Representations of Masculinity in Things Fall Apart and Wide Sargasso Sea

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2005 , 10 Pages , Grade: A5 (=18/22)

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

From the very first pages of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is characterised as a hard-working, courageous, aggressive man. ‘He [has] a slight stammer and whenever he [is] angry and [can] not get his words out quickly enough, he [will] use his fists.’ He has over time become ‘well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rest[s] on solid personal achievements.’ Not only is he known for his qualities as a wrestler, he has also ‘taken two titles and [has] shown incredible prowess in two intertribal wars.’ Moreover, he has become a wealthy farmer, who has just married his third wife. As for his appearance, ‘he is tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose [give] him a very severe look.’ In other words, not only does he look manly with his tall, muscular built, it seems like he lives the values that are perceived as manly by Ibo society. ‘Military virtues such as aggression, strength, courage and endurance have repeatedly been defined as the natural and inherent qualities of manhood.’ And his eminence as a warrior is exactly one of the ways in which Okonkwo asserts his manhood. Throughout the novel, readers are reminded of his bravery. It is him who finally throws Amalinze the Cat, a wrestler unbeaten for seven years. He is also the first one to bring home a human head won in a fight in an inter-tribal war. Furthermore, he is, at the end of the novel, not afraid to take on ‘the white man’ singularly, if the clan fails to go to battle with him. Bravery for him is a quality so undeniably and inextricably linked to masculinity and the condition of manhood t hat ‘he mourn[s] for the warlike men of Umuofia, who ha[ve] so unaccountably become soft like women’ during the time of his exile. It becomes clear in this quotation that Okonkwo affirms his manhood, not only by exercising activities which in his eyes are manly, but also by hierarchically placing himself above women. Ibo society, very much like Western society in pre-feminist times, organises its social practice through gendered binaries. Thus, courage, bravery, aggression, activity, are all deemed to be ‘masculine’ features, whereas, in direct opposition, weakness, gentleness, passivity, and submissiveness are regarded as ‘feminine’ attributes.

Table of Contents

• Representations of Masculinity in Things Fall Apart and Wide Sargasso Sea
• Masculinity as a Social Construct
• Okonkwo's Masculinity
• Obierika: An Alternative Masculinity
• Mr. Rochester's Masculinity

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay aims to analyze the representations of masculinity in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea, focusing on how Okonkwo and Mr. Rochester negotiate their respective identities within their societies. The essay will explore the social construction of masculinity, its impact on individual choices, and its relation to other social constructs like race, gender, and class.

• The social construction of masculinity
• The impact of societal expectations on individual perceptions of masculinity
• The role of gender binaries in defining masculinity
• The complexities of masculinity in different cultural contexts
• The interplay between masculinity and other social constructs

Chapter Summaries

• The essay begins by defining masculinity as a social construct, highlighting the variability of its interpretations across different cultures and societies. It then introduces the concept of multiple masculinities, arguing that masculinity is not a monolithic concept but rather a complex and dynamic phenomenon.
• The essay delves into Okonkwo's character in Things Fall Apart, exploring his rigid and impulsive version of masculinity. It examines how his concept of manhood is shaped by his rejection of his father's perceived 'feminine' qualities and his desire to be seen as strong and aggressive. The essay also analyzes Okonkwo's treatment of his son, Nwoye, and his attempts to 'force' his other sons into behaving manly.
• The essay contrasts Okonkwo's masculinity with that of Obierika, who represents a more thoughtful and perceptive approach to manhood. Obierika challenges Okonkwo's rigid views, showing that masculinity can be expressed in different ways. This section highlights the flawed nature of Okonkwo's masculinity, ultimately leading to his tragic demise.
• The essay then shifts its focus to Mr. Rochester in Wide Sargasso Sea, introducing him as a complex and multifaceted figure whose masculinity is intricately tied to his relationship with Antoinette. The essay discusses the challenges in analyzing Mr. Rochester's character, highlighting the symbolic nature of his narrative and the lack of a clear, objective perspective. The essay also explores the underlying motivations behind Mr. Rochester's marriage to Antoinette, suggesting that his decision may have been influenced by social and economic pressures.

Keywords

This essay focuses on the representations of masculinity in two canonical works of literature. Key themes and concepts include the social construction of masculinity, the interplay between masculinity and other social constructs like race and class, and the complexities of gender roles and expectations within different cultural contexts. The essay also examines the impact of societal expectations on individual perceptions of masculinity, highlighting the varied and often contradictory ways in which masculinity is expressed and negotiated.

• College: University of Glasgow (Department of English Literature)
• Course: Postcolonial Studies - Module T4 - University of Glasgow
• Grade: A5 (=18/22)
• Author: Jenny Roch (Author)
• Publication Year: 2005
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V49144
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638456692
• Language: English
• Tags: Representations, Masculinity, Things, Fall, Apart, Wide, Sargasso, Postcolonial, Studies, Module, University, Glasgow