Okonkwo Gender Roles

Traditionally, this Igbo tribe has defined gender roles. We don't only see this as a power role but we see this in things as small as what men can plant and what women can plant. Between the first few chapters we notice that even though the women are the minor role in this type of society they are worshiped in their ways of nature as in bearing children. Women are expected to bear children, be a submissive wife, and an honorable and pure bride. The men are expected to be able to provide materially and do well off in planting their fields. The elders of the society behave dominantly on the males side as observed through this quote, "The elders, or ndichie, met to hear a report of Okonkwo’s mission. At the end they decided, as everybody knew …show more content…
This derives from him trying to outlive his father who he finds was not a man at all. His relationship with his father is what instills this violent and malicious behavior. He sees his father as weak for his unmotivated being and he wants to rise above that. Okonkwo finds himself in a rage to be as masculine as he can be. Through his masculinity it can be observed that he does beat his wives and sometimes might even go as far as to threaten to kill them. “He belongs to the clan,” he told her [Okonkwo’s eldest wife]. “So look after him.” “Is he staying long with us?” she asked. “Do what you are told, woman,” Okonkwo thundered, and stammered. “When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?” And so Nwoye’s mother took Ikemefuma to her hut and asked no more questions (Achebe 16-19). This quote shows just how demanding and not loving Okonkwo is. Not referring to his wife with a name yet referring to her as women shows him disrespect and "masculinity." Whether we personally consider that to be masculine is besides the point. It was important to Okonkwo to do whatever he feels makes him a man. Although his clan may not agree with his ways of making it there. They do show specifications in gender roles though because as we see earlier into the first chapter "agbala" meaning women is used to define a man who has not taken any titles. …show more content…
They may have various differences but they do have abundant similarities. Though they might do so in different ways both of these characters follow their religions and attempt to attain honor in their society. They are never afraid to criticize one another for example when Obierika comments on Okonkwo's choice, [Obierika]: “And let me tell you one thing, my friend. If I were you I would have stayed home. What you have done will not please the Earth. It is the kind of action for which the goddess wipes out whole families" (Achebe 26). Having this type of relationship makes them good friends to each other but friends with extremely different personalities and