Examples Of Masculinity In Things Fall Apart

Masculinity in Things Fall Apart

As a young man, I have always wondered about a man’s role in life. As a cross-country runner and a swimmer, I have never participated in what is considered a masculine sport. I have been judged for it, all because of our culture’s perception towards masculinity. Masculinity is shown throughout culture as a sign of power. People look up to others who are masculine, as they are seen as leaders. This is true throughout various cultures, as shown in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The Igbo people, the native population, have recognition of masculinity in the form of titles that a man can earn (17). The more titles a man has, the more respected he is throughout his village (121). The novel focuses

However, whenever he tries to act masculine, it ironically backfires. Okonkwo is in a constant state of trying to prove his masculinity because he is trying to distance himself from his father’s image. An example of this is when he killed Ezeudu’s son on accident. Ezeudu was a very powerful, wise man in Umuofia who had taken three titles in his life (121). Okonkwo was trying to be masculine by carrying a gun and dancing with the warriors, the most masculine of all the men in Umuofia. Okonkwo had to flee and leave the village as his punishment: “The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent” (123). The irony in this quote is that even though Okonkwo’s main goal was to be masculine, he was punished for a woman’s crime. Furthermore, the word “fleeing” (123) has the connotation of being feminine, as popular culture has deemed that running away is less than masculine. This scene in the novel is disastrous to Okonkwo’s relationships because he is shunned by the clan and couldn’t return for seven years. Later in the novel, when Okonkwo returned to Umuofia from his exile, he wanted to restore his identity that had been tarnished. True to his character, he believes the only way to regain his status is a show of masculinity. Umuofia was having problems with religion affecting the Igbo people’s way of life. Christian missionaries were assimilating themselves into

There is irony in that even though Okonkwo is so focused on being a man, his favorite child is his daughter, not a son. Early in the novel, the family eats dinner in Okonkwo’s obi (50). When Ezinma offers to help Okonkwo, Okonkwo asserts to her the gender roles in Igbo culture: “And after a pause she said: ‘Can I bring your chair for you?’ ‘No, that is a boy's job.’ Okonkwo was specially fond of Ezinma” (51). This quote reveals that Okonkwo thinks that even a nice gesture is not even fit for a girl to do. If Ezinma inferred this, their relationship would be ruined due to Okonkwo’s opinions of masculinity as it relates to gender roles. The concept of Ezinma and boys is mentioned later in the next chapter. Okonkwo meets with his friend Obierika and they were talking about their children. Okonkwo talks about how his son isn’t masculine and how he is turning into his mother and grandfather. He contrasts his two children: “If Ezinma had been a boy I would have been happier. She has the right spirit” (69). He wants her to be a man because he thinks that she’d be the best to continue his legacy, unlike his feminine son. By disowning his son, he extirpates any chance of them having a successful relationship. Achebe wanted this to be clear by saying it multiple times that Okonkwo is fond of his daughter in this one chapter. This contradicts his masculinity because he can't raise a manly son, yet his daughter is