A Woman’s Place A god’s wrath, and a mother’s embrace. Two constructs that exist on opposite sides of our minds, and yet each holds equal power in regard to our existence in it’s own right. The wrath of a god is overwhelming, omnipotent, and everlasting. A mother’s warm embrace, holding you close and granting the feeling of protection, and the undying love of a woman who would do anything for her darling child. To the Ibo people, these two concepts, however different they may be are both fulfilled by the women who inhabit their villages. Throughout Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the role of women is met with some ambiguity due to a facade of blatant oppression and abuse. Though women in the Ibo culture are proven to be some of the most
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The majority of daily operations rely on religious acceptance and belief systems all of which is provided by the multitude of priestesses, and goddesses alike.. While reminiscing, Okonkwo recalls the priestess from the time of his childhood, “she was full of power of her god, and she was greatly feared” (Achebe 17). Even the powerful men hailed as heroes feared this woman for her power. Not only does this show some level of respect, it represents the overall power that women hold within the tribe. Additionally, the goddess of Earth, Ani whom affects the tribal members more than any other of their deity is a female. It was stated that Ani “is the ultimate judge of morality and conduct” (Achebe 36). The power of judgement is ultimate in a society such as the Ibo, this strikes fear and respect into the hearts of every villager who worships the goddess. For the people to have represented the Earth as a female, they must have an underlying respect for women on one level or another. Furthermore, after having their daughter taken by the priestess Chielo, Okonkwo and Ezinma have no other choice but to sit in silence and wait. Even Okonkwo, the prodigy of the Ibo knows his place which is below a woman shows some level of ingrained respect that either stems from his religion, or a tie to females the likes of which even he is unaware. The ability for women to hold such a …show more content…
In the village, the women are the one’s who are charged with tending to the farms, and weeding the yam crop in order to prevent failure come time for harvest. While the women are nurturers of the Ibo people, they are also nurturers of the village itself in this way, they are charged with the ever-important task of maintaining the village economy and food source. Furthermore, after seeing Okonkwo soaking in the sorrows of exile, Uchenda states that “when a father beats his child; it seeks sympathy in it’s mother’s hut...your mother is there to protect you” (Achebe 134). Despite the blatant disrespect for women shown within the clan, the role of mother is one of the most powerful positions as a mother is the single entity within a child’s life that will help guide the lost child through his formative years. This is a duty of the utmost importance because if the new generation of Ibo people, fails then the village and tribe will inevitably fail as
The majority of daily operations rely on religious acceptance and belief systems all of which is provided by the multitude of priestesses, and goddesses alike.. While reminiscing, Okonkwo recalls the priestess from the time of his childhood, “she was full of power of her god, and she was greatly feared” (Achebe 17). Even the powerful men hailed as heroes feared this woman for her power. Not only does this show some level of respect, it represents the overall power that women hold within the tribe. Additionally, the goddess of Earth, Ani whom affects the tribal members more than any other of their deity is a female. It was stated that Ani “is the ultimate judge of morality and conduct” (Achebe 36). The power of judgement is ultimate in a society such as the Ibo, this strikes fear and respect into the hearts of every villager who worships the goddess. For the people to have represented the Earth as a female, they must have an underlying respect for women on one level or another. Furthermore, after having their daughter taken by the priestess Chielo, Okonkwo and Ezinma have no other choice but to sit in silence and wait. Even Okonkwo, the prodigy of the Ibo knows his place which is below a woman shows some level of ingrained respect that either stems from his religion, or a tie to females the likes of which even he is unaware. The ability for women to hold such a …show more content…
In the village, the women are the one’s who are charged with tending to the farms, and weeding the yam crop in order to prevent failure come time for harvest. While the women are nurturers of the Ibo people, they are also nurturers of the village itself in this way, they are charged with the ever-important task of maintaining the village economy and food source. Furthermore, after seeing Okonkwo soaking in the sorrows of exile, Uchenda states that “when a father beats his child; it seeks sympathy in it’s mother’s hut...your mother is there to protect you” (Achebe 134). Despite the blatant disrespect for women shown within the clan, the role of mother is one of the most powerful positions as a mother is the single entity within a child’s life that will help guide the lost child through his formative years. This is a duty of the utmost importance because if the new generation of Ibo people, fails then the village and tribe will inevitably fail as