Masculinity In Things Fall Apart

The importance of pride, reputation, and masculinity is immense to a man. Things Fall Apart with Connections sets in Umuofia, Nigeria as every man in the country seeks reputations as masculine and rankings by titles. “There were only four titles in the clan, and only one or two men in any generation ever achieved the fourth and highest. When they did, they became the lords of the land” (88). Titles proved how hard they worked for the size of their yam harvest, skills in wrestling, and bravery in battle. These titles allowed men to gain positions of power, authority in the community, and obtain numerous wives. There were benefits for having titles; “Because he had taken titles, Ezeudu was to be buried after dark with only a glowing brand to light the sacred ceremony” (88). Okonkwo was overly distressed because of these titles and his reputation. He could not obtain an inheritance from his father, so he overcompensated and worked excessively on his farm and took any opportunities to prove his bravery and strength. “At an early age,
“Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer, and they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back” (3). Achebe shows that men such as Unoka were failures and untrustworthy; no one desired to be him, instead, pitied. Most sons loved and cared for their fathers, however, he had a coward for a father, so Okonkwo hated his father; “Okonkwo was ruled by one passion - to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved” (8). Unoka was a man who lacked skill in wrestling, and failed to grow yams, which both proved one’s significance. “You, Unoka, are known in all the clan for the weakness of your machete and your hoe.” Having such a man as a father creates embarrassment for his son. Men are only satisfied if they are better than one