The Strengths of a Woman: Binding Force of a Nation - Book Report/Review Example

The Strengths of a Woman: Binding Force of A Nation Chinua Achebe has been hailed as one of the best of African Literature. In fact he has been credited for writing "African Literature that was truly African."(1) He writes about his native land, their culture and beliefs. The Novel Things Fall Apart tells of a warrior, named Okonkwo, who has fought a lot of fights and reaped wealth and respect. Underneath his strength and formidable size, he lived in fear. He didn't want to be like his father, a failure at everything. His mother died when he was young and he was left to his father. A man who lived life as it comes, playing his flute, drinking wine, and incurring debts. This led Okonkwo to fear failure and weakness. Anger at his father pushed him to work and build his wealth; to fight and show no weakness becoming one of the titled men in the tribe. He ruled his women in the same way, harsh and strict. His life changed when in one of the tribe rituals his gun accidentally fired which caused the death of one of his fellow tribe man. He was exiled to the place of his "Motherland." He stayed with the relatives and clan of his mother for seven years. There he learned their ways and again from nothing he was able to rise above the difficulties. He was able to regain his wealth and made preparations for his return to his "Fatherland." During his seven years of exile he learned that the white man has entered their clan and has divided them. This is when Okonkwo's best friend Obierika said that "we have fallen apart." The white man introduced religion and beguiled their kinsmen to join. After which the white man entered with his government. This is what Okonkwo saw when he returned. He wanted to fight the white man but there were no more warriors. With a handful of men he tried to make a statement at church but things got out of hand. They were brought to jail, mistreated and were later released but fined a large sum of money. Freed he tried again. Speaking to his clansmen, but when he was ordered to stop, he killed the head messenger with the blow from his machete. He then hanged himself. Okonkwo and his kinsmen from his "Fatherland" treated women as property. Society, their clan, saw women as being replaceable, objects depicting wealth and stature, bargaining tools and lower in stature than men. Women were replaceable in that when the wife of Ogbuefi Udo was killed by another tribe, they asked a girl replacement to be given to Udo (12). They no longer fought for the injustice of the death of a kinsman. When a replacement was given, all was well ans appeased. Okonkwo had three wives and was a man with title while the highest title in the clan was held by Nwakibie who had nine wives (18). Okonkwo wanted to attain the same wealth and prestige. The woman, therefore, is also counted as part of a man's wealth. The more wives he has, the wealthier he was (14). Women were also bargaining tools in terms of obtaining wealth in the form of the "bride price" (73); and, in terms of prestige and title. Okonkwo even asked his daughters not marry and wait until their return to Umuofia hoping that rich or men with title would court his daughters (173). Truly, women were considered lower than men. In a gathering at the house of Nwakibie women were only able to drink the wine after all the men had drunk twice as much (20). In their homes, women were mere keepers of their house, child-bearers and servants to their husband (13). They are not allowed to question the actions of their husband. They should merely follow, as when Nwoye was told by Okonkwo to take charge of Ikemefuna (14). The woman has to do the bidding of the husband (133); or, suffer being beaten (36). The brave warriors of Okonkwo's Fatherland in the latter part of the story all went his own way after the white man has brought in religion and a government. In the words of Obierika, "we have fallen apart."(176) Compared to Okonkwo's kinsmen in his "Motherland," they retained their identity. Their approach to life was more passive. They took things as they come. Although there were tribal rules governing all clans, they evaluated each happening or problem and decided for the betterment of the clan. Their approach is similar to a mother for that is what they believe in - Mother is Supreme (133). They were not afraid to admit to their weaknesses for they know that their mother will always be there to comfort them. The head of the clan, Uchendu, speaks: "Then listen tome," he said and cleared his throat. "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. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow ad 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."(134) The Author thru this clan shows the power of the woman to bring people together. To understand, support and comfort are a woman's strengths. At times of weakness, a man comes to a woman for compassion and sympathy. Together as one there is strength. Together as one, all Africans should bind together and be close to their Motherland. OUTLINE I. Introduction A. The Author, Chinua Achebe B. The Work "Things Fall Apart" II. The Women of the Fatherland A.How Women are looked upon B.How women are treated II. The Women of the Motherland A. How Women are looked upon B. How Women are treated B. Conclusion A. Strengths of the Women of the Motherland B. How these strengths helped them cope Read More