Things Fall Apart gender blog post

Thesis: Throughout the novel, Achebe sets distinct boundaries between the protagonist (Okonkwo) and other characters based on their gender. This is illustrated as Okonkwo’s perspective of different genders shapes his unstable and unpredictable narrative. Topic Sentence: Okonkwo’s perspective of gender is further highlighted during the “week of peace”, in which he sinfully beats his wife; this implies the symbolic association of wife abuse likened to hyper masculinity. This develops Okonkwo’s understanding of women as powerless to both him and society. Topic Sentence: Ezinma being Okonkwo’s favourite child inherits masculine traits, similar to her father, this demonstrates Okonkwo’s appreciation of this lapse in gender adversities hoping she had been a boy. Moreover, this implies Okonkwo’s perception of males to be superior to women. Topic Sentence: Nwoye, Okonkwo’s oldest son is a stark contrast to Ezinma’s character, symbolising traits similar to Okonkwo’s father, Nwoye is demonstrated as weak and lazy, these are traits Okonkwo despises, however, Nwoye strives to please his father and mature as a masculine character. This demonstrates Okonkwo’s evaluation of the Igbo values as to what a man should be like.