Things Fall Apart1
The Ibo society in Africa is very different from the American society that I am used to. One of the major differences is the way women are treated. On page 37 of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo conveys that "no matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and children (and especially his women) he was not really a man." On page 94 Okonkwo's uncle says "we all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding." This shows us that women in the Ibo society are considered subservient to the men of the society and are sometimes mistreated, however they are still very important to society. This is evident in many other places throughout the book Things Fall Apart.The way women are referred to in the book tells about their social standing as well. Many times women are referred to by their relationship to a man. There are many references to "Nyowe's mother" and" Okonkwo's first wife," but Ekwefi is seldom called by her name. The same goes with "the wife of Ogbuefi Udo" who was murdered by the members of another African village near Umofia. In the first chapter of the book we see how women are expected to do what their husbands say with no questions asked. When Ikemefun
When the missionaries come to the Ibo society, the women have a chance at more equality. Even though Okonkwo has more than one wife (as is common in the Ibo society), the women are not in competition with each other, instead they help each other out and protect each other from Okonkwo's anger. Ojiugo, Okonkwo's second wife, is beaten heavily when she neglects to cook Okonkwo's mid day meal, and instead goes to plait her hair at her friends house. Okonkwo and his family are sent away for seven years, and during that time many changes occur in Ibo society. The next morning he makes four trips to and from that same spot worried about Ezinma (although he is too proud to admit it). Either way, I'll be happy to share. The Ibo society held on to their customs as much as possible, although the converts we committing great crimes against the Ibo gods, it was still considered wrong to kill them and if someone did kill them, they would have to flee from their clan. The only two women who are consistently referred to by their name throughout the book are Ezinma and Chielo. " When Ekwefi wakes Okonkwo up in the middle of the night, he is upset because he doesn't want to be bothered, but when he finds out that it is because Ezinma is dying, he springs up from bed and rushes out to get her some medicine. This will benefit the missionaries because Okonkwo was one of the biggest opponents of the new religion that would give women and men without a title, a feeling of equality with men who did have clan titles. Okonkwo's death will allow Okonkwo's three wives to choose for themselves if the new religion is right for them. Women produce body art and intricate designs, and cooking allows social interaction within the clan, especially when preparing for the Feast of the New Yams. Okonkwo reprimands himself on page 45 for feeling guilty about killing Ikemefuna by saying to himself, "when did you become a shivering woman? You are known in all the nine villages for your valour in war. It is no coincidence that the word agbala means woman and is also an insulting name for a man in the clan who has taken no titles.
Common topics in this essay:
Ndulue Okonkwo,
Chielo Ezinma,
Feast Yams,
Ojiugo Okonkwo's,
Chapter Ten,
Evil Forrest,
Ezinma Okonkwo,
Achebe Okonkwo,
Umofia Okonkwo's,
Fall Apart,
ibo society,
ezinma special,
throughout book,
ezinma special father,
special father,
boy okonkwo,
chielo ezinma,
okonkwo's wife,
women referred,
ibo society women,
women expected,
priestess oracle,
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Acceptance Essays
