Things Fall Apart Christianity
The Appeal of Christianity in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
Journalist, Feminist, and social-political activist, Gloria Steinem claimed, “A gender-equal society would be one where the word ‘gender’ does not exist: where everyone can be themselves” (brainyquotes.com). Social constructions of gender divide gender into roles of femininity and masculinity, where men must show strength and courage, while women must show mercy and nurture. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart focuses on an ethnic group of people in now modern Nigeria called the Igbo, a group of people who would strongly disagree with Steinem’s statement, as in the Igbo society masculinity is valued on the principles of violence and strength, casting femininity aside. During the novel, Christian missionaries arrive in the land of the Igbo and spread Christianity, which bears ideas and morals that many Igbo consider radical. However, in Christianity the belief that people must resemble their gender is forgotten as “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) This Ideology that the Christians spread throughout western Africa is that leads people to convert to Christianity, …show more content…
The ability of Christians to win converts causes a decline in the Igbo construction of masculinity because by embracing Christian ideas of equality,
Journalist, Feminist, and social-political activist, Gloria Steinem claimed, “A gender-equal society would be one where the word ‘gender’ does not exist: where everyone can be themselves” (brainyquotes.com). Social constructions of gender divide gender into roles of femininity and masculinity, where men must show strength and courage, while women must show mercy and nurture. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart focuses on an ethnic group of people in now modern Nigeria called the Igbo, a group of people who would strongly disagree with Steinem’s statement, as in the Igbo society masculinity is valued on the principles of violence and strength, casting femininity aside. During the novel, Christian missionaries arrive in the land of the Igbo and spread Christianity, which bears ideas and morals that many Igbo consider radical. However, in Christianity the belief that people must resemble their gender is forgotten as “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) This Ideology that the Christians spread throughout western Africa is that leads people to convert to Christianity, …show more content…
The ability of Christians to win converts causes a decline in the Igbo construction of masculinity because by embracing Christian ideas of equality,