Question

"Ezinma took the dish in one hand and the empty water bowl in the other and went back to her mother's hut. 'She should have been a boy,' Okonkwo said to himself again. His mind went back to Ikemefuna and he shivered. If only he could find some work to do he would be able to forget."

In the passage about Ezinma, what does Okonkwo believe she should have been?

a. A warrior
b. A farmer
c. A leader
d. A boy

Answer 1

In the passage, Okonkwo believes that Ezinma should have been a boy due to his traditional views on gender roles and his longing for a male heir. Thus (option D) is right answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the passage about Ezinma, Okonkwo believes she should have been a boy. Thus (option D) is right answer.

Okonkwo's reflection that Ezinma should have been a boy highlights the gender expectations within his society and his own perception of gender roles. Okonkwo's sentiment can be linked to the precolonial Igbo society's notion of a "male daughter" where a woman could take on the role and responsibilities typically ascribed to a man.

In his internal monologue, Okonkwo wishes Ezinma were a boy because of her characteristics and capabilities, showing his struggle with the rigid gender roles and his desire for a male heir that could meet his expectations. The passage illustrates Okonkwo's disappointment that Ezinma, whom he sees as possessing the qualities of a successor, was born a girl.