Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Women’s Roles in Umuofian Society

Literature and Liberation- Prof. Sicari December 3rd, 2012 Womens Role in Umuofian Society Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart depicts the downfall of the once great tribe of Umuofia at the hold of imperialistic European white men. However the downfall of this go tribe would come to be inevitable due to its numerous flaws, in terms of their justice transcription, extreme religious interpretations of the Oracle and perhaps most(prenominal) heavy because of their intensely misogynistic views.Umuofias harsh and brutal treatment of women in their monastic order reveal the fact that women are not acknowledged to redden be hu hu humanityity, much rather they are treated as possessions as property. Men believe women to be powerless, defenseless and ultimately useless and this ignorant belief proves to have detrimental consequences. These misogynistic views in turn get the genuinely foundation upon which this society go forth unravel. With imperialistic missionaries arriving with th e tempting spree of a different and more appealing lifestyle, the once united Umuofia will wither out.Umuofia is a tribe located in Nigeria, Africa coming from abase beginnings, the means of success in this tribe come through seriously manual labor such as farming. Having to start from scratch slightly(prenominal) cartridge clips umpteen men have solidified their status because of their persistence, earning themselves galore(postnominal) titles. However, a man who earns no titles is referred to as an agbala (p. 13) which also means women, further when used to refer to a antheral it is an insult. This exposes to the reader the fact that the news failure is synonymous with women, they are inter alternateable, having the same meaning.In women macrocosm the choice reciprocation to insult a man it also paints the picture under which neat women are viewed by men, to be a cleaning woman is to be out(prenominal) and to carry no value. Another manner in which a man further r einforces his titles is in acquiring several wives. The number of wives a man has affects his social status, exemplifying that women are possessions of men. Its a numbers peppy with men, using women as their pawns so they can further embody the unbent meaning of what it is to be a man Further exemplifying the misogynistic views of this society is demonstrated in the internal call females face at the hands of their spouse.Okonkwo, an aggressive being by nature is no different towards his wives. In Chapter 4, Okonkwo violently thrums his third and youngest wife, Ojiugo, And when she returned he beat her very heavily (p. 29) because when he arrived home food was not yet prepared and she quite of having a hot meal waiting for him went to get her hair braided. Okonkwo cunning in his rage beats her brutally claiming negligence, completely forgetting the fact that it was the inviolable Week of Peace His two wives ran out in great warning signal pleading with him that it was the s acred week (p. 9). For beating his wife during the Week of Peace, Okonkwo is punished, the priest demands that Okonkwo sacrifice a nanny goat and a hen and endure a fine of single length of cloth and one degree Celsius cowries. This scene reveals just how corrupt the Umuofian justice system is, Okonkwo is punished not because he laid his hands on his wife that because of the time in which he did it. It is not frowned down on when a male hits a female, in fact it is encouraged and Okonkwo from time to time threatens to slaughter his wives.It is not viewed as monstrous when a male beats a female in this society and is applauded, they feel as though women moldiness be kept in line and know their duties as substantially as complete them fully anything less is negligence and physical abuse is their wake up call. Adding to the fact that men can get away with hitting their wives, the very few times in which this justice system does side with women it is very partial with men relati vely receiving a thunder on the wrist. This is shown in Chapter 10, a dispute that comes before the egwugwu (the clans ancestral spirits) that involves a husband and wife.The husband, Uzowulu, states that the three brothers of his wife, Mgbafo, beat him and took her and the children from his hut unless would not return her bride-price. The womans brothers justify their actions in stating that Uzowulu beat their sister mercilessly. They state that Uzowulus punishment if Mgbafo returns with him will be that his fork be cut off if he ever beats her again. Uzowulu claims that he sees no wrong in his ways, I married her with my money and my yams, I owe them no cocoyams (p. 90) is his defense. He feels as though he owes his in laws no explanation and how he treats his wife is no ones oncern. This statement proves that he views his wife as just another possession of his, he paid the price and he can do as he pleases with her from that consign forward. The egwugwu decide in favor of Mgb afo, telling Uzowulu to take a arse of wine to his in-laws. One village elder complains that such a token(prenominal) matter should not be brought before them, again exposing the fact that domestic abuse is not seen as an issue in this society. In Umuofia, thither are two types of crimes that can be committed, feminine crimes and masculine crimes.Okonkwo unintentionally kills a clansman during a funeral, this crime falls under the crime syndicate of feminine because it wasnt a killing on purpose Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been accidental. (p. 124). In categorizing crimes under these two types the reader receives insight as to what characteristics relate to each gender in the eyes of this society. Feminine crimes are accidental, without intent, inadvertent these characteristics all associate with the way that men view females, carrying negative connotations that admit it seem as though women dont have strength.Masculine crimes on the other hand lie on the other side of the spectrum these crimes harp of blunt, direct acts with an intent or purpose to be completed. These characteristics are some of the legion(predicate) males wish to possess in their attempt to fulfill what it is to be a man. Men are strong with a sense of elbow room and purpose and so are these crimes. Okonkwo agrees with the societys interpretation of genders, chiefly in his wishing that his daughter, Ezinma, were a boy.Ezinma, is Okonkwos favorite child, he tell aparts her very much however does not show affection towards her due to his fearfulness of being viewed as weak by the men of his tribe. Any sense other than anger is a feminine emotion in the eyeshot of Okonkwo. Multiple times throughout the novel Okonkwo catches himself wishing that Ezinma were a boy, If Ezinma had been a boy I would have been happier. She has the right spirit (p. 66). Okonkwo claims that she would have been the exemplar son, strikingly similar in their nature and mindset, Ez inma fulfills all the qualities her father desires in his children- except for one.As she is a woman all of these talents and qualities will go on unexplored and unused. Society feels as though it is the duty of a woman to splay sons, prosperous men and great warriors your daughter will bear us sons like you (p. 117). Ezinma has proven herself time and time again but will always fail in the eyes of Okonkwo, through the love and fondness he has for her she will never be able to change the fact that she is a female and he will never be able to change his misogynistic views.Okonkwo is very capable of feeling feminine emotions but as for exposing and expressing them he is blind in his immense resentment towards his father, Unoka, and everything he represented. These misogynistic views take a toll on the tribe and prove to conk their undoing. Christian missionaries soon arrive to the tribe with the intent of converting as many of the tribe members as possible, presenting them with a te mpting offer that proves to entice one too many for the liking of Okonkwo.On the surface Okonkwo resist the implementation of Christianity because it is not manly enough, but frankly it is the deep rooted fear of losing social status that prevents him from embracing this religion. His sense of self-worth is solely based on the handed-down standards by which society judges him. The system of evaluation that the Christians introduce causes many of the tribe members embrace Christianity the evaluation of self, not possessions is what composed ones worth.Those who were once outcasted, scorned and belittled found value in Christianity. In their new community, these converts enjoy a more elevated status no longer being the underdog was a more then welcomed change, the biggest underdog of them all being women. Presently, Works Cited Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York Anchor, 1994. Print. Denny, Frederick Mathewson, Carlos M. N. Eire, Martin S. Jaffee, and John Corrigan. Jews, C hristians, Muslims A Comparative founding to Monotheistic Religions. Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.