Essay On Masculinity In Things Fall Apart

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Things in the journey of Okonkwo fall apart. This downward journey is caused by many factors. In the novel things fall apart masculinity plays a major role to the society, Okonkwo is proving his masculinity by often beating Nwoye and his wives. His family suffered from his uncontrollable temper simply to prove that he is a man. Okonkwo’s fear is to resemble his father Unoka, and to distance himself from that he hated what his father loved and loved what his father hated. He changed to a different person that hardly resembles his past characteristics of being a heroic, smart and wealthy warrior. The field started to be in motion when the white people arrive to convert the people of the villages in Nigeria to the new faith; however they viewed masculinity in a different way.

Okonkwo was one of the leaders in Umuofia; he was also one of the egwugwu. He was young but still respected among his people because of his achievements. He was already one of the greatest men of his time,’Okonkwo clearly washed his hands and so he ate with the kings and elders.’(Chinua Achebe, Things fall apart, 1958, chpt 1).He was the son of the lazy Unoka; he strived to his way in the world that seems to value manliness. He brought honour in the village by beating Amalinze the cat in a wrestling contest, the cat that have never been beaten for seven years. ’Not only he had known for his qualities as a wrestler, he has also taken two titles and has shown incredible prowess in two intertribal wars.’(Chinua Achebe, Things fall apart, 1958, chpt 1). He had no patience with unsuccessful men like his father. In so doing he rejected everything for which he believes his father stood. Unoka was idle, poor, debtor, and coward, gentle, interested in his flute and con...

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...ildren decided to follow Nwoye’s step and abandon their ancestors. He even call Nwoye a woman, he told his other children that if anyone of them prefer to be a woman they must follow Nwoye.

The British missionaries penetrated Nigeria through the bible. This signifies the downfall of the tribal life and values to the new religion. Okonkwo is seen determined to resist this change even if it is the expense of his life. People like Nwoye embrace this change because they found where they fit. Some people like Akunna are still mid-way. Okonkwo believes that any tender emotion is feminine and therefore weak. He finally ended his life because he saw that his obsession of masculinity has broken apart the masculinity in his village has fallen apart. Okonkwo, one of the greatest men in Umuofia he was buried like his father who he was ashamed of, he was buried like a dog.

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