Things Fall Apart Expectations
In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, released in 1958, many themes arise. One major theme is the cultural expectations that Okonkwo and his tribe have to live up to. Some expectations include gender roles, kids learning about their culture as early as possible, and staying true to their culture.
Gender roles is a very important part of the Igbo culture. “Okonkwo was provoked to justifiable anger” on page 29 due to Ojiugo not being home to cook dinner. He was angered at this because Ojiugo did not serve her gender role as being on time, devoted to her cooking and serving to Okonkwo and his family. Another example of gender expectations is the crops the genders grow. Men grow yams, which, according to its nickname (“the king of crops”), …show more content…
But their experience does not begin here. According to Michelle Sohn, “Male and female babies were welcomed very differently into the world during traditional Igbo times.” The males were appreciated and fully welcomed to society at birth; whereas females on the other hand are met with mixed feelings from their fathers. Sure, they have someone who can give birth to the next family member in term, but girls are stereotyped as weaklings, as previously stated; and several consecutive daughters with no sons is resented. Boys are supposed to be the tough ones who go out and work, while women are meant to stay home and be timid. Also, another thing that children are taught are how not to behave. (Sohn) On the 56th paragraph of Chapter 5, Okonkwo shouted “‘Sit like a woman!’” at his daughter Ezinma, as she was sitting cross-legged, “like a boy” (Shmoop Quotes p. 4). This is scolded upon because Igbo culture despises boyish girls and girly boys, because that culture reacts unwelcoming to those who cross gender boundaries. Not only is the fact of crossing gender boundaries resented, but also the crossing of cultural boundaries is frowned
In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, released in 1958, many themes arise. One major theme is the cultural expectations that Okonkwo and his tribe have to live up to. Some expectations include gender roles, kids learning about their culture as early as possible, and staying true to their culture.
Gender roles is a very important part of the Igbo culture. “Okonkwo was provoked to justifiable anger” on page 29 due to Ojiugo not being home to cook dinner. He was angered at this because Ojiugo did not serve her gender role as being on time, devoted to her cooking and serving to Okonkwo and his family. Another example of gender expectations is the crops the genders grow. Men grow yams, which, according to its nickname (“the king of crops”), …show more content…
But their experience does not begin here. According to Michelle Sohn, “Male and female babies were welcomed very differently into the world during traditional Igbo times.” The males were appreciated and fully welcomed to society at birth; whereas females on the other hand are met with mixed feelings from their fathers. Sure, they have someone who can give birth to the next family member in term, but girls are stereotyped as weaklings, as previously stated; and several consecutive daughters with no sons is resented. Boys are supposed to be the tough ones who go out and work, while women are meant to stay home and be timid. Also, another thing that children are taught are how not to behave. (Sohn) On the 56th paragraph of Chapter 5, Okonkwo shouted “‘Sit like a woman!’” at his daughter Ezinma, as she was sitting cross-legged, “like a boy” (Shmoop Quotes p. 4). This is scolded upon because Igbo culture despises boyish girls and girly boys, because that culture reacts unwelcoming to those who cross gender boundaries. Not only is the fact of crossing gender boundaries resented, but also the crossing of cultural boundaries is frowned