Things Fall Apart Quote Analysis

Manliness in some cultures has a big impact on their everyday life and social standing.The idea of manliness has affected the way, the character Okonkwo builds his relationship with his clan and his family. This can change people because if manliness is the only thing important to a person, it could affect his relationships with the people around him. In the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe is revealing the theme, manliness, through Okonkwo 's actions, thoughts, and speech. The theme manliness was developed through Okonkwo’s actions.For example, in the book, the narrator said, “...Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought of weak”(61). This action that the narrator reveals to us, shows us that Okonkwo feels that he needs to kill Ikemefuna to prove his manliness. This is one example of a bad decision/action Okonkwo made because he was afraid of being thought of as weak. This action caused his son, Nwoye to

Another way the theme was developed was through Okonkwo’s speech. For example, in the book, Okonkwo said, “If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor. What do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. This is what a man does”(158). What Okonkwo is saying is that he should do whatever a man does because it is the manly thing to do. He should be brutal with everything he does, according to the author. He is speaking to Nwoye. Also in the book, Okonkwo said, “ If anyone prefers to be a woman, let him follow Nwoye now while I am alive so that I can curse him. If you turn against me when I am dead I will visit you and break your neck”(172). At this point, he is telling his other children that if they want to act not manly, they can follow their brother Nwoye, that he forbade. He is also affecting his relationship with his clansmen, for example the tone he talks to them, he acts like he does not care for their feelings and that he would kill them if they choose to follow in the steps of