Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe - Research Paper Example

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe The varying interpretations of masculinity depicted in the novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe can be seen through the character of Okonkwo. In the initial stages of the novel itself, Okonkwo, the leader of the Ibo tribe in the fictional African town of Umuofia, asserts his masculinity and thereby dominance both physically and through his aggressive actions. Physically in the sense, he was a tall man with a strong, well built physical body, with which he intimidate anyone and which clearly shows his strong masculinity. “He is tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose [give] him a very severe look.”(Achebe 8). The masculinity is not only exhibited through Okonkwo’s well built body, but also through his aggressive behavior and superior attitude. “Consequently, Achebe's main character, Okonkwo emerges early in the text as a traditional hero, who has within himself the ability to languish or attain his goals” (Leek). Okonkwo was portrayed as a courageous and aggressive individual who will take on anyone, who wants a fight with him. That is, Achebe characterizes him as an individual who likes to use only his physical attributes like tall frame and strong hands during any confrontation, instead of using his vocal skills to negotiate and agree for a compromise. Thus, he embodies all the strong values including physical structure and mental attitude that are perceived as masculine by the Ibo tribe. He involves himself in all physical combats from competition based wrestling to situation based fights between the tribes. Through, these two ways only, Okonkwo tries to assert his manhood among his clan and against the British as well. Fighting in the wrestling contests and leading the fights against the opposition tribes are the main ways through which the male members of the Ibo tribe will exhibit their masculinity and assert their manhood, Okonkwo is no exception to that norm. Okonkwo even in his teenage years has showcased his wrestling abilities by defeating a wrestling champion of seven years. He very easily defeated Amalinze the Cat, the powerful wrestler among the tribes. “As a young man of eighteen he had brought honour to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat.” (Achebe 3). To crown it all, he had won two successive wrestling titles and had shown incredible aggressive and tactical prowess in two inter-tribal wars. Okonkwo’s exile as a result of killing a teenage boy led to further interpretations of his masculinity. During his exile in the new village, without any leadership roles, he led a subdued existence only concentrating in agriculture. However, when he comes to know about the British dominance and submission of his fellow villagers, he again exhibits strong aggression and masculinity. He angrily criticizes his villagers for being too soft like the women and yielding to the British’s whims, instead of courageously fighting against their dominance. “I mourn for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women” (Achebe 183). He shows optimal courage when he states to his villagers that he is prepared to fight the British rulers single-handedly, even if they avoid supporting him in the fight. So, from being a subdued agriculturist to an aggressive warrior, Okonkwo shows different interpretations of masculinity. The conflict between the Ibo tribe and the imperialist British happens mainly because the difference in their culture and tradition. The culture of Ibo or Igbo tribe differs from Christian religion in various aspects. The religious practices and beliefs of the Igbo clan played a significant role in the lives of its members. They were spiritual in their attitudes and thoughts. They see god in everything and do the duties dutifully. For example, they regard and worship their land, Ani as a goddess, who has a regenerative potency. Likewise, they also regard weather as god because of its importance in their lives. That is, as weather plays the crucial role in their livelihood of agriculture, they hold it highly. In Umuofia, agriculture is the people’s lifeline as well as the symbol of their relationship between land and environment. Owing to this factor, the weather is an integral part of the lives of Igbo tribe. Even the physical and mental status of the characters is defined by the weather. For example, the loneliness of the characters is set in the backdrop of cold climate. The thoughts, beliefs and the attitudes of Igbo tribe were conservative. Also, based on the weather conditions only, most of their social and cultural activities are conducted But when the British arrive in Umuofia, numerous changes start to happen or was imposed in the daily living of the Igbo tribe. The conservative living of the Igbo clashed with the liberal thoughts of the British and the Christian religion. “The conservative world prior to the arrival of the English could not articulate its alternative, the liberal. It’s always the liberal, therefore, that articulates the conservative, never the reverse.” (Fleming 198). The members of the Igbo tribe, who till now lived their life according to their strict religious and cultural lives, were suddenly finding themselves in a society which was far liberal from theirs. This new found liberalism made some of the members to give up their culture and religion. These members converted to Christianity and started to defy the customs of the Igbo tribe. Instead of fighting the British dominance, these members yielded before their pressure. Okonkwo also criticizes them angrily for being soft and accepting the new culture and tradition, instead of fighting the British dominance. Upon embracing the new culture, these people forgot and disrespected their old culture. The possibilities for coexistence of Igbo tribal practices and the new culture of Christianity were very remote. The eventual “falling apart” of the original culture is inevitable when the new ways arise within the clans, thus leading to conflicts. The followers of the original culture have suspicions towards the people who brought in the new culture to their places. Okonkwo’s thoughts regarding the white man and his culture represent this attitude of the people. “The white man is very clever….We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” (Achebe 124). The arrival of new culture is always perceived from negative perspective by the local inhabitants. This leads to strained relations between the members of the original culture and the new culture. Read More