Gender in Things fall Apart

With reference to Things Fall Apart, discuss how an understanding of gender influences how the text may be understood. 

Thesis statement: With reference to Things Fall Apart, an understanding of gender influences the text within the novel through the appreciation and further understanding of the Igbo culture as their culture evolves around structures gender expectations. This is illustrated through the portrayal of their social status, and characterisation of abilities which helps as a literary device to develop the plot and characters through the course of the novel and evidently influences our critical analysis of Igbo cultural practices. 

Topic sentence: “The igbo community established gender roles and expectations through society, which provides an insight into their lifestyle.”

-This paragraph discusses about: Boundaries between woman and man (Yams are a king crop, Ezima cannot carry the chair to the wrestling match etc..)

-It will be largely emphasised on how women are respected within the society.

Topic Sentence 2: “The role of woman significantly develop and expose other characters such as Okonkwo, and Nwoye which illustrates how women are utilised in family relationships."

-This paragraph discusses how women, specifically Okonkwo’s wife are literary characters and that help develop other characters.

Okonkwo’s harmartia- Ikemefuna’s death, and Nwoye’s feminine interests.

The aim is to express how our understanding of how gender influences our understanding of character relationships.

Topic Sentence 3: “Lastly, the role of women is a recurring theme throughout the book which evidently influences our critical thinking of the Igbo communities cultural practices.”

This paragraph highlights the intended audience of the novel as it is for a western audience however still maintains a cultural voice For ex.-The role of wives within a family – The exile to his Motherland –Mother of the spirits etc..

These events/characters influence out perception because we are a western audience.