Women Representation in Things Fall Apart - Research Paper Example

Women Representation in “Things Fall Apart” The conditions of women in African society in general and in Ibo culture in particular, are extremely pathetic even in the twenty first century when we compare it with the conditions of women in other parts of the world. Male domination can be witnessed in every aspect of human life in Africa. African women forced to work like slaves and they enjoy little freedom both in their home and it the society. Even though men in other parts of the world undertake hard works to look after their family in other parts of the world, in Africa, instead of men, women forced to undertake all the responsibilities of looking after their families. African women are merely sex toys in the hands of African men. Each African male has the authority to select as much as wives he needs. On the other hand such liberties are not given to the female community. Chinua Achebe portrays the miserable conditions of African women, particularly in the Ibo society before the arrival of Whites in Africa, in his famous novel, Things Fall Apart. “Chinua Achebe shows women as having little to no power in society in his book, Things Fall Apart. Women are not only without protection, but also denied social status. They cannot meaningfully participate in social affairs” (Kramer). This paper analyses the women representations in Things Fall Apart. “In Igbo culture, women are considered weaker than the men and thus it’s an insult to men to be called an agbala (Agbala represents a person with no titles). Okonkwo is acutely aware of what it means to be a man in the Igbo tribe and is ashamed that someone might call him or his male relations agbala” (Things Fall Apart Gender Quotes). Okonkwo, the main male character in Things Fall Apart treated his wife as a servant. Because of his short temper and aggressive nature, his wife led a miserable life under fear. Okonkwo never allowed his wife to ask questions to him about any matters, including personal, social or family. Weak men in Ibo culture were insulted by others by calling them as women. For example, Okonkwo considered his father as a woman because of his laziness and carelessness. In a meeting which included so many other dignitaries, Okonkwo asked his father to leave the meeting saying; "This meeting is for men" (Achebe, p.28). The above fact clearly underlines how severely Ibo women were humiliated by their male counterparts. “In fact, women count for so little in Igbo society that they are often not even addressed by their given names, but referred to by their relationship with men” (Things Fall Apart Gender Quotes). Women in Ibo society were treated as the second class citizens. Unlike other women in other parts of the world, Ibo women were not respected much in the society. They led a life almost similar to the lives of slaves. They were treated as animals rather than humans by the dominant male community. The identity of the Ibo women were defined by their husbands and it was difficult for them to engage in any kind of independent works. Polygamy (When a male married to more than one woman at a time, the relationship is referred as polygamy), was a custom in Ibo culture. In fact males with more wives in Ibo culture were respected more than males with less number of wives. The ability to keep large number of wives was considered as a status symbol in Ibo culture. Okonkwo, the main character in this novel had multiple wives and was looking to have even more. It should be noted that Ibo males tried to possess as many wives, not for sexual enjoyment, but for more social recognitions and status. Moreover, in many cases, the Ibo males kept stronger relations with their first wife than their relationships with their other wives. However, the women never showed any jealousy towards the women who was more cared by their husband, since it was accepted as a custom. “And when [Ojiugo] returned he beat her very heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace…It was unheard of to beat somebody during the sacred week” (Achebe 29-30). Like in Islamic culture, wife beating was allowed in Ibo culture also. The novel, Things Fall Apart, describes many instances in which the dominant male characters beat their wives. Even for misunderstandings, the Ibo women forced to get punishments from their husbands. Even if the husbands realize their mistakes later, they won’t feel any regret for beating their wives. Wife beating was not a crime in Ibo society. However, the novel describes some cases in which the courts in Ibo culture upheld the rights of women to leave their husbands, when they were punished severely. The ideas of womens power being attached to nature is found in Chapter fourteen, when Okonkwo returns to his mothers clan after being exiled from the Ibo village. Uchendu, reproaching Okonkwo for his sorrow about having to come to live with his mothers clan, explains: Its true that a child belong to its father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mothers hut. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that is why we say that mother is supreme (Hiatt). Women beating in Ibo culture were treated as the beating of a child by his father or mother. In other words, women were supposed to be as immature people with less knowledge and intelligence compared to men. Wife beating was considered as a mean to rectify the mistakes of women. Women in Ibo culture were considered as the nurtures and caregivers and therefore it was necessary to make streamline this community in the right direction according to the male community. “It’s true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother’s hut…Your mother is there to protect you…And that is why we say that mother is supreme” (Achebe 134). Ibo women were emotionally stronger than other women in other parts of the world because of the severe life experiences they forced to undergo. We understand that it is "the women [who] weeded the farm three times at definite periods in the life of the yams, neither early nor late" (Achebe, p.33). The above words clearly indicate that the duty of farming was completed rested in the shoulders of women. Males never showed any interest in hard works like agriculture farming. At the same time, if the females showed any reluctance in preparing the lands for farming, males never hesitated to punish them. “The priestess in those days was woman called Chika. She was full of the power of her god, and she was greatly feared” (Achebe, p.17). “The present priestess is Chielo, "the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the hill and the Caves” (Achebe, p.49). Even though the Ibo women faced severe oppression in their social life, one of the strange things in Ibo culture is the fact that the women were allowed to perform the role of priestesses. In other words, in religious aspects, Ibo men were ready to provide a significant role to their female counterparts. For example, Chielo, the priestess in Things Fall Apart, had significant authority and power over all the other people in the society. “Beware, Okonkwo! she warned" (Achebe, p.101). The above words uttered by Chielo in the novel are definitely an indication about the power which held by the women priestesses in Ibo culture. No other instances are described in this novel in which a woman speaking to a male with such authority. It should be noted that Okonkwo was a cruel male and even then the priestesses was able to speak to him in an authoritative manner. In short, spiritual woman in Obo society got immense respect even from the dominant male community. “Low voices, broken now and again by singing, reached Okonkwo from his wives huts as each woman and her children told folk stories” (Achebe, p.96). The duty of education of the children is vested on the shoulders of women in Ibo culture. Story telling methods or narrative methods is usually adopted by the women in Ibo culture to educate their children. The themes of these stories mostly include myths, superstitions, traditional concepts etc. The children will get a better understanding about his surrounding environment through these stories. In short, Ibo women are the primary educators of their children and Ibo men do not bother much about the education of their children. To conclude, Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, describes the conditions of Ibo women in African countries before the arrival of whites. Even though these women faced severe oppression and sufferings from the dominant male community, they were allowed to perform spiritual things. The female spiritual leaders were respected well even by the male community. Ibo males had the authority to keep multiple wives and they were allowed to punish their wives for legitimate and illegitimate reasons. The ability to keep more wives was considered as a symbol of status by the Ibo community. Works Cited Achebe, Chinua. “Things Fall Apart”. 1994. Publisher: Anchor (September 1, 1994) Kramer C.R. “Women in Things Fall Apart”. 2007. Web. 27 August 2011. Hiatt, Kimberley. “The Role of Women in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart”. 2006. Web. 27 August 2011. “Things Fall Apart Gender Quotes”.2011. Web. 27 August 2011. Read More