In the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe paints a portrait of Igbo society. However, he does not paint a perfect portrait. In addition, events and characters are carefully weaved by Achebe to criticize certain aspects of pre-colonial Igbo culture. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe uses Okonkwo and Obierika to criticize the pre-colonial Igbo culture aspect of masculinity, Okonkwo to criticize the pre-colonial Igbo culture aspect of sexism, Okonkwo's exile to criticize the pre-colonial Igbo culture aspect of sexism, and the destruction of Okonkwo's property by Ezeudu's quarter to criticize the pre-colonial Igbo culture aspect of indifference.
In the novel, Achebe uses Okonkwo to criticize masculinity. Okonkwo is overly focused on not being …show more content…
Okonkwo is averted to anything effeminate in the novel. Achebe, therefore, emphasizes Okonkwo’s lack of respect as a lack of understanding. Achebe chooses to demonstrate this when Okonkwo is taken to his motherland. When Okonkwo has been exiled to Mbanta, Uchendu lectures him “‘Can you tell me, Okonkwo, why it is that one of the commonest names we give our children is Nneka, or ‘Mother is Supreme?’ We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding ... And yet we say Nneka -‘Mother is Supreme.’ Why is that?’ … ‘I do not know the answer,’ Okonkwo replied. ‘He does not know that either,’ said Uchendu, ‘and yet he is full of sorrow because he has come to live in his motherland for a few years’” (Achebe 133-134). Okonkwo does not know the answer to the question because he does not understand why women are important. As a result of his lack of understanding, Achebe justifies Okonkwo is disrespectful towards women. In addition, he is sorrowful because he is in his motherland. This is because Okonkwo does not want to associate himself with effeminate things. Achebe places Okonkwo in an effeminate situation he does not feel comfortable in because of his focus on masculinity. Achebe is criticizing sexism by showing Okonkwo’s unwillingness to be associated with anything feminine for his fear of being thought
In the novel, Achebe uses Okonkwo to criticize masculinity. Okonkwo is overly focused on not being …show more content…
Okonkwo is averted to anything effeminate in the novel. Achebe, therefore, emphasizes Okonkwo’s lack of respect as a lack of understanding. Achebe chooses to demonstrate this when Okonkwo is taken to his motherland. When Okonkwo has been exiled to Mbanta, Uchendu lectures him “‘Can you tell me, Okonkwo, why it is that one of the commonest names we give our children is Nneka, or ‘Mother is Supreme?’ We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding ... And yet we say Nneka -‘Mother is Supreme.’ Why is that?’ … ‘I do not know the answer,’ Okonkwo replied. ‘He does not know that either,’ said Uchendu, ‘and yet he is full of sorrow because he has come to live in his motherland for a few years’” (Achebe 133-134). Okonkwo does not know the answer to the question because he does not understand why women are important. As a result of his lack of understanding, Achebe justifies Okonkwo is disrespectful towards women. In addition, he is sorrowful because he is in his motherland. This is because Okonkwo does not want to associate himself with effeminate things. Achebe places Okonkwo in an effeminate situation he does not feel comfortable in because of his focus on masculinity. Achebe is criticizing sexism by showing Okonkwo’s unwillingness to be associated with anything feminine for his fear of being thought