Things fall

apart

Power and
gender roles
 What does power mean to
-
you?
Is it an image, person, or object?

- Does everyone have power? Why or why not?

- Where do you see power in your day-to-day life?

 Overview - Today’s Plan
● Step 1 - Establish our initial thoughts and impressions of power (Boom! We did this!)

● Step 2 - Let’s talk about gender roles…

● Step 3 - Power and gender roles as seen in Things Fall Apart

● Step 4 - Exit slip & you’re free!

What do you see in this image?
 Passage #1

“Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy——inwardly of course. Okonkwo
never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger. To show affection
was a sign of weakness, the only thing worth demonstrating was strength” (28).
 Passage #2

“That was the kind of story that Nwoye loved. But he now knew that they were for foolish
women and children, and he knew that his father wanted him to be a man. And so he
feigned that he no longer cared for women’s stories. And when he did this he saw that his
father was pleased, and no longer rebuked or beat him” (54)
 Passage #3
‘“Who killed this tree? Or are you all deaf and dumb?”

As a matter of fact the tree was very much alive. Okonkwo’s second wife had merely cut a
few leaves off it to wrap some food, and she said so. Without further argument Okonkwo
gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping. Neither of the other
wives dared to interfere beyond an occasional and tentative, ‘It is enough, Okonkwo,’
pleaded from a reasonable distance” (38).
 Exit Slip
On a half sheet of paper, write at least 1-2 sentences telling me about something that
challenges or opposes the power structures and gender roles we talked about in class
today. This can be a person, concept, event, or anything else you see fit; make sure to
explain your thinking!

- What is someone/something that challenges traditional power and gender roles?

- In what ways does it accomplish this?