Thing's Fall Apart Gender Roles Essay
In Achebe’s bestselling novel Thing’s Fall Apart, women are depicted as objects rather than actual human beings in Ibo culture. Women are depicted as utterly powerless and are beaten quite frequently if they do not listen to their husbands. Although unethical in most modern-day societies, this story takes place in Nigeria around the turn of the nineteenth century and it was normal for these things to occur in this particular setting. As the plot advances, it becomes clear that women and men are not equals in the society. Throughout the novel, there are many instances in which the term woman has a negative connotation behind it. The word is used primarily as an adjective to describe cowardice or weakness as opposed to being used to classify one’s gender. There are certain things that are seen as belonging to women as they are
…show more content…
seen as weaker.
The crops that are seen as women’s crops are “coco-yams, beans and cassava” while “Yam, the king of crops, [is] a man’s crop.”. (pg. 19) This classification although seeming innocent has slight negative undertones. The women’s crops are considered much simpler to grow and harvest meaning you would not have to be as strong to do so therefore, calling it a women’s crop implies that said gender is weaker than the other. Another time this classification system is used is when Okonkwo kills a boy by accident. This is called a female crime making it less severe and therefore his punishment is less severe and he can return after seven years. (pg. 110) This suggests that the clan does not expect someone who is female to be capable of killing someone on purpose as they label each crime based on its severity. In this society, calling someone a woman is very offensive. It is used by Okonkwo to describe his clan when
they no longer attempt to fight back against the Christians, “he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had unaccountably become soft like women.”. (pg. 157) At this point in the novel, Okonkwo gives up on his clansmen as he accepts defeat. The way in which this quote is written, it shows that Okonkwo does not mean it in a positive way, he is calling the men of Umuofia women as they have no fighting spirit left and refuse to do what is right showcasing that the word is in fact negative and not something to be proud of.
seen as weaker.
The crops that are seen as women’s crops are “coco-yams, beans and cassava” while “Yam, the king of crops, [is] a man’s crop.”. (pg. 19) This classification although seeming innocent has slight negative undertones. The women’s crops are considered much simpler to grow and harvest meaning you would not have to be as strong to do so therefore, calling it a women’s crop implies that said gender is weaker than the other. Another time this classification system is used is when Okonkwo kills a boy by accident. This is called a female crime making it less severe and therefore his punishment is less severe and he can return after seven years. (pg. 110) This suggests that the clan does not expect someone who is female to be capable of killing someone on purpose as they label each crime based on its severity. In this society, calling someone a woman is very offensive. It is used by Okonkwo to describe his clan when
they no longer attempt to fight back against the Christians, “he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had unaccountably become soft like women.”. (pg. 157) At this point in the novel, Okonkwo gives up on his clansmen as he accepts defeat. The way in which this quote is written, it shows that Okonkwo does not mean it in a positive way, he is calling the men of Umuofia women as they have no fighting spirit left and refuse to do what is right showcasing that the word is in fact negative and not something to be proud of.