Masculinity In Chinva Acheloe's Things Fall Apart

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Things fall apart by Chinva Acheloe is a historical fiction book set in Nigeria it is about Okonkwo a man who belongs to an Igbo clan. The clan is the most powerful clan in the area and is feared by all, it highly values its traditions, strength, power in medicine and masculinity. Okonkwo was someone who if they had a picture of masculinity he would be it. He was famed to be the best wrestler in his prime he became famous when he was able to put the one with the title of cat on the ground, he was called cat as only his feet had ever touched the ground before Okonkwo wrestled him. He was a great farmer of the yam, the yam was the symbol of masculinity and was considered a “man’s food” he started his farm from scratch but before long it was one …show more content…

Now this was partly due to another shortcoming, an uncontrollable temper, but he also thought that a man should not be looked down on by a women. You see when he found his wife not cooking his dinner he threatened to shoot her and when she murmured under her breath that he could not hit anything with that gun, he rushed out for his gun and proceeded to shoot at her, luckily for her he was a horrible shot. This caused an uproar in the clan, even a high-ranking priest came into his house and belittled him for his …show more content…

Ikemefuna called Okonkwo father and Okonkwo treated Ikemefuna like a son he had him do things only the eldest son would do. It had been several years since Ikemefuna had come to stay with them but the elders had finally decided his fate, Okonkwo was forewarned not to partake by a wise man. Okonkwo being the man he is ignored the wise advice and went with them. Deep in the forest Ikemefuna was assaulted by his traveling companions and called out to Okonkwo “Father they have killed me”. Okonkwo filled with the fear of being thought “womanly” brought down his machete and cut off his head. The elders had decided to kill Ikemefuna and Okonkwo being the man he was went along with their

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