Theme Of Gender Roles In Things Fall Apart

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From anthropogenesis to modern world, it is believed that women and men are indispensable as two main parts in society. However, what real roles do these two genders represent? In current life, gender roles are a serious element to compose the world, it can also be seen in Achebe’s book---“Things Fall Apart. In novel village, men have the right to wield the scepter, and women can only work and look after the family. In the mind of villagers, men represent power and women represent cowardice. In a family, wives should not defy their husbands, and it is identified that what a man says is always correct in front of a woman. Gender inequality in Umoufia affects villagers’ division of labor, their statuses in the sociaty, and the roles of family
With the growth and contribution of Okonkwo, it makes readers believe hard-working person can get respect in this immemorial village. After the death of Unoka, Okonkwo becomes the man of tremendous promise in his family, and he is always strict to his family members even his young sons. In Umoufia, there is a clear division of labor between males and females. Yam is an important plant at that time, and it is the staple food at any season in a year, so Okonkwo and his clansman who are old enough to plant in farmlands never miss the best to prepare for seed-yams and sow seeds into soil, it usually takes several weeks. However, females like Okonkwo’s wives will not be asked to do heavy farm work, and they need to look after the whole family instead. “Okonkwo was provoked to justifiable anger by his youngest wife, who went to plait her hair at her friend’s house and did not return early enough to cook the afternoon meal.” (Things Fall Apart, 21) It is the first time Okonkwo blames his wife with the reason that she did not achieve her duty. This kind of blame is not acceptable nowadays, but with the gender role at that time, Okonkwo would not be punished if he does not beat his youngest wife in the peace week. “Okonkwo rules his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children.” (Things Fall Apart, 13) This is how author describes Okonkwo and how gender role works among a family and village. The clear division of labor makes Umoufia more stable, but it seems that defeat is also obvious under this

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