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Examples Of Masculinity In Things Fall Apart

1136 Words5 Pages

Mayson Torrence Torrence 1
Mrs. Johnson
English 10 Honors
May 16th, 2023
The DownFall Of Okonkwo
Okonkwo started as an important influence to his tribe. Overtime, he let his hardships control him, wanting to appear more dominant to others. Was the extreme amount of masculinity the reason for Okonkwo falling apart? If he was more passive, and accepted the colonist would have he still been alive at the end of the book? It is possible that his views on gender roles pushed his tribe to reject him. There are both positive and negative things that come with being masculine. Does one outweigh the other?

Positives and Negatives of okonkwo's masculinity …show more content…

On one hand, Okonkwo's masculinity and physical strength make him successful and respected by his community. He is determined to work hard and succeed to support his family. He was also an accomplished warrior and wrestler and won many awards, further enhancing his reputation. But Okonkwo's tendency to overemphasize his masculinity and repress emotions and vulnerabilities also contributed to his downfall. He is unable to express his feelings and often resorts to violence to assert his dominance, resulting in isolation from his family and community. As said in verywellminds story The Dangerous Effects of Toxic Masculinity “Being a strong man doesn’t mean you can’t show weakness or cry. Being a successful man doesn’t mean you have to marry or become a c-suite executive.” This shows …show more content…

As the arrival of European colonizers disrupts the traditional way of life in his village, Okonkwo resists these changes and advocates for violent resistance. However, other members of his tribe, including his own son, reject his worldview and choose to embrace the new ways.Ultimately, Okonkwo's inflexible attitudes and violent actions cause him to become increasingly isolated from his family and tribe. The murder of an emissary from the European colonists forces him to flee his community, and he becomes a tragic figure, devastated by his own mistakes and inability to adapt to changing

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