Examples Of Equality In Things Fall Apart

The marginalization of several groups, especially minorities, has been present throughout human history and continues to appear in the modern and ancient world. It is an issue that plagues the world and an enemy to those that respect and endorse the idea of unconditional equality. The novel Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is set in Eastern Nigeria around the late 1800’s during the colonization of Africa by Europeans and is centered around the Ibo tribe. The Ibo are a group of people who, from a modern point of view, exercise and endorse extreme cultural and religious practices. In the perspective of the author, however, these practices are commonly accepted and the various traditions can range from casual practices, like consuming Kola nuts and drinking palm wine in social occasions, to more bizarre actions, like deeming people unworthy of a proper burial and
However, Okonkwo brutally beat one of his wives during this week of peace simply for not cooking dinner. Okonkwo was punished not for the beating of his wife, but for the breaking of the sacred week of peace. This shows how the elders of the village paid no mind whatsoever to the brutal beating of Okonkwo’s younger wife. Furthermore showing how culture affects the treatment of women since culturally they are deemed inferior and are forced to remain obedient to their husband’s firm hand. Having complete control over your household was seen as an accomplishment under this culture and was celebrated. On the contrasting view, if a man was unable to control his wives and children with a strong hand, and is called an agbala, which is another name for “women.” Using the name of women as an insult emphasizes the misogyny of the culture yet again and is demeaning to women since it is obvious they are thought highly