Literary Analysis Of Things Fall Apart Themes - 1246 Words

Literary Analysis of Things Fall Apart Themes Masculinity â€Å"Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper† (Achebe 13). Okonkwo is the definition of hypermasculinity. As someone who condemns all things feminine, he never learned how to express his feelings, leading to him lashing out in violence instead. It is important to note his treatment of the women in his life as well. Okonkwo’s poor, often times abusive relationship with them show the value he places on masculinity, as well as the as the lack of on femininity. â€Å"Even as a little boy he had resented his father’s failure and weakness, and even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father was agbala. That was how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could also mean a man who had taken to title† (13). At the base, Okonkwo s misogyny stems from his father, and the society around him. Sh amed in their tribe, Unoka, Okonkwo s father, was everything he did not want to be as a man. His father was lazy, and irresponsible, all of which are attributes the Umuofia society deemed as ‘feminine’. Out of fear of growing up to be similar to his father, Okonkwo tried to become everything his father was not, and that included being the most masculine man he could be. Religion â€Å"The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We wereShow MoreRelatedThe Struggle Between Tradition and Change1056 Words   |  5 PagesOctober 17, 2012 In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the reader is taken on a literary journey to a Nigerian tribe, the Umuofia, to experience first-hand the struggles of a warrior named Okonkwo. At first glance, the novel appears to be written for a very specific audience: scholars familiar with Nigerian history, traditions, and culture. However, upon further examination the novel reveals itself to be a striking chronicle of human experiences, universal themes, and timeless struggles thatRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1308 Words   |  6 PagesIn Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the reader is taken on a literary journey to a Nigerian tribe, the Umuofia, to experience first-hand the struggles of a warrior named Okonkwo. At first glance, the novel appears to be written for a very specific audience: scholars familiar with Nigerian history, traditions, and culture. 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After moving to America, he became an English professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Achebe has won numerous awards for his poetry and fiction, including the Man Booker prize and Commonwealth Poetry Price. He currently teaches at Bard College. Author: Chinua