Masculinity In Things Fall Apart Analysis

In Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe explores the effects of toxic masculinity in a small environment, the Umuofia village. Through Okonkwo, Achebe sets out to expose the flaws of taking masculinity to the extreme in a time of rapid change and foreign influence. Believing that the truest form of manliness is one of aggression and violence, Okonkwo buries himself further into his own ways, which in turn pushes his relationships aside. Throughout the text, Okonkwo makes it clear that physical strength, violence, and success defines all that a man is, and all that a man should be. Okonkwo is heavily reliant on the prosperity of his farm as a way to show how successful he is, and how capable he is of supporting an extensive family, as well