Things Fall Apart Masculinity

Masculinity: having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness. Masculinity can play an important role in the belief system of a society. Many colonial and ancient societies viewed masculinity as a positive and bold trait. Femininity in this time was often seen as a negative trait and was frowned upon and made fun of. In Chinua Achebe's 1958 historical fiction novel Things Fall Apart, he uses symbolism, direct and indirect characterization, and foil to demonstrate Okonkwo and the Umuofian culture's definitions of masculinity and femininity. Throughout the story, Achebe elaborates on Okonkwo's great masculine features and attitude using direct and indirect characterization. In chapter one of the novel, Achebe explains

The foil of Nwoye and Okonkwo emphasizes the importance of masculinity in the Umuofian society. For example, Achebe initially states Nwoye's unwillingness to change and become like his father in Chapter Seven: "Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell..." (Achebe 53). This quote explains his hesitation to fully becoming a man and abandoning his child-like ways. Okonkwo wants his son to be masculine, because in Okonkwo's eyes, masculinity equals great success. In contrast, Nwoye wants to continue the rituals of his childhood. In Chapter Eight, Okonkwo begins to express his frustration towards Nwoye's stubbornness of wanting to become a man when he says to Obierika "'I have done my best to make Nwoye grow into a man, but there is too much of his mother in him'" (Achebe 66). Okonkwo is suggesting that in their society, only a woman should be feminine and if a man is feminine, they are helpless and unworthy of approbation. The continuous strive to make Nwoye masculine like his father causes Nwoye to rebel which creates a conflict throughout the

Umuofia considers a yam farmer to be masculine and hard-working. For example, Achebe states "Yam stood for manliness, and he who could feed his family on yams from one harvest to another was a very great man indeed" (Achebe 33). This quote explains the importance of yams and their affect on family and everyone around them in the Umuofian society. If a man could not maintain his yams, he had nothing and was irrelevant. If a man was unable to provide for their family, they were poor and useless. Those who did not wish to grow yams were feminine and society frowned on the feminine. Okonkwo tried to teach his son Nwoye the art of farming yams to explain how important they were to his reputation and rank. The recurring symbol of yams throughout the story reminds the audience that the Umuofian society that materialistic objects defined masculinity and your rank in the household. In conclusion, Chinua Achebe used several literary devices such as indirect and direct charactization, foil, and symbolism throughout his novel Things Fall Apart. His purpose of doing so was to give a better understanding of the Umuofian culture's views on masculinity and femininity by supporting the recurring theme that masculinity is essential in society, as well as