Analytical Essay

Academic Year 2020-2021

Things fall apart

Author: Chinua Achebe

In thing fall apart by Chinua Achebe, analyze

how gender is explored throughout the course of the novel and
effects on one or two character

Written by
Pornnatcha Petchdee

Grade 12 Section 1206

26 Nov 2020

 “Things fall apart” the book that written by Chinua Achebe have talk about many

thing that seem weird for today life. It was the belief of Umuofia. The tradition that

happen and also the gender that was the huge effect in the Umuofia. Looking through the

difference between Umuofia and Thailand, there would be a lot difference among this two

community. In things for apart by Chinua Achebe, the author uses the factor of gender to

make the difference in society which it lead to the effect on the character’s duty and right

in the community.

In every society people will have their own duty which is accord to their job.

Looking through Umuofia village, you will see that women don’t get a chance to do

anythings except to serve their husband. In other point men get to do anything that they

want to do. Even when the women got hurt by a men, their voice doesn’t mean much or

maybe doesn’t mean anythings at all. Men in Umuofia are the most powerful in the village

even-through if they done something wrong. In example, when Uzowulu hurt his wife, he

need to go trail for Egwugwu to judge who is wrong. If looking like I am other village

member I would say that Uzowulu is wrong but in Umuofia it seem that Uzowulu was the

right side. According to that example it can be seen that Egwugwu chose to act according

to gender differently, such as women are not granted rights to show their opinion as for

men they are able to do anything they wish to.

Every people on the world have their own rights since they were born. But what the

rights that they have? What does the rights actually given in Umuofia? According to

Things fall apart, you can see that the rights is not actually given to women. Men seem to

have all the rights while all the women can’t disagree on any of the men’s rights.

However, among the men there are also a class where they classify the men from the most

powerful to the least successful person in Umuofia, such as Unoka. Okonkwo was classify

 as a successful person in Umuofia. Being the person that most of the people respect is

good but in sometime that they might prefer to not want people to expect on him that

much. For example, when Ikemefuna was in front of Okonkwo and people wait all

around. They were waiting to watch Okonkwo kill Ikemefuna even they all know that he

was Okonkwo’s stepson. People were expect Okonkwo to kill his own stepson and at last

he decide to kill him. If he doesn’t kill Ikemefuna that mean people around that would

respect him because he doesn’t do what they expect him to do. Other example would be

when Okonkwo shoot the son of the oldest man in the village. He doesn’t mean to shoot

but it was an accident. That problem lead to all of Okonkwo’s family need to get out from

Umuofia. Include his wives which they didn’t do anything it just the effect from what

Okonkwo had done.

Moreover, every people all want to have a freedom life where they can do

anythings. Living in a village where all gender were equal. No more difference in duty

and rights, having a chance to decided on their own. In “things fall apart” by Chinua

Achebe already show us on the society that only based on men no matter what and what

happen in that society. Which make the reader to see the difference in their culture and

Umuofia. People just want to be in a place where they got accepted and try to do anything

to get accept from other.