Masculinity can play an important role in the belief system of a society. Many colonial and ancient societies viewed masculinity as a positive and bold trait. Femininity in this time was often seen as a negative trait and was frowned upon and made fun of.
In Chinua Achebe's historical fiction novel Things Fall Apart, he uses symbolism, direct and indirect characterization, and foil to demonstrate Okonkwo and the Umuofian culture's definitions of masculinity and femininity. China Achebe demonstrates the disrespect the Ibo men had for woman in Things Fall Apart by depicting verbal and physical abuse within the community.
The men have control over a woman through power of authority. This physical and verbal abuse lets the men of the society feel empowerment over the woman. Okonkwo was a big supporter of physical and verbal abuse in his home, especially towards his wives and Nwoye. To Okonkwo, physical abuse was another language. This is how he spoke, and punished, on the occasion of the abuse, and how he had handled the situation.
Women was treated poorly in Umuofia because men believe that they were weak and in inadequate. Okonkwo not only was verbally abusive to his wife, but was verbally abusive to his oldest child; Nwoye. Okonkwo mentally killed the woman, through his words and thoughts. He had power and reign, through his words and how he treated the …show more content… They did not believe in women 's roles.
Okonkwo verbally shut down the importance of woman in the society along with the other men and Ibo. When Okonkwo was upset with his wives or any other woman in his life he would abuse them to show who has a seniority. Okonkwo, the leader of the Umuofia tribe, is described as tall and massive. He is also powerful, and everyone respects him. Okonkwo is a prosperous farmer of yams with his three wives and multiple children.
Even though many admire Okonkwo 's strength and leadership, they are afraid of him. Okonkwo has many positive characteristics. Both Obierika and Ikemefuna accentuate the abhorrence Okonkwo has for becoming epicene and opprobrious like his father.
Obierika also is skeptical of the Igbo culture in that he questions aspects of Igbo traditions. Okonkwo is a rude, unforgivable and spiteful person. He beats his wives and even takes innocent girls and boys away from enemy tribes. In some way he may even resemble his father, Unoka.
He was lazy and very much in debt. If Okonkwo continues what he does he will become him. Although Ekwefi and Ojiugo are both wives, they get beat for different reasons. Without discussing anything further than what they did Okonkwo beat his wife. He beats her basically for cutting a few leaves off a tree, that remained alive afterwards, for the festival. It was unhuman of Okonkwo to beat his own wife for such …show more content… And when she returned he beat her heavily. He took out all his anger on her.
After the beating he remembered it was the Week of Peace and he broke the sacred tradition. Just like Ekwefi, Ojiugo as beat for a silly reason, all she wanted to do was get her hair braided. After Okonkwo threatens to beat him, Ikemefuna finally eats, but then vomits and becomes ill for twelve days. As he recovers, he seems to lose his fear and sadness. Ikemefuna has become very popular in Okonkwo's house, especially with Nwoye and the other children.
To them, he seems to know everything and can make useful things like flutes, rodent traps, and bows. Even Okonkwo has inwardly become fond of Ikemefuna, but he does not show affection — a womanly sign of weakness. He treats Ikemefuna with a heavy hand, as he does other members of his family, although he allows Ikemefuna to accompany him like a son to meetings and feasts, carrying his stool and his bag. Ikemefuna calls Okonkwo "father.
During the annual Week of Peace just before planting time, tradition permits no one in the village to speak a harsh word to another person. One day during this week, Okonkwo's youngest wife, Ojiugo, goes to a friend's house to braid her hair, and she forgets to prepare Okonkwo's afternoon meal and feed her children. When Ojiugo returns, Okonkwo beats her severely.
Even when he is reminded of the ban on violence, he doesn't stop the beating. Because Okonkwo's violation of peace can jeopardize the whole village's crops, the priest of the earth goddess orders Okonkwo to make offerings at his shrine. Although Okonkwo inwardly regrets his "great evil," he never admits to an error.
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