In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo demonstrates his true manliness throughout the book. He is a great fighter and is respected by many in the clan of Umuofia. Okonkwo doesn’t think that his son Nwoye is masculine enough and doesn’t think of him as his son while his adopting a son whose name is Ikemefuna through settlement. Ogbuefi Ezeudu, who was a wise man, died. At his funeral, Okonkwo’s gun explodes and kills Ogbuefi Ezeudu’s sixteen year old son which gets him and his family a ban for seven years. When Okonkwo and his family is gone white Christian missionaries start to take over Umuofia. Okonkwo is there and kills their leader and is found later hanging himself which is a coward way to face a problem. Throughout Things Fall
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When Okonkwo is speaking to one of his wives after he brought home Ikemefuna he says, “Do what you are told, woman” (14). Okonkwo doesn’t want to answer his wives questions because he wants to show his rule over everyone in his clan. Okonkwo's first son Nwoye is not the man he wants out of him, but he wants a man out of Ezinma who is a daughter of Okonkwo’s wives. As “Ezinma took the dishes in one hand and the empty water bowl in the other and went back to her mother’s hut” and Okonkwo says to himself quietly, “She should have been a boy” (64). Okonkwo sees the potential in Ezinma as a boy but he disregards her feelings because he wants what is best for the clan after he dies which is making Okonkwo want to step up and take control. During the week of peace Okonkwo’s youngest wife, Ojiugo, forgot to prepare dinner so he beat her showing his manliness. When Okonkwo realizes that that she didn’t fix up the meal he beat her badly and “Okonkwo’s neighbors heard his wife crying and sent their voices over the compound walls to ask what was the matter” (30). Even though it is against the sacred week of peace not to hurt anyone, Okonkwo hit his wife to demonstrate his strength and power over his family. Okonkwo thinks of himself as higher than the law so he dismisses it. Okonkwo displays his authority over both men and women in a demanding
When Okonkwo is speaking to one of his wives after he brought home Ikemefuna he says, “Do what you are told, woman” (14). Okonkwo doesn’t want to answer his wives questions because he wants to show his rule over everyone in his clan. Okonkwo's first son Nwoye is not the man he wants out of him, but he wants a man out of Ezinma who is a daughter of Okonkwo’s wives. As “Ezinma took the dishes in one hand and the empty water bowl in the other and went back to her mother’s hut” and Okonkwo says to himself quietly, “She should have been a boy” (64). Okonkwo sees the potential in Ezinma as a boy but he disregards her feelings because he wants what is best for the clan after he dies which is making Okonkwo want to step up and take control. During the week of peace Okonkwo’s youngest wife, Ojiugo, forgot to prepare dinner so he beat her showing his manliness. When Okonkwo realizes that that she didn’t fix up the meal he beat her badly and “Okonkwo’s neighbors heard his wife crying and sent their voices over the compound walls to ask what was the matter” (30). Even though it is against the sacred week of peace not to hurt anyone, Okonkwo hit his wife to demonstrate his strength and power over his family. Okonkwo thinks of himself as higher than the law so he dismisses it. Okonkwo displays his authority over both men and women in a demanding