Things Fall Apart Essay

As declared by the 2000 United Nations State of Population Report, “Gender inequality holds back the growth of individuals, the development of countries and the evolution of societies, to the disadvantage of both men and women.” For example, in Things Fall Apart, the characters must abide by the strict and gender specific regulations of Umuofia, their West African village. However, in spite of these subjective and demeaning laws, citizens are expected to behave or live a certain way based on society’s stereotypical beliefs of each gender. Evidently, this results in men displaying their authority over women through acts of abuse, while women are forced to remain subservient and obedient to their male counterparts. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua
For example, Achebe remarks that Okonkwo, the protagonist, “ruled his household with a heavy hand,” and this caused his wives to live “in perpetual fear of his fiery temper” (Achebe 12). In addition, because Okonkwo lives in constant fear of becoming feeble like his father, he heavily abuses his wives in an attempt to prove his masculinity and dominance. Unfortunately, because the novel’s society expects women to be subservient and submissive to their husbands, Okonkwo’s wives are forced to remain silent about the terror he causes them to have, and they have no choice but to cope with his sexist and unjust actions. Also, the harmful effects of gender roles are revealed when Okonkwo and his family discover that Ikemefuna, a fifteen year old boy from Mbaino, will be living with them as a sacrifice for killing a woman from Umuofia. When Okonkwo’s wife discovers this, she simply asks how long Ikemefuna will be staying, and Okonkwo exclaims, “Do what you are told, woman” (Achebe 14). In this literary example, Okonkwo is immediately angry with his wife because he believes that she is complaining about Ikemefuna’s stay, and, unfortunately, even though he mistreats her like this, he receives no consequence because the superiority of men is valued more than the
For example, despite the fact that Okonkwo’s clan recognizes him as “a man who killed five men in battle,” he criticizes himself for showing hints of fear and weakness after “adding a boy to his number” (Achebe 65). In addition, this internal conflict Okonkwo is faced with effectively illustrates the fact that society creates unreasonable stereotypes for each gender, including the belief that all men, regardless of their personal experiences, capacities, or background, should display masculinity and not show emotion. In Umuofia, just as women are expected to be passive and obedient to their male counterparts, men are constantly required to showcase their valor and dominance through acts of violence. Also, Okonkwo enforces these gender regulations on his children, and warns them that he “will only have a son who is a man”, and if they wish “to be a woman, let [them] follow Nwoye”, so that he can curse and disown him (Achebe 127). Through this harsh comment, the reader is able to conclude that Okonkwo disrespects and insults anyone, including his own sons, who do not fit into his definition of masculinity. In addition, Okonkwo’s sexist views are revealed when he expresses his belief that his son, Nwoye, should not be referred to as a man, but rather a woman because he was disobedient to his father and