Masculinity, is seen as being a tough, and successful man, who can handle his family. In paragraph 12 of chapter 2, it reads “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper…”. It later also reads in the same paragraph, “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.” Another quote from chapter 9, paragraph 8 reads, ““When did you become a shivering old woman,” Okonkwo asked himself, “you, who …show more content…
With that being said, fear is what formed Okonkwo's personality. He is afraid that he will have weak children, and that he will not amount to anything, this causes him to be extra hard on his children, as well as being as hard of a worker as he is. In chapter 2, paragraph 4 it says “...he (Okonkwo) was not afraid of war. He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike his father he could stand the look of blood. In Umuofia’s latest war he was the first to bring home a human head.” . Following it in chapter two, paragraph 12, it reads, “...It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father. Even as a little boy he had resented his father’s failure and weakness…” Near the end of the book, Okonkwo is angered that his clan is too afraid to drive the Christians out, and even causes him to kill himself, as said in chapter 25, paragraph18. It reads, “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself…”. Depending on where you are, we share the same fear of lacking strength, and being brave to go to war, however, this seems to differ by location. In large cities, people seem softer, and aren't worried about being strong and powerful. However, out in rural areas, you find most people are ready to fight if need be,