okonkwo a character Flashcards
Okonkwo beating his wife for not making dinner / being home late
Killing his son to save face
Killing the english messenger to make a point to the colonisers
Beating his wife for cutting down a banana tree as a way for relieving his anger
violence was a regular occurrence between tribes and inherent in Igbo tradition and culture. Unoka will not take part in any violence which leads to him being called ‘agbala’. It was expected that men would win titles in battles, as Okonkwo did
Okonkwo did not care if beating his wife during the week was wrong, this shows how Okonkwo has so much power.
Beating his wife for cutting down a banana tree as a way for relieving his anger
When Okonkwo beats his wife during the ‘Week of Peace’, the village fear that this violation could jeopardise their crops for that year. At other times, domestic violence was commonplace and there was widespread disregard for women’s rights in Umuofian society. Women were marginalised and subservient
Being called a “woman” is considered an insult (to a man)
Not submitting to violence would result being called an “Agbala”
Okonkwo does not show love or affection to his family as it is considered as a “womanish” quality and is a disgrace to his manliness or masculinity
Okonkwo beats up Nwoye for being ‘too feminine’ and reminding him of unoka, his father
Okonkwo being is ashamed of his father, because he was a musician and died of a sickness. His father could not support his family.
The novel is set in a patriarchal society, where men are often feared. Okonkwo’s obsessive desire for respect and status through his display of physical and emotional strength leads to his downfall and suicide
Okonkwo believed then men could only be strong and masculine, they couldn’t show any signs of weaknesses.
Okonkwo’s father had made Okonkwo himself carry on the reputation that his father previously had
Okonkwo despising the thought of defeat and laziness had made him correct all the troubles his father passed on to him(during the story he was still repairing the poor reputation)
Okonkwo is obsessed with the idea of masculinity and to become brave and strong to avoid becoming someone like his father who was weak and unable to make a living.
Okonkwo firmly believes in the importance of a man’s reputation and status in a patriarchal society, causing him to repair the reputation that was handed down to him through his father at the time of his death, paired with the hate of weak people, Okonkwo would
Okonkwo had three wives throughout the story (although one is never named)
He had 10 children in total including his “adopted son”
The girl that is captured along with okonkwo’s adopted son is married off to ensure a man is not without a wife
A man’s wealth in Umuofia were judged based on their huge barns and their number of wives and children
Not only was a man judged by the number of wives, children or crops he had; he was also judged by how he ruled his women and what control he had over them.
polygamy and patriarchy are accepted in this culture. Men would father numerous children to increase their status. Uchendu has twenty-seven children who gather for the isa-ifi ceremony which determines whether a bride has been faithful to her future husband
