Things Fall Apart Masculinity Essay

In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, particularly in its depiction of the Ibo culture, masculinity is emphasized and seen as a sign of success, a reason for respect, and a strong reputation. The role and different aspects of masculinity in the the text are shown most clearly through the main character, Okonkwo. In Achebe’s novel, masculinity is shown through possessions and titles, control over women, strength, and in Okonkwo’s case destructive aggression in place of showing emotions. In Ibo culture, a man’s social standing revolves around his possessions, which include his titles, his land, crops, houses, and in the view of the culture, his wives. Along with being respected for what they own, men in the culture are also respected for strength. Not only does a man of the Ibo culture draw respect from gaining wives, he asserts strength by being able to dominate and control them. Okonkwo, for example, frequently beats his wives and children. The novel speculates on whether he is truly a cruel man, or simply is driven by “the fear of failure and of weakness.” (Achebe 10). This shows that strength is preferable in the realm of masculinity, men avoid signs of

He is respected and feared by the other villagers, as well as by his wife and children who have learned to obey him as master of the house. Okonkwo’s family has this level of respect for him partially due to violence. When one of his wives unwittingly kills one of his banana trees, Okonkwo beats her mercilessly in yet another outburst of violence justified in the culture by masculinity. His aggression and strength overcompensate in place of showing emotion, which the text explains as a way to ensure he is not compared to Unoka. The author explains Okonkwo’s overcompensation as “the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father.” (Achebe 10). Okonkwo expresses himself through violence to avoid seeming emotional and