Life in a Patriarchal Society in Things Fall Apart and in the Ibo Community

In today's society, the fight for power by both women and men is clearly apparent. It exists in all aspects of our lives. It is more prominent in some countries, than others. It is a major issue in places, such as Africa. Chinua Achebe's portrayal of men versus women in Things Fall Apart demonstrates his deep understanding and experience in Igbo culture in the Umuofian society. However, he believes that "Umuofian society suffered partly because of the way they treated their women." (Akinde). Although men are dominant in the Ibo community, is one gender role particularly more important than the other?

In the event of marriage, in the Ibo society, women are married at a young age, soon after menstruation, because it was a time in which they are able to bear children. They would live in their parent's home and almost immediately move in to their husband's home, or obi. However, the women have to marry into a different village from the one in which they were born. (Carroll 28). The woman must recognize that her husband is the dominant figure. Males are allowed to marry more than one wife, but most respect is given to the first wife. This is evident in Things Fall Apart in chapter three, "Anasi was the first wife and the others could not drink before her, and so they stood waiting." (Achebe 20). All of the wives share equal parenting of all of the children, as well as the responsibility of caring for their husbands. In the workplace, women collect firewood, cook, clean, nurture, and do any other jobs that their husbands ask them to do.

The Ibo community does not have one main ruler, but rather a clan of elders, to govern over them. Women do not actively participate in law making. They are not invited to stay when men were engaged in any discussion; they are not included in councils of war; they do not form part of the masquerades representing the judiciary and ancestral spirits. (Mezu 3). In Things Fall Apart, there was a secret society known as the Egwugwu clan. Although, the members were simply various males from the community, they were treated with respect as though they were really ancestral beings. Women were not allowed to be members of this society, but if they did have issues they had to consult the council first.

For education, men and women both received some sort of education. Women are their children's primary educators. They teach their children about their society's laws, moral values, relationship skills, culture, and religion. The husbands teach their sons about war, hunting, and fighting skills. In modern times, adult males receive a well-rounded education, while adult women, receive only utilitarian, cosmetic skills in Domestic science centers. These skills learned by women would prepare them to simply be domestic helpers and house keepers. (Mezu 2).

Religion is a widely practiced field. Both male and female gods and goddesses exist. Sacrifices and peace offerings are given to the gods. Chukwu, is a male god, who "lives in the sky from where he controls fertility and creation". Ala is the female goddess that Ibo's worship. She is the earth goddess who is queen of the underworld, and "owner" of men, both dead and alive. (Carroll 29). In Things Fall Apart, the people of the village worshipped the Priestess of Agbala. She was "the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. In ordinary life Chielo was a widow with two children." (Achebe 49). Once again, the deity or worshipped being is portrayed by a normal figure in the community. Although she is female, the men must obey her when she is acting as the priestess. When Okonkwo speaks against her, she screamed, "Beware, Okonkwo! Beware of exchanging word with Agbala. Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!" (Achebe 101).

Sexuality is a subject that is controlled by the man. Women should not have sexual urges or desires without the consent of the husband. As a joke in the book, the character Madu tells Okonkwo, "That cannot be. You might as well say that the woman lies on top of the man when they are making children". (Achebe 74). The idea of a woman being in charge of their own sexuality is viewed as ridiculous. In some tribes, an act known as clitoridectomy or excision is performed on women to It is the "cutting off of all or part of a woman's or girl's clitoris, practiced in some societies as a social or cultural right of passage", as defined by the MSN Encarta. It is said to not only reduce the sexual aggressiveness of women, but also to remove those parts that "make women like men". Men often participate in circumcision, which is the cutting away of all or part of the foreskin. As opposed to female circumcision, it is said to increase virility and remove the "filth" of childhood for male initiates. (d' Azevedo 356).

Punishment is different for both the males and females of the Ibo community. Women can be beat by their husbands if they disobey them for any reason. Men had to be dominant because "no matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and children he was not really a man". (Achebe 53). Special exemptions exist for these women. In the book the Week of Peace is mentioned. During this period men were not allowed to harm or say cruel things to anyone. Okonkwo went against this rule and beat one of his wives. He was of course, punished, but not harshly. An elder instructed him to bring peace offerings to redeem himself from the crime. This is a perfect example of the male dominance present in the Ibo society. Leek argues that "particularly in reference to women, the unamity of the patriarchy is the main priority of the community, rather than the physical safety of its women". (Strong-Leek 4). Males are however punished if they kill another member of their clan. They are most often sent to their motherland for several years. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo commits the crime of accidentally killing another clansman. "It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land." (Achebe 124). While Okonkwo is sent to his motherland, he learns that women are of great importance. The character, Uchendu, explains that although a man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet, he will find refuge in his motherland. This is where his mother will protect him, because she is buried there. She will comfort him, which is why "Mother is Supreme". (Achebe 134).

Death in the Ibo community is viewed according to the way that the death occurs and who it is that dies. Death is the final event in life and is celebrated by the same important rites of passage that mark every significant transition in the life of an individual or a community in Africa. (Kwayana 1). Great ancestors and important figures are respected and worshipped in the forms of rituals. These spirits are represented by costumes and masks, as well as statues. In Things Fall Apart, the Egwugwu consists of members who represent those important ancestors and spirits who have passed on. If a woman has twins, she must abort both children and bury them, for it is considered an offense on their land. If a man kills himself, it is considered, "an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth, and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen. His body is evil, and only strangers may touch it". (Achebe 207). Throughout the book, the death of a woman is also mentioned. When a daughter of Umuofia is killed, a sacrifice of two children is later received. Another instance in which the death of a woman is mentioned, is whilst Okonkwo is in his motherland. Uchendu says, "Have you not heard the song they sing when a woman dies? 'For whom is it well, for whom is it well? There is no one for whom it is well.' (Achebe 135).

In summation, although the Ibo community is viewed as a patriarchal society, women hold great importance as well. If women did not exist in the community, who would give birth to the children who would later become the warriors and hunters, as well as leaders of the community? The men cannot exist or procreate on their own. Although they are treated harshly, women are needed to be the nurturers and caregivers in the community. They are the ones who teach the children about life and relationships. Women are simply "supreme" in so many ways. As previously mentioned, Achebe believes that if women in the Umuofian community were treated with equal respect, instead of constantly chastised, perhaps the living conditions would have improved.

Works Cited

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York, N.Y.: Anchor Books, 1959.

Akinde, David and Marshall Bean. Chinua Achebe Africa's Voice. Princeton, N.J.:Films

for the Humanities and Sciences, 1999.

Carroll, David. Chinua Achebe:Africa. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1970.

d' Azevedo, Warren L. "Gola Womanhood and the Limits of Masculine Omnipotence." Religion

in Africa: Experience and Expression. Eds. Thomas D. Blakely, Walter E.A. van Beek,

and Dennis L. Thomson. New Hampshire: David M. Kennedy Center, 1994.

Kwayana, Tchaiko. "Art and Life in Africa." 20 Jan. 1999 Chapters/kml.KMG1.html>.

Mezu, Rose U. "Women in Achebe's World." Womanist Theory and Research. 1995

http://www.uga.edu/~womanist/1995/mezu.html>.

Strong-Leek, L. "Reading as a Woman: Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart' and Feminist

Criticism." African Studies Quarterly 5 (2):2. 2001 V5i2a2.htm>.