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clan. Okonkwo felt masculinity was anger and agression, and that was often the only way he acted. Okonkwo feels that showing any other emotion would be considered weak.

  

Achebe did an exceptional job at showing the idea of balance. Okonkwo is very contrary to his emotions and feelings. His 'manly' emotions are very conflicting to his 'female' feelings. Okonkwo is so fond of Ikemafuna and Ezinma, in fact he even chases Ezinma into the forest. This act shows that he really is a loving, worried father. Okonkwo has no patience for unsuccessful men and anything considered 'womanly', such as music, conversation, and above all else, emotion. His feelings for his daughter are, in his eyes, weak. Weakness contradicts his motives and actions in the end when he kills the white man's messenger. Okonkwo thought he was doing the correct, masculine thing to be done. He thought he could resist cultural change and keep his societal status. It is because he is so angry and narrow minded that Okonkwo cannot accept these changes. In his quick-to-anger attitude he destroys himself; and in the end, he ironically becomes just like his father: a failure.

Achebe's Things Fall Apart brings to light the great cultural differences found in Western society and African society. Most of the differences in the religion, and the role of the male/female in Umuofia would not be easily accepted here in America. Okonkwo did everything he could to fight weakness, and change. In the end he lost, he failed. Achebe teaches us that there is a real balance between what we believe and what Ibo culture teaches. There must be some middle ground where women and men can exist, and excel, as equals. Until we are able to accept our weakness, and treat one another as equals we will all end up like Okonkwo.

 

Work Cited

 

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart.New York: Random House, 1994.

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