Reading Achebe’s Things Fall Apart From The Perspective Of Masculinities

Things Fall Apart is Chinua Achebe’s masterpiece which is now established as part of the African literary canon.In the novel,Achebe depicts a tribal hero Okonkwo who admires macho and commits suicide when confronted with the British colonialism due to both his personal flaws and the social environment.Ever since its publication in 1958,Things Fall apart has aroused hot academic discussion.The gender roles of men and women,as well as Igbo peoples’ conceptions of the associated concepts,are the mostly studied themes in this novel.However,these studies are mainly centered on the main character Okonkwo.The other male characters in the novel who hold multiple masculinities are mostly neglected.This thesis is intended to analyze Achebe’s Things Fall Apart from the perspective of masculinities,with reference to the theories of R.W.Connell,Michael S.Kimmel,and Sigmund Freud.With a detailed study of masculinities before and after the arrival of the Europeans represented in the novel,this thesis will provide us with a better understanding of the text,the Igbo society,and Achebe’s attitude towards colonialism and the gender conception in Igbo culture.This thesis gives a detailed explanation of the warrior masculinity in traditional Igbo society and the colonialized marketplace masculinity in colonial Igboland.The traditional Igbo warrior masculinity is full of physical strength,prowess,nobleness as well as gentleness.The change of Igbo traditional warrior masculinity into colonialized marketplace masculinity is a process of emasculation,marginalization,and depravation.During the process,warrior masculinity loses its identity and dignity and is corrupted by materialism.This thesis also analyzes the multiple masculinities portrayed in the novel.Representing a hyper-masculinized embodiment of his patriarchal ideals,Okonkwo disavows the culture’s feminine values and principles,which leads to his final collapse.Okonkwo’s father Unoka and his son Nowye belong to subordinate masculinity.They are too soft to adapt to the Igbo society which exalts strength and bravery.Okonkwo’s best friend Obierika keeps a delicate balance between the masculine and feminine sides both in himself and in the outer culture,capable of constructing a healthier masculinity.This thesis is an attempt to clarify Achebe’s critical attitude towards colonialism and his views on masculinities.It arrives at a conclusion that Achebe wants to restore identity and dignity to African men,and to revive warrior masculinity.Besides,he is essentially in favor of patriarchal ideas but against strict practice of hegemonic masculinity.He believes that men shall be head and protector of the household,but not the tyrant.He advocates respect for women and a harmonious relationship between the two genders.