But, it would be unfair to look at the first impressions of women in the Ibo society through this limited window of insight, forcing us to divulge deeper into the day to day issues, problems, anxieties, struggles, fears, dreams, goals and achievements of these women.
Reading the novel through a woman’s perspective we must keep a keen, broad and precise scope open while processing information, not letting personal or feminist bias come through. The women of the Ibo society themselves must be scrutinized under a magnified lens, in terms of strength and portrayal of character respectively.
It is not uncommon to see women in the driving seat of disaster swerving only to attack fellow members of their sisterhood. In fact, more often than not women are the actual cause for the continuation of age-old bogus and fundamental customs and tradition. Shedding light on this topic it is obvious that there are several contributing factors to the awful disposition of women in the Ibo society, many if not all being bones of contention.
Polygamy being the Ibo way of life, first impressions of women in this society can be centered on this ‘normal’ practice. Polygamy is absolutely natural to the women of the Ibo community, and the prominent male inertia is ingrained in their blood. Never before have they experienced a life any different, power with the option to exercise it in any controlling and dominating form or the right to make decisions, it would simply be considered absurd and inane to the Ibo people. Both men as well as the women see no wrong in the system of polygamy, and accept it as if the notion of other possible lifestyle, mannerism and behavioral patterns do not exist. In all fairness, the Ibo society must be awarded some leeway, given the fact that the lived in a closed, early civilization that had no encounters, experience or reference points to the rest of the world.
Born and raised as a girl child, stifled by complicated and confused conforms of society, women are taught to live and abide within a set of farfetched complexities. This complete disregard for rights and absolute repression, reduces if not exempts the society from the potential attributes and improvements the women have to offer. Instead forcing them to comply within strict regulatory customs and tradition that bind them through religion, to the steadfast belief of being ‘the weaker sex’.
Typically, the place of women in Ibo society is in the home. Traditionally she would be a caring wife, receptive to her husbands’ needs, wants, whims and fancies, fitting the most honourable and ‘womanly’ mould desired by every Ibo man. She must be sufficiently provident in terms of bearing of children, particularly sons to ensure the succession of strong, warrior traits, the preparation and serving of meals and the duty of maintaining an immaculate home whilst raising her children within the norms and values of their Ibo culture. If all that is required to be the perfect Ibo woman, wife and mother are achieved, she will be honoured graciously. If the wife lacks a sense of responsibility and is not completely in tune with her husbands’ demands, she will inevitably be beaten, perhaps even in the presence of her husbands other wives, their children as well as her own offspring. In Things Fall Apart these expectations are dealt with openly. One such incident is when Okonkwo comes home for his afternoon meal and finds that his youngest wife is not home.
“Okonkwo was provoked to justifiable anger by his youngest wife, who went to plait her hair at her friends house and did not return early enough to cook the afternoon meal.”
Showcasing violent outbursts is not uncommon in Umofia, and is actually seen as a way of punishing, teaching or reforming one’s wife who has behaved in a way that crosses the boundaries and definition of a perfect Ibo woman. It can be compared to the dealing of a stubborn or impossible child, yet the difference is so strikingly obvious. The harsh reality of the subjugation of women, and the total disregard for their judgement, and individuality denies them the right as members of the Ibo society to live their “own” lives.
Taking a closer look at the Ibo people and life in Umofia, the issue and implication of a man being effeminate is considered the biggest and most offensive crime possible to commit. A man openly displaying appreciation, love and care therefore would be accused of “being a woman”. Here Okonkwo and Ezinma’s relationship comes into play, as Okonkwo, a man of the highest attainable stature in Ibo society feels all the emotions that would categorize him as effeminate, toward his daughter Ezinma.
“Okonkwo was especially fond of Ezinma. She looked very much like her mother, who was once the village beauty. But his fondness only showed on very rare occasions.”
Another apt example would be Okonkwo’s repulsive response, disgust and hatred for his son Nwoye’s incipient laziness, something he related to his own father, Unoka. Both Unoka and Nwoye have shared interests that lie in folksongs, poetry, drawing and music. Fine arts considered taboo to men indulging in any of its forms raised quite a stir within the community. Okonkwo considers both to be men that have prominent feminine qualities.
The highest form of insult would be to call a man a woman, a common derogatory term used frequently in Things Fall Apart with sited examples such as:
“Sit like a woman!”, “No, that is a boy’s job.”, “Go home and work like a man.”, and “ “ “ ‘This meeting is for men.’ The man who had contradicted him had no titles. That was why he had called him a woman.”
Diverging from the first impressions of women in the Ibo society in the cultural and traditional aspect of the community, let us shift our attention to the author of Things Fall Apart. Chinua Achebe is labeled not just as a great African literatary master and enthusiast, but also as a world- renowned author, recognized internationally for his simplistic yet poignant style of writing. We must not narrow our research to the setting, people and culture, instead allow for Achebe’s aims for having written the novel, and more importantly why and what influenced his portrayal of women to come through. At the same time we cannot forget or choose to ignore the clauses and conditions of their somewhat fundamentalist culture. Achebe is merely a writer with the task of documenting an informative narration of the Umofian people, and although it allows room for his personal views and interpretations, he remains bound within the setting he has chosen, namely the Ibo society.
