Question

In at least 150 words, compare and contrast the roles of men and women in Igbo society as described in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

The society described by Chinua Achebe's "Things Falling apart" is based on strict gender roles, and women are in a passive position in society. The main function of women is to bear children and raise husbands. However, the downfall of the protagonist Okonkwo shows that there is a need to strike a balance between masculinity and femininity. Although women play a relatively small role in the Igbo society depicted in the novel, all aspects of culture, from agriculture to the legal system, show a balance between the two gender roles. However, the female side is still described as the weaker side. Tubers are the main crops in Igbo society and are considered males because they are the most difficult to harvest, while secondary crops such as beans and cassava are considered females. When Okonkwo was expelled from the village after accidentally killing the boy, his crime was considered partly female because it was unintentional.

Answer 2

The society depicted in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” is based around rigid gender roles, with women taking a passive position in society. Women’s function is primarily to bear children and support their husbands. However, the protagonist Okonkwo’s downfall shows the need for a balance between masculinity and femininity.

Although women play a lesser role in the Igbo society portrayed in the novel, a balance between both gender roles is shown in various aspects of the culture, from agriculture to the legal system. The feminine side, however, is still portrayed as the weaker half. Yams, the primary crop in Igbo society, are considered masculine because they are the most difficult to harvest, while lesser crops such as beans and cassava are considered feminine. When Okonkwo is banished from the village after accidentally killing a boy, his crime is deemed partially female because it is inadvertent.

While women are depicted as the weaker, lesser sex, Achebe’s narrative indicates the danger of disregarding the feminine in favor of the masculine. Always eager to prove his masculinity, Okonkwo frequently violates many of the society’s feminine values, such as adherence to family. Okonkwo’s refusal to embrace any aspect of femininity often causes him to act quickly and thoughtlessly. Eventually, his disregard for the necessary feminine values of the society lead to his own disgrace and death.