Cultural Norms In Things Fall Apart

The book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe follows the life of a village elder in a tribe whos cultural norms differ significantly from our own. Throughout the first part of this book, we can learn the way in which both men and women fit into Ibo culture and the role they play domestically and socially.
Many times in the book, men were able to make decisions that dictated a major part of the life of a women. “The elders met...they decided, as everybody knew they would, that the girl should go to Ogbuefi Udo to replace his murdered wife.” (12). Despite her having nothing to do with the crime committed, the tribe saw it fit that the young girl was presented as compensation to a man who had lost his wife. The tribe easily gave her up as if she

was simply a piece of property that could be used to please the neighboring clan. This event illustrates the lack of rights women possess and the inferior role that they hold in society in comparison to the men. “My daughter’s suitor is coming today and I hope we will clinch the matter of the bride-price” (65). This quote provides a second example of the significance men’s jurisdiction has over the women of the book. It confirms the superiority given how the males of the family decide to whom, at what price, and at what age a girl would be married off.
The highly submissive role that has been assigned to the women is not seen as taboo, but logical. Women care for the children, cook the food, and show a wider range of emotions and empathy. The way this translates into the control and authority that they possess in the household reveals how interconnected the roles and responsibilities are with physical power.
Who killed this banana tree?...As a matter of fact the tree was very much alive. Okonkwo’s second wife had merely cut a few leaves off it to wrap some food, and she said so. Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping. Neither of the other wives dared to interfere… (38)
This quote emphasizes a few key aspects of the expectations placed on women. Firstly, it shows how the men use physical strength assert dominance over the women who cannot easily defend themselves. Secondly, it shows how women are not taken seriously, are not allowed to make mistakes, are subject to brutal treatment by their husbands, and are not supposed to stand up for themselves or for others. The oppression that they face can be very intense and undoubtedly plays a negative role in their health and wellbeing.
The same standard deriving from physical characteristics can be seen in reverse for the boys and men. The males in the household have expectations that they must fulfill in order to be seen as a real man. “Okonkwo encouraged the boys to sit with him in his obi, and he told them stories of the land– masculine stories of violence and bloodshed. Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent…” (53-54).