning was implied.”

Growing up in Nigeria, Mr. Achebe attended schools that were modeled upon British public schools. In his recent book of essays, “The Education of a British-Protected Child” (2009), he was eloquent about what it felt like as a young man to read classic English novels. They provided a cognitive dissonance he had to work through.

“I did not see myself as an African in those books,” he wrote. “I took sides with the white men against the savages.” He continued: “The white man was good and reasonable and smart and courageous. The savages arrayed against him were sinister and stupid, never anything higher than cunning. I hated their guts.”

Mr. Achebe grew up, and grew wiser: “These writers had pulled a fast one on me! I was not on Marlowe’s boat steaming up the Congo in ‘Heart of Darkness’; rather, I was one of those unattractive beings jumping up and down on the riverbank, making horrid faces.”

Mr. Achebe was a poet, professor, short-story writer and critic in addition to being a novelist. His more than 30 other books include the novels “No Longer At Ease” (1960) and “Anthills of the Savannah” (1987). He published several children’s books. He was also the author, controversially, of an essay called “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness.’ ”

While many critics defended Conrad, Mr. Achebe didn’t back down from his assertion that the racism in Conrad was not merely the norm for its time. In a book of essays he quoted earlier writers who, he said, were less backward.

Mr. Achebe was a mentor and role model to a generation of African writers — he’s often referred to as the father of modern African writing. But like many novelists who find success with an early book, Mr. Achebe found himself almost solely defined by “Things Fall Apart.” He spent the last two decades in the United States, teaching at Bard College and then Brown University.

It’s been more than 50 years since the publication of Mr. Achebe’s pioneering and canonical novel; it no longer seems to stand, to a Western audience at any rate, for African writing as a whole. His talent and success have helped spawn an array of postcolonial writing from across the continent. Among the talented young Nigerian writers alone who cite him as an influence are Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani and Lola Shoneyin.

In 1990 Mr. Achebe was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident in Nigeria. The following year he gave an interview to Bradford Morrow in Conjunctions magazine.

Mr. Morrow asked him about the accident, and Mr. Achebe spoke about it with stoicism and good humor. “Children are born deformed,” he said. “What crime did they commit? I’ve been very lucky. I walked for 60 years. So what does it matter that I can’t for my last few years. There are people who never walked at all.”

“Things Fall Apart” is, at base, about the strength that human beings find in community. His car accident offered him similar lessons. “It is an opportunity,” Mr. Achebe told Mr. Morrow. “It’s a lesson. It’s so much. It is an enrichment. I’ve learned so much. I’ve learned how much we depend on each other.”

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Masculinity in Societies in Things Fall Apart

Examining the representation of masculinity in ‘Things Fall Apart’. This essay will delve into Achebe’s depiction of Igbo society’s gender roles and expectations, and how the protagonist’s perception of masculinity influences his actions and the narrative. You can also find more related free essay samples at PapersOwl about Chinua Achebe.

How it works

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold explore the theme of violent masculinity through the actions of major characters such as Okonkwo and the Vicario twins. Achebe’s Okonkwo displays his masculinity by obtaining titles and accomplishments and hiding his emotions. Marquez’s Vicario twins validate their masculinity by murdering the man responsible for dishonoring their sister. While both authors make violent masculinity a core component of their characterization of Okonkwo and the Vicario twins as individuals, the broader societies in which these characters live encourage violent masculinity quite differently.

Whereas Okonkwo’s society encourages his moments of masculine violence, the Vicario twins’ society discourages masculine violence by attempting to stop the story’s most violent act before it happens.

In Okonkwo’s society, when a man is feeling a strong emotion such as sadness, they can’t express it due to the pressure the society puts on them to maintain their masculinity. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the characters in a society that encourages men to present themselves as strong and serious with no emotions. After killing his son Ikemefuna, “Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna … His eyes were red and fierce … He did not sleep at night …” (Achebe 44). Okonkwo is feeling conflicted after killing Ikemefuna to maintain his masculinity. This action has affected him causing him to be emotionally broken. However, instead of succumbing to his feelings, Okonkwo attempts to hold his masculinity in check. He does this by spending time alone to make sure no one sees him. This suggests that the society Okonkwo lives in is very strict about how a man should present himself in public. It implies that any weakness after committing a violent act to maintain his masculinity is viewed as unacceptable.

In this same society, men are encouraged to commit violent masculine acts as a way to avoid being called woman-like. After feeling a deep amount of sadness, Okonkwo is disappointed at himself for allowing to his emotions get the better of him. The novel has him wonder “‘When did you become a shivering old woman’ … ‘you are known in all the nine villages for your valor in war. How can a man who has killed five men in battle fall to pieces because he has added a boy to their number? Okonkwo, you have become a woman indeed’” (Achebe 45). In this scene, Okonkwo is disappointed in himself for not being able to get past the death of Ikemefuna and that he also expressed his emotions. In this story’s society, this is viewed as woman-like for a man to show any sort of emotion. If they were to show it, men would be looked down upon and not referred to as men. This idea motivates all men, including Okonkwo, that they must be viewed as strong and powerful. Any form of weakness is shameful to a man and is woman-like.

In Things Fall Apart, society pushes men to prove their violent masculinity by obtaining titles. The novel states that “His [Okonkwo’s] life had been ruled by a great passion – to become one of the lords of the clan. That had been his life-spring. And he had all but achieved it” (Achebe 92). Okonkwo believes that his masculinity is not only represented with strength but also through the titles he gains. Okonkwo devoted his time in doing so. However, when he was exiled, Okonkwo felt like he had nothing. Society puts such a big emphasis on titles and strength to obtain masculinity that any form of failure takes a huge toll on a man. To preserve their masculinity, men such as Okonkwo will do anything to prove it and failing is not an option for them.

The idea of having titles to prove one’s masculinity is reinforced when discussing Okonkwo’s father, Unoka. The novel describes Okonkwo’s relationship with Unoka as “With a father like Unoka, Okonkwo did not inherit the start in life which many young men had. He inherited neither a barn nor title and not even, a young wife” (Achebe 13). Unoka is viewed as weak and lacking masculinity. He had no title which affected Okonkwo’s status as a man after the death of Unoka. Due to this experience, Okonkwo now believes that society only accepts those who are strong and have titles and a respectable position in their community. Okonkwo had to make his own living and not rely on his father for any sort of help. After accomplishing this task, Okonkwo soon became “… a wealthy farmer and had two barns full of yams … to crown it all he had taken two titles and had shown incredible prowess in two inter-tribal wars” (Achebe 6). Okonkwo pushed to gain titles and strength due to society’s belief that this is an excellent way to uphold one’s masculinity. In this society, this accomplishment is viewed as masculine and is respected by other men who hold titles.

Like Things Fall Apart, Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold details a society that demands a certain kind of masculinity from its male inhabitants. In the novella, the character Prudencia Cotes comments on her soon-to-be husband Pablo Vicario’s actions. “… ‘I never would have married him if he hadn’t done what a man should do” (Marquez 62). Prudencia Cotes believes that Pablo was right in displaying his masculinity. If he had not done so, Prudencia would not have married him. This suggests that there is an expectation to be met. This expectation can be met through violence similar to the way that Okonkwo resorts to violence in Things Fall Apart. This consumes the male characters in the novel to meet the expectation of honor that they would even do something as dangerous as commit murder.

The society where the Vicario twins live encourages men to validate their masculinity by taking on violent tasks. In Chronicle of a Death Foretold, there is a quote that discusses this idea. “… asked him jokingly why they had to kill Santiago Nasar … ‘Santiago Nasar knows why,’ Pedro Vicario answered him” (Marquez 53). After Santiago Nasar dishonored their sister, the Vicario twins Pedro and Pablo set out to do a man’s job. They do this by concluding that they must kill Santiago themselves. The twins believe that they must prove their masculinity through violence similar to Okonkwo. This way the twins believe they are satisfying what their society is asking them to accomplish.

However, the major difference between the society in Things Fall Apart and Chronicle of a Death Foretold is that the society that the twins live in discourage any form of violence that is meant to display masculinity. This is evidence from the moment when “Clotilde Armenta grabbed Pedro Vicario by the shirt and shouted to Santiago Nasar to run because they were going to kill him” (Marquez 115). This interaction shows an attempt to prevent violence. Another quote attempting to prevent violence is when “Cristo Bedoya asked several people he knew if they’d seen Santiago Nasar but no one had” (Marquez 109). These two quotes display that two characters have attempted to prevent the murder of Santiago Nasar which was going to be used as a way for the Vicario twins to show their masculinity. This contradicts what the twins wanted to accomplish: believing that killing a man was acceptable, the twins did not realize that the society that they lived in did not support violence.

Another example of the Vicario twins’ society not enforcing violent masculine is found when the mayor removes the weapons that the twins were planning to use to kill Santiago Nasar. The novella states “Pedro Vicario, according to his own declaration, was the one who made the decision to kill Santiago Nasar … But he was also the one who considered his duty fulfilled when the mayor disarmed them …” (Marquez 60). This passage shows that while it was his idea in the first place, Pedro Vicario did not pursue restoring his family’s honor when the mayor took away the weapons the twins planned to use to kill Santiago Nasar. During this time, Pedro was having a hard time deciding whether or not he wanted to still pursue violent masculinity. This suggests that society did not pressure the twins to come to the decision to kill a man. In fact, that decision was a choice for the twins, and that society was not encouraging the twins to commit this act of violent masculinity.

Both Okonkwo and the Vicario twins live in a society that believes in the importance of violent masculinity. Okonkwo’s society enforces it so pushes this idea that it controls Okonkwo’s actions and motivates him to achieve better things in life. On the other hand, the Vicario twins live in a society where violent masculinity isn’t as enforced as it is within Okonkwo’s society and discourages it when violence is involved. Okonkwo’s society puts so much pressure on men to keep their masculinity that it makes Okonkwo act out violently or aggressively to accomplish his goals but also makes it too difficult for him to express any emotion. The social expectation that men display aggression instead of sensitivity also makes it too difficult for Okonkwo to show emotion publicly. The Vicario’s society does encourage masculinity but discourages any violent masculinity. The violent masculinity in both stories impacts Okonkwo and the Vicario twins since it serves as a motivator for the characters to pursue their individual goals.

Works Cited

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Oxford: Heinemann Educational, 1996. Print.

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. Chronicle of a Death Foretold. New York: Vintage International, 2003. Print.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Things Fall Apart — Okonkwo In Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart

Categories: Things Fall Apart

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Themes and Analysis

Things fall apart, by chinua achebe.

Chinua Achebe sought to rediscover pride and dignity among Africans by rehabilitating their image damaged by the humiliating effect of racist portrayals. In 'Things Fall Apart' he does this with grace and clarity.

Article written by Israel Njoku

Degree in M.C.M with focus on Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

In ‘Things Fall Apart ,’ Achebe details Western colonialists’ impact on African societies. This impact is outlined in a very simple manner, but within this simplicity, there is a rich and inventive use of language. The plot might move irregularly for large sections of the book, but this pacing represents a deliberate attempt to conform to an essentially African literary tradition and style. ‘Things Fall Apart ‘ contains themes that reflect the richness and sophistication of African cultures as well as the debilitating impact of outsiders on this culture.

Themes in Things Fall Apart

The humanity of african societies.

Achebe was motivated to write ‘Things Fall Apart’ because he wanted to re-tell the story of the Africans who European imperialists and their enablers in the arts had depicted in unfair one-dimensional representations. Achebe creates a fairly sophisticated and self-sufficient society with organized institutions. His aim was not to create a perfect society, but one more true to the facts of the situation. In Umuofia, we see disputes settled between members fairly, as seen in the case between Mgbafo’s brothers and husband before the Egwugwu . The temperaments of people in the community are not uniformly animalistic or primitive as depicted in the works of Joseph Conrad. Rather, there is a wide range of personality types, ranging from the extremely chauvinistic and aggressive Okonkwo to the sentimental and gentle Unoka and Nwoye. In between them, we have the likes of Obiereka and Ogbuefi Ezeudo, who do not lose their sense of sentiment and passion while subscribing to the patriarchal tenets of their society. Within individuals, there is much complexity, as Okonkwo himself isn’t innately evil but rather forced into that way as a result of childhood trauma and pressure to meet the expectations of society. This complexity of the African individual and society marks them out as ordinary, rather than exciting or exotic.

Clash of Cultures

‘Things Fall Apart’ chronicles the great tragedy of the displacement of traditional African societies by encroaching Westerners with imperialist ambitions. The community of Umuofia had ruled itself and observed its customs, and preserved its institutions for years. The worldview every community member learned from birth, all systems and institutions they came to accept without question, were suddenly threatened by the arrival of the white man with his religion and political system. The British came with a fundamentally different value system, power structure, and religion. Disputes were no longer solved the old way, under the overarching goal of maintaining communal cohesion over everything else. The people of Umuofia, who had lived without rulers, now have to deal with colonialists exerting uncommon power and authority over them. With the coming of the Whiteman with his process and sense of justice that took no cognizance of the customs of the people, the people of Umuofia essentially faced the erosion of their traditions and values.

Umuofia’s society is highly patriarchal, and Okonkwo’s behaviors and motivations are, in part, informed by his society’s gender roles and expectations. Okonkwo measures his success according to the fulfillment of his society’s ideal of masculinity. He strove to be a valiant wrestler and a hard physical laborer on his farm because these activities represent peak male performance and demonstration of physical strength. Okonkwo’s desire for an unquestionably dominant status in his family often motivates his physical violence when he perceives some challenge to his authority from his wives. The patriarchal ordering and gender expectations in the community extend into farming, with Okonkwo focusing on cultivating the supposedly manly yam while leaving other less important crops like cocoyam to his wives to cultivate. Women also have some importance in society. For example, the goddess Ani is one of the most powerful and important deities within the Umuofia religious system. She has a huge influence in day-to-day life as the goddess of fertility and has an entire week devoted to honoring her, within which feminine attributes like peace and tolerance are encouraged.

Class Struggle

‘Things Fall Apart’ sees the construction of Igbo society in a pristine and undisturbed form, including its class system. As is typical of the Igbos, the Umuofians valued and respected wealth, placing the wealthy firmly at the top of the social hierarchy even though theirs was essentially a democratic system without clear rulers.

Titles, number of wives, number of yams, and size of one’s compound, as well as the number of huts inside, are some of the physical and symbolic evidence of wealth, and the absence of all these was clear evidence of an individual’s failure in life. The less fortunate are not exactly marginalized or excluded, they are still carried along, and we see evidence of this when public opinion swung against Okonkwo when he tried to shut a fellow villager up in a meeting by implying this individual’s opinions weren’t needed as he has not taken any title. Nevertheless, the people of Umuofia valued wealth and thought of the wealthy as better than the poor. Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was derided in the village for his poverty, and the existence of the insult of ‘Agbaya’ and the popularity of its usage suggests the presence of societal consequences of poverty in this society.

Wealth is also not the only marker of status. Within Umuofia’s religious system, there are two classes of people; the freeborn and the Osu . The Osu are descendants of people who have been dedicated to the lifetime service to the gods of the land. This permanently separates them in many ways from the freeborn, and they are thus seen as an inferior stock. With the coming of the Christian missionaries and British overlordship, these marginalized groups were accepted by the church and consequently gained a gradual ascendancy in society, upturning Umuofia’s normal hierarchy.

Within the inclusive tenet of Christianity, the Osu were judged to be equal to all other humans in Christ. The “poor” and otherwise “worthless” gained a new sense of purpose and importance. The church’s propagation of supposedly “feminine” qualities like love, tolerance, and acceptance stands at variance with traditional patriarchal Umuofia values. Meanwhile, the stock of those who hold uncompromisingly to traditional Umuofia values continues to fall. Powerful villagers, including Okonkwo, were captured and humiliated by the British when they tried to challenge the growing boldness and authority of those elements of the community who had joined the church. The failure of the Umuofians to stamp authority on this group of people who would have been powerless before them before the arrival of the missionaries and colonialists signified a demolishment of traditional Umuofia systems and a transfer of power away from the usual power brokers. Those who still further resist this new state of affairs meet an ignominious end, like Okonkwo, who was forced into suicide. So, throughout the novel, we see the colonialists function as both oppressors and liberators of certain groups within Umuofia’s society.

Analysis of Key events in Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo throws Amalinze the Cat and establishes himself as a man of talent and strength.
Okonkwo comes to care for Ikemefuna, the gesture marking his status as one of the leading men of the community.
Okonkwo participates in the killing of Ikemefuna, demonstrating his fear of being seen as weak.
Okonkwo is banished from Umuofia after accidentally killing the son of Ezeudo.
Obierika visits Okonkwo in exile and informs him about the arrival of the White men.
Nwoye leaves his father’s hut to join the Christians in Umuofia.
Okonkwo returns from exile with his family to meet a much-changed Umuofia.
Men of Umuofia destroy the church building in retaliation after Enoch commits a sacrilege.
The District Commissioner arrests Okonkwo and other leaders of the clan as punishment for destroying the church and forces the community to pay a fine for their release.
Okonkwo beheads the chief messenger and commits suicide afterward

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language of Things Fall Apart

‘Things Fall Apart’ is divided into three parts, with the first part being much longer and slower-paced than the remaining two parts. The first part employs a circumlocutory narrative technique that shifts between the present and the past. This represents the Igbo rhetorical technique of initially skirting around a subject before directly addressing it.

The progression of the plot is often halted to regale us with bits of Okonkwo’s backstory and information on Umuofia culture. This arrangement lacks the narrative linearity that is typical of classical European fiction. The structure helps in portraying African culture as comparatively developed, sophisticated, and self-sufficient. The considerable treatment of crops, the festivals attached to them, marriage and funeral ceremonies as well as the convening of the Egwugwu judicial process are not necessarily central to the immediate plot but exist to paint a rich cultural texture around the story. All these gradually build up a picture of the culture in which Okonkwo inhabits as well as illuminate Okonkwo’s character.

By the second part of the novel, when the White missionaries and colonizers had arrived in the picture, the novel picks up the pace and continues with the plot almost without interruptions.

‘ Things Fall Apart’ is written in a very accessible manner. The sentences are simple enough, and the words are uncomplicated, save for a couple of Igbo words that warrant translations. Achebe’s writing is very effective. The sprinkling of Igbo proverbs all around the work helps to enrich the narrative and dialogues as well as accord them a measure of authenticity. Although written in English, Achebe maintains a strong local cultural flavor in the language. When we read the dialogues or follow the narrative, the English language used does not interfere with the authenticity of the dialogues and narrative because Achebe’s writing transmits as accurately as possible the original Igbo contexts.

Achebe can induce great emotions through seemingly innocuous actions. For example, before Ikemefuna was killed, as he walked in front of the Umuofians who had been tasked with this job, Achebe chose this time to write about Ikemefuna’s excitement and hope at seeing his mother again. Achebe sets up a powerful moment when Ikemefuna breaks into a childhood song and walks in sync with the rhythm, deciding that if the song ends on his right leg, it will mean his mother was still alive, but that if it ends on his left, his mother would be dead or ill. This mood of great optimism and innocence sets up a stark contrast with the horrific murder that follows. Ikemefuna’s death, just at the point when we are getting to know him far more and relate with his hopes and fears and even root for him, makes the entire scene all the more powerful and emotional. Ikemefuna’s superstitions are only part of a large corpus of myths or other religious injunctions or ancient wisdom preserved through songs, folklores, mythologies, legends, aphorisms, and proverbs, which constitutes an important part of Umuofia culture. Achebe utilizes all these to great effect through the interlaying of these cultural vestiges and artifacts within the narrative to provide a rich texture and foundation.

All these properly secure the novel’s ties to Igbo culture and leave no one in doubt as to its authenticity and status as a legitimate representation of Igbo sensibilities. ‘Things Fall Apart’ utilizes the Third Person’s point of view, but this narrator’s perspective switches between a participating actor and an external observer, a “we” and a “them” at different points in the story. Sometimes the narrator seems to be intimately in the know and involved with the actions and the customs of the people, other times he seems like a detached observer.

Analysis of Key Symbols in Things Fall Apart

Yam is the primary crop in Umuofia society. Called the king of crops, it is associated with manliness and is an important status symbol. Okonkwo considers yams to be the only crop worth personally growing, leaving the other crops for his wives and children. The number of yams in a man’s barn is a definitive indicator of his level of success in life. Yams symbolize wealth and abundance.

Egwugwu Masks

The Egwugwu masks symbolize the villagers’ ties to the spirit realm, or rather to the land of their ancestors. The scary nature of the designs and carvings on the masks as well as the secrecy and anonymity with which its wearers operate, allows certain individuals to act on behalf of or with the unquestionable authority of the clan’s gods or ancestors.

What does Okonkwo’s death symbolize in ‘Things Fall Apart?’

Okonkwo’s death in ‘Things Fall Apart’ symbolizes the futility of the struggle against change as brought about by European colonizers. The moment the British came to their doorstep, the people of Umuofia were fated to lose their independence and way of life.

Why did Chinua Achebe write ‘Things Fall Apart’?

Achebe wrote ‘ Things Fall Apart’ mainly to challenge racist and uncomplimentary portrayals of African societies at the point of contact with colonizing Europeans.

Did Chinua Achebe present a perfect traditional African society in ‘Things Fall Apart?’

Although Chinua Achebe sought to challenge racist portrayals of traditional African society with ‘Things Fall Apart,’ he did not go the other extreme by presenting a perfect society. Instead, he presented an African society with all of its strengths and faults, asking not that people idolize or dismiss these societies, but instead view them as essentially human.

Is ‘Things Fall Apart’ popular internationally?

‘Things Fall Apart’ has sold over 20 million copies all over the world, making it one of the most popular African novels of all time. It is used widely in schools across the world.

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About Israel Njoku

Israel loves to delve into rigorous analysis of themes with broader implications. As a passionate book lover and reviewer, Israel aims to contribute meaningful insights into broader discussions.

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IMAGES

Representations of Masculinity in Things Fall Apart and Wide Sargasso
Exploring Masculinity in Things Fall Apart: Achebe's Portrayal
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COMMENTS

Things Fall Apart Masculinity
This essay will explore the theme of masculinity in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart." It will discuss how masculinity is portrayed and its significance in the Igbo society. The piece will analyze the protagonist Okonkwo's perception of masculinity, his struggles with societal expectations, and how this theme contributes to the ...
Masculinity Theme in Things Fall Apart
Below you will find the important quotes in Things Fall Apart related to the theme of Masculinity. Chapter 2 Quotes. [Okonkwo] was not afraid of war. He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike his father he could stand the look of blood. In Umuofia's latest war he was the first to bring home a human head. Related Characters: Okonkwo, Unoka.
Male Masculinity in Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart'
Male Masculinity in Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart'. Our lives are influenced by our peers and there believes. For instances, Ibo tribes in Africa believe in male masculinity and dominance, such that all individuals are conditioned from a young age to understand the concept of male superiority. Anyone who strays away from this believe is shunned ...
Patriarchy and Masculinity in Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" Essay
The protagonist of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo, is the personification of radical masculinity and patriarchy. The protagonist's self-identification as a warrior, husband, and father is brutal and often based on cruelty and aggression. To the greatest extent, Okonkwo's personal qualities are manifested against the background ...
Masculinity in Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a groundbreaking African novel that gives insight into the complex and frequently controversial concepts of masculinity and gender roles within an Ibo culture. The novel tells the story of Okonkwo, a proud and enormously respected member of the Ibo tribe who is deeply rooted in subculture and […]
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0 4,869 3 minutes read. Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" is a thought-provoking masterpiece that explores various themes, including the role of patriarchy and masculinity in Igbo society. Set in pre-colonial Nigeria, the novel presents a complex portrayal of these concepts and challenges readers to question long-held assumptions ...
Things Fall Apart: Theme & Key Quotes: Masculinity
Studying these aspects of masculinity in 'Things Fall Apart' can enrich your understanding of the novel's character development, social dynamics, and overriding themes. Looking at how each character deals with these ingrained expectations can provide deeper insight into Achebe's perspective and critique of these norms.
"Masculinity" in Things Fall Apart
An Igby Prize essay by Nidhi Singh on Achebe's Things Fall Apart and its flawed idea of masculinity that defined the life of its hero Okonkwo. What Achebe accomplishes with Things Fall Apart is exemplary. He renders the "wild and passionate uproar" of the "savages", as described by Marlow in Heart of Darkness, with meaning.
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This essay is an attempt to a deconstructive interpretation of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe's " Things Fall Apart ". It begins by reviewing literary comments on Chinua Achebe and later dovetails an explication of the meaning of deconstruction as a way of enabling to grapple with the realities of this post structuralist critical formulation.
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March 22, 2013. "If you don't like someone's story," Chinua Achebe told The Paris Review in 1994, "write your own.". In his first novel and masterpiece, "Things Fall Apart" (1958 ...
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Abstract. The paper investigates the construction and representation of masculinity in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. The study digs underneath the structure and tradition of Igbo culture ...
Things Fall Apart Essay Examples ️ Topics, Hooks Ideas
Things Fall Apart Essay Topics and Outline Examples Essay Title 1: The Cultural Clash in "Things Fall Apart" ... Fall Apart," the character of Okonkwo stands as a complex and compelling figure whose journey embodies the themes of masculinity, tradition, and change within Igbo society. From the very beginning, Okonkwo's fierce determination and ...
Masculinity in Societies in Things Fall Apart
Examining the representation of masculinity in 'Things Fall Apart'. This essay will delve into Achebe's depiction of Igbo society's gender roles and expectations, and how the protagonist's perception of masculinity influences his actions and the narrative. You can also find more related free essay samples at PapersOwl about Chinua Achebe.
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📝 Essay description: The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe consists of three major parts that powerfully portray the significant events of Okonkwo's ...
Things Fall Apart Masculinity Essay
Masculinity In Things Fall Apart Essay Okonkwo was known for his valor in war and his victory against Amalinze the Cat, Okonkwo believed that masculinity can only be shown through his violent action, in order to express his power, he often hit his wives and children, even during the Week of Peace.
Okonkwo In Things Fall Apart: [Essay Example], 498 words
Published: Mar 14, 2024. In Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart," the character of Okonkwo stands as a complex and compelling figure whose journey embodies the themes of masculinity, tradition, and change within Igbo society. From the very beginning, Okonkwo's fierce determination and rigid adherence to traditional values make him a ...
Things Fall Apart Masculinity Essay
Masculinity In Things Fall Apart Essay. 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 ...
Essay on Masculinity in 'Things Fall Apart'
The ego of men is displayed in several instances in the book Things Fall Apart. Also, the need for women to tend to these fragile egos or face the consequences is also shown. The demand for male children to live up to such masculine expectations was typified by the relationship between Okonkwo and his son, Nwoye.
Things Fall Apart Masculinity Essay
Things Fall Apart Masculinity Essay. Decent Essays. 567 Words; 3 Pages; Open Document. How are masculinity and femininity used to symbolize different objects? Things Fall Apart is about a guy named Okonkwo that starts off as a determined guy and ends up being weak. Okonkwo is full of anger and rage and he takes it out on his son, Nwoye, who ...
Things Fall Apart Themes and Analysis
In 'Things Fall Apart,' Achebe details Western colonialists' impact on African societies.This impact is outlined in a very simple manner, but within this simplicity, there is a rich and inventive use of language. The plot might move irregularly for large sections of the book, but this pacing represents a deliberate attempt to conform to an essentially African literary tradition and style.
Masculinity In Things Fall Apart Essay
434 Words. 2 Pages. Open Document. 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 ...