Examples Of Masculinity In Things Fall Apart

¨He had no patience with unsuccessful men, He had no patience with his father¨(Achebe Pg. #4). Okonkwo does not tolerate men who had no title or who were lazy, including his father. He was so unsympathetic and full of his own priorities that he had no patience for his own father. This shows that he has no sympathy for people who are considered less of him.

Achebe writes, “ Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 63). Many other members of the tribe would have let their son be killed because of the unwavering faith many have in their religion and the decisions of the elders. However, not many would do it themselves. This scene truly showcases Okonkwo’s fears.

When Okonkwo was “angry and could not get his words quickly out enough, he would use his fists” (Achebe 2). Okonkwo’s violent personality traits cause him to make very irrational decisions that would later have future consequences. Despite that, his less than perfect tendencies did help him to achieve many goals throughout his life. However, the instances where they worked against him outweigh all other factors. Okonkwo is seen as a very painfully structured man and when something doesn't go according to his structure, it causes him to make irrational decisions.

Ikemefuna and Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye, were really close as Nwoye looked up to Ikemefuna as a role model and older brother. After the clan decided that they had to kill Ikemefuna the elders told Okonkwo not to get involved since they had a really close relationship. Even though they said that Okonkwo still got involved in the murder and killed him with a matchet. This quote shows us that even though they had a very close relationship Okonkwo took up a matchet and killed Ikemefuna just to show his manliness. Okonkwo’s decision of killing Ikemefuna was a bad decision because after this many horrible events soon

Okonkwo knew that it was bad to kill someone from the village but he didn’t want to look weak. He knew that if he would of done it in front of his people they would of exiled him or killed him. Later on when he accidentally shot a guy and was exiled for seven years. Times were getting harder for him and his

However, Okonkwo made a name for himself because his was to not follow in his father’s footsteps. In a paragraph describing Okonkwo’s character it says, “He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience

Okonkwo devotes his life to becoming the opposite of his unsuccessful father. This need to become masculine introduces his fear: “But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of

After Okonkwo murders Ikemefuna he has a bulk of feelings and becomes emotional which isn’t like him. The text says “ Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna. .. He did not sleep at night, he tried not to think about Ikemefuna but the more he tried, the more he thought about him”(Achebe 63). Okonkwo grown very fond of him, so his death made Okonkwo very dismal about his actions.

Okonkwo strives to be everything but his father. This is clear from the very beginning when it says, “He had no

The messenger crouched to avoid the blow but it was useless. Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay

An oracle had prophesied that Ikemefuna needed to die so the tribesman decided to execute this plan by telling him that he would be returning home. The oracle had instructed Okonkwo to not kill Ikemefuna as he is like his father, however, “Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down” (61). Although fate and oracles are a huge part of Ibo society and culture, Okonkwo chooses to go against the oracle's prophecy. He was willing to still follow through with his plan, even though he knew that it could fall under the crime of killing a relative just to avoid looking weak and feminine. Okonkwo is very depressed that he has killed Ikemefuna and Ezinma always brings him his food three times a day, constantly reminding him that he needs to eat.

Okonkwo bragging about his prosperity makes him feel less insecure about his father and also less insecure about himself. Okonkwo’s high expectations of himself is further demonstrated when Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna. On page 61, Ikemefuna’s death is described. Achebe says, “Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak" (61).

Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body”(204). Okonkwo, so overwhelmed in everything that was happening, everything that was changing, and everything that he was losing and has lost, striked the man down. Then he goes home and in both spite and fear, ends his misery, and hangs himself. As they are removing his body from the noose, the District Commissioner shouts: “‘That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog…’

He was a caring man down in his heart but “his whole life was dominated by the fear, the fear of failure and of weakness” (Achebe 13), and his mission to become one of the greatest men of his clan. Okonkwo was devoted to masculinity, he put it above anything else preventing anyone from questioning his masculinity. When he felt a slight sign of weakness it reminded him of his fathers failure to being a true man not providing for his family or ruling women and his children, therefore “he was not really a man” (Achebe 53).There were many traits to being a masculine man but to Okonkwo the main one was ruling his wife and children, if any of them had disobeyed him he would beat them without hesitation or regret. Although Okonkwo is influenced by masculinity it is because the Ibo culture believes in men dominating women which leads their society to fall

When Okonkwo was young, he declared that his father was not able to feed adequately of his family and he was ashamed by his father’s strength. He expressed his embarrassment against his father and also discovered that villagers of Umuofia had similar dislikes against his father. The hatred feelings against his father by the villagers encouraged him to follow his principles and strategies to self-stand. His independence was more or less admired and kept respected by the community and gave him feelings of security and reverence of his gaze further elevates his self-respect, and became more distance from his father.