Things Fall Apart1

A detailed Summary of Things Fall Apart1

The Ibo society in Africa is very different from the American society that I am used to. One of the major differences is the way women are treated. On page 37 of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo conveys that "no matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and children (and especially his women) he was not really a man." On page 94 Okonkwo's uncle says "we all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding." This shows us that women in the Ibo society are considered subservient to the men of the society and are sometimes mistreated, however they are still very important to society. This is evident in many other places throughout the book Things Fall Apart.

The way women are referred to in the book tells about their social standing as well. Many times women are referred to by their relationship to a man. There are many references to "Nyowe's mother" and" Okonkwo's first wife," but Ekwefi is seldom called by her name. The same goes with "the wife of Ogbuefi Udo" who was murdered by the members of another African village near Umofia.

In the first chapter of the book we see how women are expected to do what their husbands say with no questions asked. When Ikemefun

Just before that scene, Okonkwo and Obierika are discussing the passing of the eldest member of a neighboring clan, and the man's wife. It is refreshing to see a couple that seemingly really were in love. From the book, I assume that Ndulue and Ozoemena lived for each other. Both of them were very old and sick, and I think that Ozoemena waited for her husband to die so she could be sure he went in peace and then says good bye to him and allows her body to end her own suffering as well.

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In conclusion, women are a valuable economic and social resource in the Ibo society. Even though they are not treated equally with men, they do work hard and deserve a lot of credit. Although it will not happen overnight, along with this western religion and government will come western ideas and customs. When the missionaries come to the Ibo society, the women have a chance at more equality. Okonkwo's death will allow Okonkwo's three wives to choose for themselves if the new religion is right for them.

a comes to Umofia and is put under Okonkwo's care he (Okonkwo) immediately calls for his first wife and says "look after him," when she asks a question regarding the boy, Okonkwo says "do what you are told woman" to which his first wife responds by taking Ikemefuna into her hut, asking no more questions.

In Chapter Ten we are introduced to an Ibo celebration in which six men dress up as spirits of their ancestors and have peaceful trials. Right in the beginning of the chapter it says, "It was clear from the way the crowd stood or sat that the ceremony was for men. There were many women, but they looked on from the fringe like outsiders." This shows women being excluded from the politics of the Ibo society. The only interaction they had with this ceremony is cleaning the egwugwu house, but they are never allowed to see inside. During this ceremony we learn that although women have little say in choosing whom they will marry, she can leave her husband if her family returns the bride price.

Many of the marriages in the Ibo society seem to be based on bride price rather than on love. When Akueke (the daughter of one of Okonkwo's friends) is sixteen, she meets her suitor's parents for the first time and instead of getting to know them, she shakes their hands, waits while they survey her to make sure she is "beautiful and ripe," then she goes back into her mothers hut to help with the co

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Approximate Word count = 1894
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History