Republic of Sudan

Ministry of Higher Educaiton & Scientific Research

Nile Valley University

College of Graduate Studies

The Role of women in Achebe's

"Things Fall Apart"

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements of The Master Degree in English Language (ELT)

Prepared by: Jihan Awad Alhaj

Supervised by: Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed Al Faki

August 2010

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Dedication

To the soul of my mother

To my father

To my husband for his encouragement and support

To my daughter and son

To my brother and sisters

I dedicate this study

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Acknowledgements:

I gratefully acknowledge the efforts of my supervisor Dr. Ibrahim M. Al Faki who has supported me with his advice and his patience.

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Abstract

The idea of this research originates from the researchers' interest in African literature particular Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart"

The study is an attempts to investigate the role of women in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart".

The discussion centers around the role of African women and especially in the Igbo society and the tradition that which influence the position and image of women.

This study consist of five chapters. The first chapter discusses the problems of the study, the objective and the hypotheses of the study beside the method and structure of the research.

Chapter two attempts to provide an over view of Achebe's life, works and beliefs. The third chapter covers the elements of fiction plot, theme, setting, language even characters and provides more information, analysis about Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart". Chapter four discusses the role of women in "Things Fall Apart" and gives an image of African women in general.

Chapter five contains the conclusion of the study. The researcher the role of women in the Igbo society and the result show that Achebe's is the spokes man of African society and he indicated that women are truly a source of strength and they are an important pillar of the society.

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ملخص البحث

إن فكرة هذه الدراسة نبعت من اهتمام الباحثة باألدب األفرٌقً خاصة رواٌة )جٌنو أجٌبً( هذه الدراسة محاولة للبحث عن دور المرأة األفرٌقٌة فً المجتمع. من خالل دراسة دور المرأة فً رواٌة أجٌبً )األشٌاء تتداعى( والتً تناولت بشكل خاصة مجتمع )االبقبو( وفً هذه الرواٌة تناولت الباحثة المرأة األفرٌقٌة بصورة عامة والنظرة السائدة فً المجتمع األفرٌقً عن دورها خاصة مجتمع )األبقبو( كما ناقشت التأثٌر المباشر للثقافة والتقالٌد األفرٌقٌة على دور المرأة فً المجتمع. وكٌف أن الكاتب حاول أن ٌزٌل هذه اآلراء التقلٌدٌة من خالل الرواٌة. تتكون الدراسة من خمسة أبواب فالباب األول ناقش مشكلة الدراسة وأهداف الدراسة والفروض التً طرحتها هذه الدراسة. الباب الثانً محاولة إلعطاء موجز عن حٌاة )أجٌبً( أعماله وأفكاره. الباب الثالث قدم تحلٌل للرواٌة وتزوٌد القارئ بمزٌد من المعلومات عنها من خالل تحلٌل اللغة والشخصٌات وعرض ألحداث القصة.

الباب الرابع وهو هدف الدراسة تناول المرأة األفرٌقٌة ودورها خاصة فً رواٌة )جٌنو أٌجبً( وكٌفٌة نظرة المجتمع األفرٌقً التقلٌدي لها. وكٌف أن الكاتب حاول أن ٌثبت أن دورها أساسً وضروري أو أنها تمثل مصدر القوة فً مجتمعها وألسرتها. الباب الخامس ٌحتوي على الخاتمة ونتائج البحث التً أكدت أن دور المرأة فً رواٌة )األشٌاء تتداعى( دور هام وضروري إذ أنها تمثل العمود الفقري ألسرتها ولمجتمعها الدور الذي ظل المجتمع األفرٌقً ٌتقاضً عنه لفترة طوٌلة.

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Content

Page Subject Dedication………………………………………………………………………………… iii Acknowledgment…………………………………………………………………….. iv Abstract (a) English………………………………………………………………….. v (b) Arabic…………………………………………………………………….. vi Content vii Chapter One 1 – 0 Background……………………………………………………………. 1 1 – 1 The Statement of the Problem……………………………….. 2 1 – 2 The Rational…………………………………………………………. 3 1 – 3 The Objective of the Study……………………………………… 3 1 – 4 The Question of the Study……………………………………… 3 1 – 5 Hypotheses of the Study………………………………………… 3 1 – 6 The Method of the Research………………………………….. 4 1 – 7 The Structure of the Research 4 Chapter Two Analysis of "Things Fall Apart" 2 – 1 General Introduction "Thing Fall Apart" 5 2 – 2 Purpose of Things Fall Apart………………………………… 6 2 – 3 Setting………………………………………………………………….. 8 2 – 4 Plot………………………………………………………………………. 9 2 – 5 Theme………………………………………………………………….. 10 2 – 6 Language………………………………………………………………… 15 2 – 7 Characters……………………………………………………………… 18 2 – 8 Previous Studies……………………………………………………. 31 Chapter Three Introduction 3 – 1 Chinua Achebe's Biography……………………………………. 33 3 – 2 Chinua Achebe's Writing Style……………………………….. 35 3 – 3 Achebe on the role of African writer……………………… 38 3 – 4 Survey on Achebe's Works……………………………………… 40

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Chapter Four The Role women in Things Fall Apart - Women in Africa………………………………………………………… 44 - Women in Achebe's world ………………………………………... 46 - Socio cultural background………………………………………… 47 - The Absence of Moderating Female Principle……………. 51 - Achebe's Progressive Vision of women……………………… 53 - Feminism, womansim, and modern African women….. 55 - Gender role in "Things Fall Apart"…………………………… 63 - Women in "Things Fall Apart"……………………………………. 64 - The Role of Women in "Things Fall Apart" ……………….. 65 - The role of women in society – Things Fall apart 68 compared to mother was a great man ……………………… - Discerning truth from perception………………………………. 70 Chapter Five conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….. 72 Reference……………………………………………………………………………….. 81

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Chapter One

Introduction

Background

Africa is a multi-social and multi cultural continent, as well. It is known for its different regions and tribes. The African culture stood absolute for a longtime. The anthropologist found many difficulties to penetrate the African societies, which are famous for their paganism and adherence to their systems and beliefs. The lack of communication and translation among the tribe, which have many dialects and beliefs used to be big problem facing societies.

This content is also use to be called "The heart of darkness" The gloomy continent" as Conard (1963: 268) said this account.

The researcher is deeply interested in African literature. Accordingly she chooses to write about the role of women in one of the best known novel to the African people and other people in the world "Thing Fall Apart". Written by Chinua Achebe's.

Chinua Achebe, was a man of action at a time of much depression and great difficulty.

Achebe, mirrors a stunning moment in the African societies especially the tragic outcome of Africans encounter with colonial invasion and colonial domination.

Achebe does not imply a reaffirmation of the past but redefines contemporary reality, in the light of colonial reality and the needs of a fast changing in the tradition, customs, views and images of his society.

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Achebes' novels deal with the social and psychological conflict created by incursion of the white men and by the people who tries to keep their tradition and customs as it is especially in the field of women and women role in the society.

Achebe deals also with individualism and it is precisely the cycle created by the responses of men to the pressure of events, their evaluation of significant levels of feeling and thought, that makes the real world of the novel.

The importance of Chinua Achebe's novel derives not simply from the theme but also from his presentation of women in action, in living reaction to their fate upon the relevance and truth.

In this study, the researcher tries to deal with the role of women in Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart”. Achebe's explain how the Igbo society give less Attention to women and women role in spite of the fact that women considered to be the Pillar of this society.

The Statement of The Problem

The problem, which this study tries to tackle is the role of women in the African society in general representing as in the Igbo society in particular. Women have an important participation in the their children education and their husband and family affairs even their society and tribe. Besides their biological function, women have different roles and works to achieve most of the time.

So, the study sets out to investigate how women come to be the pivotal point to their families and society.

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Rationale

The idea of this research study originates from the researcher's interest in the African literature in general and gender issue in particular. It is attempt to study through the analysis the role of women in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall A part". The study attempts to show how Achebe dramatizes and portrays women and to what extent women are important. It also discusses how the Igbo society neglects the role of women.

Objectives of the Study

(1) To draw the readers attention to the role of the African women in the society especially women in the Igbo society. (2) To give evidence that Achebe is a real spokesman of the African society. (3) To contribute to the accumulation of the literary studies. (4) To help learners who are concerned with African literature especially Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart”.

Questions of the Study

(1) Is it true that Achebe is a spokesman of African society?. (2) How does he dramatize the role of women in his novel "Things Fall Apart"? (3) How has Achebe succeeded in writing about African women and their roles in society?.

Hypotheses

(1) Achebe is a real spokesman man of African society.

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(2) The role of women in the society "in Things Fall Apart" compared to mothers was a great man. (3) People for a long time have gone beyond the assumption that this novel presents women as sadly oppressed group with no power. The assumption may appear to be right, but there is much more to think about the role of women in "Things Fall Apart" (4) Achebe to a large extent has succeeded in conveying the role of women in the African society especially in the pre colonial Africa.

The Method of the Research

The researcher follows literary analysis. The researcher attempts to discuss the role of women through Chinua Achebe novel "Things Fall Apart”.

The Structure of the Study

The research comprises four chapters: Chapter one is an introductory chapter and chapter two offers some biographical information on Achebe's. Chapter three: gives a sketch on the novel discussing the element of fiction language, style, some characters, themes and plot. Chapter four discusses the role of a women in Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" and chapter five come to be conclusion of the study.

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Chapter Two

Analysis of Things Fall Apart

This chapter casts some light on Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart". The researcher gives a general introduction to the novel and reviews or analyses the elements of fiction: setting, plot, theme, characters, and languages. A review of some of the previous studies is also provided.

To Achieve this, the researcher makes use of some sources rather than literature itself such as psychology, computer, history and Achebe's works and critical writing about him.

Achebe's novels so vivid that the readers of Achebe novel can feel see, and hear the incidents throughout the lines as if they were watching a film.

The researcher through this chapter illustrates how the novel is a carefully plotted as unified piece of writing. Achebe achieves balance a proportion in the treatment of his theme of political corruption by evoking both the absurdity of the behaviour of the principal characters.

General Introduction to the Novel Things Fall Apart

"Things Fall Apart" was published in 1958. It is the seminal African novel in English. Although there were earlier examples, notably by Achebe's fellow Nigerian, Amos Tutuola, none has been so influential, not only on African literature, but on literature around the world. It is most striking feature is to create a complex and sympathetic portrait of a traditional village culture in Africa.

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Achebe is trying not only to inform the outside world about Ibo culture traditions, but to remind his own people of their past and to assert that it had contained much of value. All accept the European judgment that Africa had no history or culture worth considering.

He also fiercely resents the stereotype of Africa as an undifferentialed "primitive" land, the "heart of darkness" as Concard Calls it. Throughout the novel he show how African cultures vary among themselves and how they change over time.

Purpose of Thigs Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe believes that the fundamental theme with which African writers should concern themselves is: "That African peoples didn't hear of culture for the first time from Europeans; that their societies were not mindless but frequently had a philosophy of great depth and value and beauty, that they had poetry, above all, they had dignity.

Achebe's commitment to dignifying his people's recent history, to combat bad colonial influences on moral might have made his book an essay in praise of former times. So it is clear that one of Achebe's purposes behind "Thing Fall Apart" was to show that modern African did not being at the time of British protectorates, or at independence, but that a 'dignified" and highly developed civilization had existed two generation ago.

According to Killam, G. D (1997) "The novel has three sections: The first and the most important is set in Umuofia before the coming of the white man and before his existence is even known. The second part

-6- dramatizes Okonkwo's banishment to Mbbnta, the village of his mother's, for sins committed against the Earth Goddess, and describes, mostly through reports the coming of the white man to the nine villages and establishment of an alien church, government and trading system. The third section and shortest brings the novel to a close, dramatizing the death of the old ways and the death of Okonkwo.

"Achebe's Things Fall Apart" operates differently from works of literature that guide and control the responses of the reader of this book is forced to rely on his mental, intellectual and imaginative power and resources in order to come to an understanding and evaluation of the Umoufian Culture and society.

The Novel is carefully designed to create an opportunity for the reader's active participation not only to feel 'but also to think' its far as culture and religion are concerned at the stage of exposition, we feel that the narrator is a "communal" speaker who belongs to the world of 1890s.

The interest is communal; all are affected by death or by a good day's work. Values are also held in common and decisions are taken in public. Things are presented not as they appear to an individual consciousness through mood and character, in European novel, but as everyone can see they plainly are.

Killam, G. (1997: 14) "The Atmosphere of the novel is realistic and not romantic, although there are romantic elements in it; Achebe manages to express a romantic vision of the Ibo life in realistic form"

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Achebe in "Things Fall Apart" is able to view the forces which inevitably destroyed the traditional Igbo social ties in showing the Igbo society before and after the coming of the white man, he avoid the temptation to the present the past as idealized and the present as ugly and unsatisfactory and this is very important point to many critics behind his success, beside his interest in the history of this people, their folklore, legends and he put all these aspect in the novel in perfect way and good use.

Moreover "Things Fall Apart" considered as Achebe's first effort to deal with the conflict between the two cultures; the indigenous and the new European culture.

The novel is significant and very crucial because begins the style of popular and fashionable African novels. "Things Fall Apart", deal with the cultural contact and the conflict, in a style that mirrors the socio – cultural organization existing in Africa of the era that Achebe describe.

Thinking about the enormous success of this book and the influence it has had in the shaping of the African and the world of literature, it can be said that indeed the history of this novel is also the history of the beginning of modern African literature in English. It is about how works of fiction create their own tradition, cultures, contexts and reading communities.

Setting

The story of Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" takes place in the Nigerian village of Umuofia in the late 1880s, before missionaries and other outsiders have arrived. The Igbo clan practices common tribal

-8- traditions – worship of gods, sacrifice, communal living, war and magic. Leadership is based on a man's personal worth and his contribution to the good of the tribe.

The whole novel buildup out of the profound gulf that exist between Obi's western education and its practical relevance to his individuals place in the world.

So the setting is Umuofia and Mbanta, the two principal villages in a union called the "nine village".

Achebe establishes his perspective from inside Umuofia which is Igbo for people of the forest.

From the first part of the novel Achebe make elaborate representation of the setting. The Igbo tribal world emerges here in all its specificity, its daily routines and seasonal ritual attuned to the natural rhythms of its living environment.

Achebe established and reproduced physical setting in what seems a deliberate manner in the novel opening sentence and is associated by implication with the destiny of the central character who makes his appearance at the very outset of the narrative devoted to him. Achebe (1958: 3)

"Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine village and even beyond".

The Plot

Okonkwo is well known through the nine village in Nigeria and even beyond. His fame rests on solid personal achievement. He has

-9- brought honour to his village by throwing Amalinze the cat who is for seven years unbeaten.

Okonkwo is the great wrestler and warrior. He is an Igbo middle – aged man. He has spent much of his adult lifetime attempting to scour the image of being a weak man which he fears he was inherited because of his worthless father Unoka the lazy man who can not feed his own family.

While still quite young, Oknkowo gains recognition both as a wrestler and warrior, and in the hardest years he ensures and demonstrates his worthiness as an industrious farmer to fulfill his final dreams by taking the highest titles in his society can bestow upon him. He is brought down by the accidental murder of a young boy, because of the tribal law, he must flee with his family into exile to a nearly village for seven year, where his mother's clan lives.

During the period of exile, the white man arrives in the form of Christian missionaries and British government officials. Upon Oknkow's return to Umuofia, he attempt to convince his fellow villagers that they must drive way the white man from the area. However, his people do not support him. After killing one of the white man's messengers, Okonkwo realizing that he has lost the support of his clan, he hangs himself committing suicide.

Themes

Since the novel "Things Fall Apart" is centered on the character of Okonkwo, the main theme is the conflict between the culture of the

-11- simple, peaceful, primitive life of the local tribes that Okonkwo represents and the sophisticated European culture.

To begin with, Okonkwo has become famous since his youth through wrestling which is important aspect in his society. He brings honour to his village by throwing Amalinze the cat. Okonkwo's fame is described by Achebe, (1958: 3) "that his fame is grown Like a bush fire in the hamattan".

Okonkwo, the famous strong man has many weak points. The writers stated that Achebe (1958: 3) "….. Okonkwo had no patience with un successful men. He had no patience with his father…." The same things is refused and is not accepted by his society. Unoka, Okonkwo's father, in spite of his failure, is an easy – going man. He is a flute player, generous, gentle and he likes peaceful life so he dislike war. According to their society and culture he is a failure, and a man who has no title. He died in debts, the things that make his son Okonkwo, ashamed and afraid of being like his father.

Okonkwo is one of the greatest men in Umuofia he is greatest warrior, wrestler and wealthy man with three wives and two titles. The same things is his society. Umuofia Okonkwo's village is feared by all its neighbours. It has a power in war: magic, priests is and medicine men who are well known among villagers. But there is after that is prevalent amongst both the society and the tragic hero. Achebe (1958: 30) stated: "darkness beid arague terror for those people, even the bravest among them". That means all the people in Umuofia even Okonkow the bravest warrior and wrestler fears being considered or judged as his father – weak and failure.

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Okonkwo and Umuofian society are merciless According to their religion, unoka is thrown in the evil forest because he has swelling, which is an abomination against the earth goddess. They throw the innocent twins in the evil forest, for the sake of their gods. They kill the gifted boy, Ikemfuna because the oldest man Ezeudn says so, although one of the elders advises Okonkwo not to have a hand in the problem of murdering the boy but Okonkwo has done it for fear of being regarded a coward and weak. Through his rashness and violence, Okonkwo has beaten one of his wives in the week of peace. This makes him sacrifice a certain fine to the god of earth.

In the harvest festival Okonkwo beats another wife and almost kills her with his gun. Okonkwo kills another boy accidentally and according to their religion he is to flee with his family to his motehr's clan for seven years.

Obierika, Okonkwo intimate friend. Is a man of thought, he always thinks, weight things before they happen. Obierika is against the Ozo)1(" title which deprives him of climbing a plan trees which is considered a symbol of high status. He is also against the suffering that is caused by committing an a inadvertent of offense against innocent twins.

Obierika asks himself about the crime the twins of his wife has committed to be thrown away.

Nwoye Okonkwo's eldest son feels the hatred and disgust towards this habit also, he has the same feeling when his father kills Ikemefuna,

)1( Ozo = one of the titles an comporant 1960 man could aspire to.

-12- the gifted boy. Achebe (1958: 137) describes Nwoye's reaction to the missionaries:

"There was a young lad who had been captivated. His name was Nwoy, Okonkwo's first son. It was not the mad logic of the trinity that captivated him. He did not understand it. The bymn about brothers who sat at darkness and in fear, the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna".

Consequently, Nwoye joins the new religion: a convert to Christianity among many other people. The new Christians achieve that the traditional African are pagans because they throw twins away and they kill the gifted boys. Both crimes are the worst habits that the African used to do in the past time, but they get rid of this habit nowadays. So, the forces of the society move from within to prepare the ground for the forces of change which come from outside.

Nwoye and many others are captivated by the poetry of the new religion while the forces of change are gaining new ground and new men, Okonkwo is in his expired mentality, Achebe (1958: 124) "we must fight these men and drive them from the land…" Okonkwo says to his friend Obierika, who rejects the idea. Obierika said in the same page

"it's already too late. Our own men and our son have joined the ranks of the stranger, and have been given power" This quotation shows that it is too late to reject the white man and the new invaders. The Nigerian's son join the new situation and they get jobs in the missionaries of Christianity. So there is no way for resistance.

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In the direction of the theme, the clash between the two cultures or civilizations goes on in a very hot way. Those, who are despised by Okonkwo like his father, his son, and the Osu, those who are against the throwing of the twins, the poor even the wealthy, all of those become the fuel of the change. There becomes a church instead of the shrine or cave in a hill. There becomes one God: the creator instead of many gods that are made of wood. The twins are no longer to be thrown in the evil thick forest, the one who has swelling is not thrown in the evil forest for the animal to eat.

In Umuofia there is a great change. For example they established a government instead of the council of elders and titled men. A court takes the place of the egwuywe. There is flourishing in the economy from the palm oil and kernel, as Achebe (1958: 137) puts it "they become of great price."

All the Igbo are accepting the new situation and the new reality. The people are convinced that the new invaders have power and recent weapons beside the conventor. But Okonkwo is not satisfied. He kills the messenger of the white man. His people withdraw and they do not support him. Okonkwo commits suicide which is a shameful death according to the customs of his people. Accordingly his people don't bury him.

Obierika, the thoughtful man, ends the epic of 'Things Fall Apart' gazing at the dangling body of Okonkwo by the words Achebe (1958: 147) "That man one of the greats men in Umuofia, you drove him to kill himself, and now he will be buried like a dog…" That means although Okonkwo is one

-14- of the bravest men in the clan, he kills himself, when he finds that all the things that he fights for falling apart.

The novel dramatizes the situation of modern men and modern societies that are forced to adapt and compromise if they wish to survive, and the centeral theme of all Achebe's novel is the tragedy of the man or society refuse or is unable to accommodate change.

"Things Fall Apart" seems a simple novel in all of Chinua Achebe novels. In defending its importance most critics like its value solely to its theme. Inspite it considered as simple novel, but it is deceptively so on closer inspection, we see its provocatively complex interweaving significant themes beside the centeral theme such as love, compassion, colonialism, achievement, honor and individualism. In treat way these themes Achebe employs a variety of devices, such as proverbs, folktales, rituals and the juxtaposition of characters and episodes.

Language

According to the researcher point of view the language is the thing by which we can judge if the author succeeded or not in reflecting real life or giving clear insight into the natural and general sprit of the age or society he is writing about.

Considering the language in the novel "Things Fall Apart" it's simple but dignified, when the characters speak they use an elevated diction which ment to convey the sense of the Igbo speech. This choice of language was a brilliant and innovative stork given that most earlier writers had relegated African characters to pidgin.

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In "Things Fall Apart" characters speak English in a manner any one would recognize as natural to them. So Achebe doesn't shock or wound the basic English sentence – structure and at the same time he doesn't reduce the fundamentals of the Igbo language to obscurity, mean while, we are unable to claim that the English of the novel is un English. A native Ibo speaker or the other hand characters use the language of the daily intercourse that Achebe lend to them.

Achebes keen awareness of the possibilities of language and his craftsman ship are revealed in the varing Idioms and techniques of his later fiction.

His novel "Things Fall Apart" recreates through the language of 19th Ibo society. Achebe use particular idioms and set of proverbs to convey the destruction of an Igbo culture. He use an African vernacular English which stimulates the idioms of Ibo.

In the narrative and descriptive passage similes and idiomatic expression are frequently comployed to convey the feel of an agricultural and hunting society Achebe (1958: 3) 'Okonkwo fame has grown like bush fine in the hamaltan ikemefuna" grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the rainy season".

So the interplay of the idioms and the allusions of the narrator with the passage of dialogue and indirect that the narrative voice is primarily a reaction of the person which is hered in tales, history, proverb, poetry.

The language used by the narrator is closely related to the speech of the Ibo characters who are the center of the novel. Expressions used

-16- by Okonkwo and Oberika and other are repeated by narrator and thus the identify of the narrator as spoken man for the Igbo community is emphasized, at the same time the dialogue is seasoned with proverbs which while giving the conversation flavor. So proverbs considered to be the palm – oil with which words are eaten and also characterize the speaker, his mood and his values of the society he represent.

We come to the fact that Achebe used his own style of English to recapture Ibo culture and he succeeded in decpling this culture despite that fact that the English used in some part of "Things Fall Apart" is not spoken by English Native speaker yet it is correct English. Achebe has made association between a culture and the language which are strange to each other he has disfigured neither the culture nor the language.

To sum up our speech about the language we come to the fact that achebe has an instinct for knowing where things belong and talent for putting them there and he also possesses a shrewd sense of what is in character and what is not, all these qualities are displayed in his deliberate search for an appropriate language for each novel and the style that will not suit his subject and evoke the right cultural milieu but will also help to define the moral issues with which the novel is concerned.

So Achebe is considered a skillful artist achieves an appropriate language for each of his novel largely through the use of proverbs which serve as key to uses them not merely to add touches of lacal color but to sound and reiterate themes to sharpen characterization, to clarify conflict and to focus on the values of the society he is portraying.

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Proverbs thus provide grammer of values by which the deals a hero can be measured and evaluated. By studing Achebes proverbs we are better able to interpret his novels.

Achebe use of an African vernacular style is not limited to dialogue in "Things Fall Apart", the narrative itself is studded with proverbs and simile which help to evoke and we stated the cultural milieu in which action take place.

Here are some simile drawn from narrative portion of "Things Fall Apart": (TFA) Achebe (1985: 1, 19, 42, 53, 100)

……"like a bush-fire in harmattan" (TFA, p: 1)

……"like pouring grains of corn into a bagful of holes" (TFA, p 16).

……"as if water had been poured on the tightened skin of when other-cow is chewing grass its young oneswatch its mouth" (TFA:99)

……."like snapping of tightened bow" (TFA, p 43)

……"when a man says yes his chi says yes also" (TFA:19)

Characters

To study Achebes character through the novel "Things Fall Apart" is it very important part of our study. His heroes are mostly cultural types or models who mirror in their characterization the extremely complex historical and cultural background from which they emerge. Achebe has created characters who embody his society increasingly broadening outlook to life, moving from limited societal views of the village and the clan to an over widening world view.

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In "Things Fall Apart" the presentation of sociological goes with the development of Okonkwo character, and the novel which shows the inter relationship of environment and character. The researcher is giving more details about each character in the novel especially those who possess great role in the development of actions in the novel.

Okonkwo

Is the central tragic figure in "Things Fall Apart" a famous warrior and expert farmer who has risen from humble orgins to become a wealthy and respected leader of his clan. His entire life has been a struggle to achieve status, and he has almost attained a position of preeminence when he accidentally kills a kinsman.

His life can be divided into three periods: his early years in Umuofia, his seven year exile in Mbanta and his return to Umuofia.

Reacting against the shameful memory of his fathers' failure, Okonkwo soon became a very successful number of his clan. He had three wives and eleven Children, all of whom he ruled with "heavy hand". He had two barns of yams. He had taken two titles and earned a reputation as Umuofia's most fear warrior.

At the age of eighteen he defeated a champion wrestler. He was listened to with respect by the elders and was chosen as their envoy to deliver an ultimatum to Mabaino. He became one of the nine eywugwu. He had nearly achieved his ambition of becoming one of the lords of his clan. Then his gun exploded and killed Ezeudis son. This tragic accident was an offence against the earth goddess for which he had to go into exile for seven years.

-19-

In Mbanta, Okonkwo made afresh start with the help of Uchendu and his mother's kinsmen. But he was again over come by misfortune. His son Nwoye joined the missionaries and left home. By this time the white man he arrived in Igbo land and brought a new religion. An alien government and system of justice, western ideas of education and medicine and many new articles of trade converts to Christianity challenged traditional beliefs. In Mbanta, one of them killed and sacred Python. In Umuofia another committed an even greater sacrilege by unmasking an egwugwu.

In Mbanta, Okonkwo felt helpless against the tide of European influence, he thought the permissive attitude towards the missionaries was feeble and cowardly. He pinned his hopes on his return to Umuofia. There he would once again show his greatness.

He would build a bigger barn and have more wives, he would initiate his two sons into the one society and take the highest title in land. This two beautiful marriageable daughters would attract wealthy and important suitors. But Umuofian society had changed profoundly in his seven year, absence and his return went almost unnoticed people were preoccupied with the new religion and government as well the trading stores and money that was flowing into the village when Enoch unmasked egwugwu. Okonkwo was deeply involved in the elders response to this provocation.

He was among the egwugwn who destroyed smith's church. He was among the six leaders called to meeting with the village crier. He was arrested, handcuffed shaved and beaten by the court messengers.

-21-

The day after his release, he went with his machete to the meeting called by the village crier. It was interrupted by the arrival of five court messengers. The head of the messengers ordered the meeting to stop. Okonkwo be headed him. The other messengers were allowed to escape and thus Okonkwo knew that Umuofia would not go to war.

The changes brought to Umuofian society by the white man drove him to despair and suicide.

Okonkwo life reflects the traditional values of his society. These are described in great detail in part one of the text. In part two, Thing begin to fall apart with in the arrival of the white man part three end with Okonkwo as the tragic victim of his society's disintegration.

All his life, Okonkwo was afraid of failure and weakness frightened of being compared to his father although he appeared self confident he felt deeply unsure of himself.

Okonkwo was therefore a very reserved person kept his true feeling to himself he was a man of action who spoke little and with a sight stammer. His determination to take certain action often sprang from a stubborn uncompromising attitude.

Okonkwo believed unquestionably in the customs of his people. He kept the symbols of his personal god in a shrine on his compound in Umuofia. When he broke the rules of the clan and offended the gods he accepted his punishment. He offered the requisite sacrifices to Ani after he had broken the week of peace and went to promptly into exile.

The exile to Mbanta at the time when Okonkwo was hoping to become one of the greatest lord of the clan was a blow to his moral,

-21- previously he had believed in the Igbo proverb "when a man says yes, his chi say yes also"

After Okonkwo killed one court messenger, the people of Umuofia let the others escape. They ere frightened and wondered why he has done it. The realization that they would not go to war against the white man filled him with so much despire that he took his own life.

Unoka

Unoka was the idle, easy going, music – loving father of Okonkwo. His laziness brought him into debt and earned him the rebuk of the priestess of the Oracle of the hills and caves. He took no title and left no barn for Okonkwo to inherit. When he contracted the swelling sicknes, which was considered an abomination to the earth goddess, he was left to die in the Evil forest.

Unoka was the very opposite to his son. Okonkwo was so shamed of him that he consciously set out to be completely different. The memory of his fathers' life filled him with a burning – huge barns, titles, many wives and respected position in the clan. It is also filled him with an instance fear, it was this fear which lead him to treat his family so harshly.

Unoka's character forced Okonkwo to become self – reliant at an early age. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat and this is a result of his laziness which lead him also to became improvident a debtor, and coward who could not stand in the side of blood. Achebe characterize him deftly in this passage Achebe (1958: 4) "Unoka would remember his own childhood how he had often wandered

-22- around looking for a kite sailing leisurely against the blue sky, as soon as he find one he would sing with his whole being welcoming it if it had brought home any lengths of cloth".

His capacity to day – dream, his laziness and improvidence, his childish hope that the kite would bring back cloth and thus absolve him from the necessity of providing for himself in this novel. His character is made to stand direct contrast to Okonkwos and to enhance his central position in the novel.

Nwoye

As Okonkwos' eldest son, he disappointed his father by his apparent lack of manly qualities. Ikemefuna, who was two years older than Nwoye, became his close compainion under his influence.

Nwoye was able to do more manly tasks like splitting wood or pounding food. Nwoye was deeply shocked by the killing of Ikemefuna she had been earlier by the sound of infant twins thrown away in the forest. Ikemefuna's death may have destroyed Nwoye's respect for his father and made him more receptive later to the Christian message.

Nwoye was deeply impressed by the first missionaries who come to Mbanta. Their hymn about brothers living in darkness and fear reflected his own anxieties one Sunday he plucked up courage to enter their church. He was reported to Okonkwo by his cousin Amikwn when Nwoye returned home. Okonkwo seized him by the throat and began beating him until Uchendu ordered him to stop. He ran back to the church and told Mr Kiaga he would go to the mission school in Umuofia.

-23-

Okonkwo disowned him and regarded his action as an abomination. He was disgusted that his living fire had produced such important ash.

Nowye dislike stories of bloodshed told him by Okonkwo and preferred his mothers' stories, he did not display strength or sporting skills. Okonkwo thought him womanly and said he was easily thrown in a wrestling match.

Okonkwo hated everything his father unoka stood for, and wanted his son to be like himself. Ironically, however, his son was more like Unoka. His conversion to Christianity and running away from home contributed to "Things Fall Apart" for Okonkwo, by defying Okonkwo's strongly held beliefs and breaking up the unity of his family. Nwoye is portrayed in marked contrast to Okonkwo whereas other sons are shown to be like their fathers, for example Maduka is like Obierika and Amikwu is like Uchendu.

Ikemefuma

Ikemefuna come to Okonkow's house hold as a hostage from Mbaino. After the people of Mbaino had killed Udo's wife, they avoid war with Umuofia by sacrificing Ikemefuna. A fifteen year old boy, who was entrusted to Okonkwo. He spent three years in the household of Okonkwo who looked after him on behalf of the clan.

He impressed every one by his liveliness, his practical skills and his cheerful nature. He became a very close friend to Nwoye.

One day, Ezeudu came to inform Okonkwo that Oracle of the hills and the cave had deered Ikemofuna death. He told Okonkwo not to take part in the killing but Okonkwo ignored him. The following day Okonkwo

-24- joined the group of elders who took Ikemefuna outside Umuofia and killed him.

Ikemefunas' character contrast with Nwoye. He was manly, active and live by wheress Nwoye appeared to be timid, passive rather unmanly and lazy. Okonkwo admired Ikemefuna's qualities. Despite this and despite Ezeudu's advice, Okonkwo took part in his killing out of fear of being thought weak.

This aspect of Okonkwo's character was to bring about his downfall. The circumstances of Ikemefuna's death deeply shocked Nwoye and distributed to his eventual conversion to Christianity.

Ezinma

Ezinma was the only daughter of Okonkwo's second wife. Ekwefi through her, we learn more about the customs and beliefs of the people in Umuofia. She was a very unusal child. She was classified as an Ogbanje or child who keeps on dying and being reincarnated through it's mother. There was always the fear that such a child would not survive but would die and cause it's parents further suffering.

Ezinma was Ekwefi's tenth child. The other nine had died in infancy. Ezubna was typical of an Oghanje in having alternating periods of very good health and serious illness. Okonkwo and Ekwefi were both very worried when Ezinma had Iba or fever they showed the depth of their concern for Ezinma by their alarmed reaction to the demand of Chilo, the priestess of Agbala, to take Ezinma away of the shrine of the Oracle of the hills and caves.

-25-

Okonkwo and Ekwefi had a sleepless vigil at the mouth of the cave and were greatly relieved when Ezinma was returned unharmed to their compound. Ezinma's parents' became more optimistic about her chances of survival after her iyi-uwa had been unearthed and destroyed. (the Iyi-uwa was especial kind of stone which linked and Ogbanje to the spirit world. Ezinma guided the medicine-man Oka gbue to the spot where it was burined by destroying it, the link between Ezinma and the sprit world was broken.

Ezinma had a very special relationship with both her parents, she called her mother by her name. Ekwefi allowed her to eat eggs in secret. Children were normally discouraged from developing taste for eggs for fear that it would tempt them to steal.

She was the center of attention for Ekwefi who treated her as an equal. She loved to listen to her mother's stories and from her she learnet the story of the tortoise and its broken shell. Ezinma illustrates the importance of oral tradition in the up brining of the children.

Ezinma's character was very different from Nwoye's her lively behavior and relationship with Okonkwo was more like that of Ikemefuna. Whereas Nwoye constantly disappointed his father. Okonkwo was very pround of Ezinma, and was delighted by the understanding and loyalty of her. She took him the dishes cooked by her mother and could comment directly to him on his failure to eat after death of Ikemefuna. She refused suitors in Mbanta, Knowing her father would wish her to delay marriage till they had returned from exile to Umuofia.

-26-

Okonkwo repeatedly wished she had been a boy. She showed an inquiring mind from an early age in the way she questioned her mother, who thought her 'wiser than her years' .

Ekwefi

She was Okonkwo's second wife. She had first been attracted to hims when she watched his victory over Amalinze the cat in a wrestling contest.

Okonkwo was then too poor to pay her bride – price and so she married Anene. Two years later she ran away to Okonkwo. She born to him nine children but they all died in infancy. However, the tenth child, Ezinma , survived and Ekwefi was happy when Ezinma's Iyi – uwa, the stone linking her with the sprit world, was found and destroyed. Ezinma, the child born after so many years of suffering, was the centre of Ekwefis world Ekwefi treated her as an equal and gave her whatever she wanted.

Ezinma still gave her same anxious moments. One was when she thought Ezinma was dying of fever, another was when her friend chielo, who shared a marked- shed with her, came as priestess of Agabala to take Ezinma away to her shrine, she braved the treats screamed at her by Chielo as she followed her to the shrine of the oracle.

She was faithful, attractive wife who happily performed her share of household duties, she grew enough cassava in Mbanta to provide from her surplus for the great feast which Okonkwo organized to thank his mother kinsmen. She had an advantage over the other wives, however, in having only one child to feed. Though Okonkwo admired Ekwefi, every wife of him was abound to incur his wrath on one occasion

-27- or another. She once cut a few leaves off a banana tree to wrap same food. Okonkwo accused her of killing the tree and beat her severely. When he later over heard her mocking his lack of skill with a gun, he amied it at her. Fortunately, he missed. Deliberately killing his wife would have been a much greater crime that his accidental killing of Ezeudn's son.

After the tragedly of her early married years, Ekwefi came to enjoy life. She took great pleasure in the company of Ezinma and loved to tell her stories. She looked forwarded each years to watching the wrestling matches which took place on the second day of the New Yam festival.

She was a devoted mother, happy to nurse Ezinma through sickness and tell her stories, she risked provoking Okonkwo when she commented on his incompetence as a hunter.

Obierika

Obierika was Okonkwo's constant friend and wise adviser, like Okonkwo, he was a successful man who obeyed tradition. He had taken the ozo title. But unlike Okonkwo, he could distance himself, from his customs and examine them critically. He rebuked Okonkwo for participating in the death of Ikemefuna but consoled him on the night before he had to Flee Umuofia. While Okonkwo was in exile, he stored his yams sold some and gave others to share – croppers and took the proceeds to Okonkwo in Mbanta. He was concerned about Nwoye's conversion to christinity and made especial visit to Okonkwo because of it.

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He prepared for Okankwo's return to Umuofia by building two huts in Okonkwo's old compound. He tried to explain to Okonkwo how and why Umuofian society had changed in his absence. He showed how the white man had destroyed the things that united them. He walked with Okonkwo to the meeting place on the fatal Occasion when Okonkwo beheaded the court messenger. He was sitting in Okonkwo's Obi when the soldiers and court messengers arrived to arrest Okonkwo. He led them to the spot where Okonkwo had hanged himself. He explained that only strangers could bury Okonkwo. His furious out burst against the soldiers and messengers whom he balmed for the suicide of a man he considered to be one of the greatest men in Umuofia.

Although he and Okonkwo always remained friends, they were different in character in many ways. Obierika's critical reflection on his customs contrasts with Okonkwo's unquestioning acceptance of them. Where Okonkwo was harsh, rash and uncompromising. Obierika was tolerant, cautions and realistic.obierika is comparable to Uchendu in his wise advice and helpfulness.

Uchendu:

As the eldest surviving member of Okonkwo's mothers family, he welcomed his nephew, Okonkow, to his motherland when he was forced to the Umuofia after accidently killing a kinsman. He gave Okonkwo land and seeds – yams, advice and encouragement. He disapproved of the rash way the people of Abame killed a missionary, and suggested to the rulers of Mbanta that the missionaries be allowed to build a church in the Evil forest. He restrained Okonkwo from nearly killing Nwoye, but he firmly respected tradition and stressed the importance of kinship in his

-29- speech at the thanks giving feast given by Okonkwo before his return to Umuofia.

Uchendu played the same role of friend and counsellor to Okonkwo in Mbanta as obierika did in Umuofia.

Brown

Brown was the first missionary to come to Mbanta. His interprets, kiaga, stayed to found the church and Brown paid regular visits from his base in Umuofia. Brown and kiaga were instrumental in coverting Nwoye, when Okonkwo returned from exile to Umuofia, Brown thought he would be pleased to hear that he had sent his son to teacher training college. Okonkwo drove him from his compound with threats.

Brown was very careful to respect local feelings and avoid provoking the clan. He made a point of getting to know and became friends with great men of the clan like Akunna, with whom he had lengthy discussions on religion. These discussions gave him a much better understaning of the traditional point of view. Though kunna firmly maintained his own beliefs, he was ready to send his son to Brown's school.

Brown decided that he could most effectively buildup support for his mission through an indirect approach. He stressed the importance of education as a means of employment and warned that if the people of Umuofia did not send their children to school they would soon be ruled by other Ibo.

More people joined the mission as they saw the result of Brown's work. The cures from western medicine after he built a hospital and the

-31-

Jobs secured as court messengers, court clerks and teachers after he found school. Rather than seeking to convert the current leaders of Umuofia he influenced members of the younger generation like Nwoye and Akunna's son.

Through his method, he won converts not only from those dismissed as efulefu but from men of title like Ogbuefs Ugonna. New churches and schools were estatablished and new converts converted other.

Failing health forced him to leave and to be replaced by Mr. smith – Brown and smith illustrate contrasting missionary methods and have contrasting characters. Smith replaced conciliation with confrontation, respect with denunciation and caution with fanaticism. He was devoted to his work as a missionary and sacrificed his health to it.

The Previous Studies:

The researcher has searched for previous studies on Achebe. Many are the books, articles and essays about this great writer. Many of the quotation in this literature review are taken from these works. It is clear that no one of those works is designed to study "The role of women in Achebe's Novel "Things Fall Apart". However Amel, from khurtoum university carries out a theisis study in (1995) for the degree of M. A. this study is about "Tragedy and characterization in Achebe's Novels" the summary of this study is that Achebe chooses the tragic medium in handling his characters thus delaing with the social and psychological conflict of his human types. The study is different from this study in that Amel talked the final tragedy caused by both intrinsic

-31- weakness in the protagonist himself as well as the outside forces that Achebe fails either to understand or control. The buildin – elements of failure in each protagonist is reminder and a reflection of the dislocation in the African psyche and the society at large.

A meeir from Khartoum university draw "A comparison between Achebe and El Tayeb Salih" It is an up unpublished thesis for the degree of M. A. Ameer finds similarities between them in their up-brining and life.

Another study is written by Widad Salim Osman Musa from University of Gezira. The thesis is about the prominent Aspect of African culture in some of Achebe Novels which tackles Achebe as an "ancestor worshipper' and as a spokes man of African culture through certain novels. Through this study the researcher attempt to show how Africa culture like before and after the influence of European colonization, and provide us with analyses for the Achebe novel to show the prominent aspect of the African culture in these novel.

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Chapter Three

Chinua Achebe's Biography

Albert Chiinulumogu Achebe was born the son of Isaiah Okafo, a Christian churchman, and Jant. N. Achebe November 16, 1930 in Ogidi, Nigeria. He married Christie Chinwe Okoli, September 10, 1961 and has four children: Chinelo, Ikechukwu, chidi and Nwando.

Achebe descended from an educated Igbo family and the Igbo tribe forms one of the largest ethnic group of Africa, part of them live in Estern Nigeria and the others live outside Nigeria. The Igbo have their own beliefs, myths, customs and tradition. Achebe was considered member of this group believes in what elder do.

He attended government college in Umuahia from 1944 to 1947 and university college in Ibadan from 1948 to 1953 where he studied English history, Theology. He then received a B. A. from London university in 1953. He also studied broadcasting at the British Broadcasting corp in London in 1965 and he joined broad casting company in Lagos in According to Sykes (2000:4). His parents installed in him many of the value of their traditional Igbo culture, they were devout evangelical portestants and christend him "Albert" After the prince Albert husband of Queen Victoria.

As his father was church agent who worked as a teacher in missionary schools he studied on these school as his father desire.

Chinua Achebe who was classified and known as prominent Igbo (Ibo) writer started his life travelling in Africa and America in search of work and entertainment, he works for a short time as a teacher. In

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1960s he was the director of the external services in charge of the voice of Nigeria.

Conch (1971:181) proves that "Achebe grew up in religious house where hymns are sung so Achebe was Christian when he was a child and continue tells that Achebe read Bible night and day and he use to go to his uncle's compound to participate in pagan festival.

"The old man shook his head sadly but said no more obi repeated his point. What made an osa different from other men and women? Nothing but the ignorance of their forefather why should they? Who had seen the lignt of the Gospel, remain in that ignorance?" During the Nigerian Civil war (1967- 1970), Achebe was in the Biafran government service, and then taught at US and Nigerian universities. In 1967 he cofounded a publishing company at Enugu with the poet Christopher Okigbo. Later he was appointed research fellow at the university of Nigeria, and then he became a professor of English retiring in 1981. Achebe has been a professor emeritus since (Achebe 1958:23).

Hinckley (1985: 9) "since 1971 Achebe has edited Okike, the leading journal of Nigerian news writing. He gas also held the post of professor of English at the university of Massachusetts Amherst, there he met James Baldwin also a faculty member, who was professor of African studies. In 1990, he has been a faculty member at Bard College, a liberal arts school, where he has taught literature to undergraduates."

Harrues (1975: 4), "states that Achebe has received numerous honours from different parts of the world he has been awarded over twenty honorary doctorates from universities in Britain, the U. S. A. Canada and

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Nigeria. He received Nigerian's highest award for intellectual achievement, "The Nigerian Nationalment Awards"

Achebe's Writing Style

Cinnua achebe is probably the most widely read of contemporary African writers both on African continent and abroad.

Laureuce (1969: 74) states that since the 1950s, Nigeria has witnessed the flourishing of new literature which has drawn sustenance from both traditional oral literature and from present rapidly changing society, Chinua Achebe was one of the founders of the new African literature since 1939.Liimois (2000: 1) Mentioned that Achebe leads a great change in Nigeria especially in the literary works because he writes in English, but the traces of his mother language are still apparent in his novels, so new literature founded and a number of Achebes novels are written as reaction against in accurate portrayals of African life style and culture by European. Nigerian dramatists and novelists. Thirty years ago Chinua Achebe was one of the founders of this new literature and over the years many critics have come to consider him the finest of the Nigerian novelists.

His achievement however has not been limited to his continent and he was classified as the best novelist now writing in English.

In the fact Achebe aims to see the Nigerian people lead Change in all aspects of their life, to get rid of what is rubbish and primitive and to keep what is good and civilized.

Unlike some African writers Achebe struggling for acceptance among contemporary English language novelist. Achebe has been able

-35- to avoid imitating the trends in English literature, reflecting the European notion.

Achebe ctied in Harries (1995: 95) "That art should be accountable to no one and needs to justify itself to no body". As he puts it in his book of essay "Morning Yet on creation day"

Achebe has embraced instead the idea at the heart of the African oral tradition. That art is and always was, at the services of man, our ancestors created their myths and told their stories for human pupose for this reason Achebes believes that any good story, any good novel should have a message and should have a purpose.

Achebe feels for the African context has influence his aesthetic of the novel as well as the technical aspect of his work.

Bruce (1993:9) comment

"Achebe was the first Nigerian writer that successfully transmute the convention of the novel, European art form into African literature. In an Achebe novel "King notes" European character study is subordinated to the economy of form is replaced by an aesthetic appropriate to rhythms of traditional tribal life.

Concerning his literary language it is standard English blended with pidgin Igbo vocabulary, proverbs image and speech patterns, Achebes shows his skill as story teller in "The Mad man" in which the social customs of the Ibo – speaking people are strongly present.

Achebe criticizes conards racism in "Heart of darkness" he has defended the use of the English language in the production of African

-36- fiction instisting that African novelist has an obligation to educate and he has attacked European critics who has failed to understand African literature on its own term.

Achebe has defined himself as cultural nationalist with revolutionary mission because he want to " help his society regain belief in itself and put away the complexes of the years of denigration and self – basement. This is according to his view such ideas and thoughts might be refer to a time when Africans were not only opposing European rule through political action but also time for a ssessting their cultural identify.

In Achebes writing the reader finds a knowledge about the traditional Ibos society who were shared common belief and a supreme God. Chukwa the creator who gives to each person at birth, achi, which most to the Ibos defined as a kind of personal god. Achebe as a member of such group has the same ideas and beliefs. About the chi and the chukwa and persons fortunes in life are controlled more or less completely by his chi such ideas were reflected clearly in his writing of different literary works.

According to Killam. (1997: 2) African writers have not turned their back on their own culture. Achebe reflected three esenfial concerns in his writing firstly with the legacy of the colonialism at both the individual and societal level. Secondary with the fact of English as a language of national and international exchange. Thirdly with the obligation and responsibilities of the writer both to the society and his art.

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Achebe language concern with national English used variously to reflect the experience of the colonialism.

In general sense Achebe (1997: 30) assures that he adapted away of writing which leads him to believes in to all over the world throughout his novels. When he started writing he aims to show the African people that they have past as well as they have a present, they have culture, history, value, tradition pleasant and unpleasant above all they have dignity.

Also he added that its his duty as African writer to help his society to regain beliefs and confidence in themselves.

Achebe chooses to write in English and to use western forms of literary expression to document his thoughts and ideas and to show his beliefs. So his works and writing illustrated fateful world. He as an African writer aims to use English in a way ideas and beliefs in a good way without a altering the language to extent that its value as a medium of international exchange will be lost.

Chinua Achebe on the Role of African writer

According to Killam, G. (1997:2) "achebe has collection of essays on various literary and political subject, contains many of articles. The collection is divided into two parts part one has those essays dealing with the role of the writer especially the African writer in his society, and their import and impact can perhaps be summed up in the statement from the essay" African and her writer, which says, "I will still insist that art is, and always, in the service of man. Our ancestors created their myths and legend and told their stories of human purpose including no

-38- doubt, the excitation of wonder and wonder and pure light". In part two Achebe discusses the question of what language an African writer should choose to employ, and also considers the role of the critic in African literature.

More over in 1964 Achebe was confronted with the idea that Africa writer should deal with here and now rather than his past. But he rejected such views and according to him. There are fundamental themes for the writer to express such as writing about the importance of the African culture, and that African society is not mindless but had philosophy and great value and beauty and also had dignity.

Beside this fundamental themes there are legitimate themes for the writer such as politics, city life, last coupd'etate.

Achebe concentrated on the fundamental themes especially the dignity which many people lost in the colonial period he thought about how this dignity must be regained. He also states that the worst things that happen to any people is the loss of dignity, the writers duty is to help these people to regain it.

Achebe also illustrated that 'there is a saying in Ibo that a man who can't tell where the rain begin to beat him can not know where he dried his body" the writer: can tell the people where the rain began to beat him. So to him a novelist duty is not to beat this morning headline in topicality, it is also to discover in depth the human situation in African and the writer can't perform such duty unless he has the proper sense of history.

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Survey on Achebe's works

Achebe was considered as one of the most influential and widely published writers, he has written twenty-one novels, short stories, and a collection of poems.

In most of his novels he describes the effect of the western customs and value on the traditional African society.

Achebes first novel "Things Fall Apart” appeared in 1958, the story of traditional village big man. Okonkwo and his down fall has been translated into 50 languages and was considered as the best known post colonial land mark novel, when his age was 28 years he has proved popular not just in Nigeria but throughout Africa and the rest of the world, his first novel "Things Fall Apart” won him the Margaret wrong Memorial Prize.

Two years later "Things Fall Apart” was followed by "No longer at Ease" 1960 he was awarded the Nigerian National Trophy for literature. For his third novel "Arrow of God" (1964) he received the new statesman Jack Campbell Award. In this novel he concerned traditional Igbo life as it clashed with colonial power inform of missionaries and colonial government.

Later he wrote "Man of the people" (1966) which arouse immediate interest because it contain subsequent political events in Nigeria. In 1972 he was awarded the common wealth poetry Prize for his volume entitled be aware, soul brother.

Later he wrote (Anthills of the savannah) in (1987) such story is set in imaginary west African state.

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Conch (1971: 181) mentions that Achebe has written a collection of short stories, poems, several books for Juvenile readers illustrated a fateful world penetrated by many happy times.

Others works by Achebe can be summed up in "Sacrificial Eggs" and other stories in 1962, "chike and the river 1966", also he wrote How the leopard Got his claws 1972. In 1973 he wrote "Girls at war" and other stores. In 1973 also he wrote Christmas in Biafra. In 1975 he wrote "Morning yet on creation Day", and he wrote the Flute in 1975 also. In 1987 he wrote the Drum beside Memorial poem for Christopher Okigbo. In 1984 appeared an essay the trouble with Nigeria. Hope and Impediments 1989. In 1988 he wrote the leader ship Factor in Nigerian politics. Also he wrote the world of Ogbanje 1986. Beside these he wrote a Kaweta an anthology of Igbo poetry, and the winds of change as modern short stories from black Africa.

Achebe enrich the libraries with intellectual novels accordingly, he is considered to be one of the writers who invented African literature. Chinua Achebe, draws the world attention to the African literature.

To conclude, Achebe is well educated, he is a skillful writer, a poet, a dramatist and a story. He is one of the inventors of and founders of African literature. He mirrors African culture as it is pure, original and peaceful before the coming of the white man and the change of the indigenous culture during and after the colonization. So the new generation study through Achebe's novels, poetry, short stories their ancestor's past and culture.

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Otched (2001: 3) states that Achebe has serious car accident in 1990 and he was paralyzed from waist down.

This painful accident forced Achebe into wheel-chair, unable to receive the medical care he needed in Nigeria, he has lived with his wife in Amodest house in the wood North of New York city. At Brad College, small liberal art college where Achebe today teach.

Achebe assure that the virtue of difficulty is enriching. But he had not real personal experience to base this on until his accident. Achebe goes further and added in Otched (2001: 4) that he remembered when he was at the hospital June (2001) visitor asked him why you? Achebe answered why not? "deeply laugh" who should he be? In fact the visitor wanted Achebe to go back to Africa to his Native Country through that conversation Achebe attempts to stay in American for Medical care. he goes to confirm that he missed the atmosphere of real work, and of the people who were very popular to him the Nigerian people.

All in all Achebe was in deep love with Nigeria particular his tribe the Igbo, so his tribe took remarkable portion of his novel.

Achebe missed his native land the yams, Kola nuts, the stew, the council of chiefs.

In short, though Achebe misses being in Nigeria and Nigeria misses him and it is the irony of fate that he should be in the U. S. A. for medical care.

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Chapter Four

The Role of women in Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe is considered a spokes man of African culture and society throughout his novel "Things Fall Apart" he portray the African society representing in the Igbo society at the nineteenth century.

One of the important topics he discussed in the novel "Things Fall Apart" is the position and image of women in Igbo society.

Through this chapter the researcher shed light on the role of women in Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart".

Unfortunately people in the Igbo society have not paid much attention to the position and role of women, going a long with such assumption that this novel introduces and presents women as sadly oppressed group with no power.

This assumption may appear to be right, but there is much more to think about the role of women in "Things Fall Apart".

The research attempts to illustrated the role of women through this novel, "Things Fall Apart" especially in the Igbo society as they are seen care – taker who are submissive to their husband and tend to the needs of their families, also explain how their rights and freedom were limited beside their ritualistic function and other roles and activities they had done.

Achebe shows that the Igbo nonetheless assign the important role of women and this is the topic that the researcher try to talked.

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Women in Africa

The traditional agricultural society in Africa is closely associated with familial organization. It depends on women and children, women in this society are considered producers of producers, they represent the strength of the traditional kin ship and power means of production.

Therefore controlling women means controlling the reproduction of the production unit. So the African encourage the custom of marrying more than one woman in order to have many children to help the farm workers and help in other activities inside their families and outside their families.

Since women give birth they are thought to have especial capacities related to fertility generally. More over most African women are active farmers, bear children and primary educated them, cook and tack care of the household in many other ways. Through their labor, they are an important pillar of the society.

Cutrufetti (1983: 42) explains that one of the major preoccupations in the African life is to have many children and grandchildren, and to produce enough food. Therefore they encourage marriage between boys and girls not only as aunion between husband and wife but rather between two groups, which through marriage start a complex system of inter-relationship bound to operate for a longtime life and to have many labourers who can help in farming, building and other muscular activities.

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Achebe's portrait of women in his fictional universe is socio- cultural. He presents women as a part of African culture of the period he is depicting and describing.

Some critics think that the role of women in Achebe's novel is flat especially in his first two novel Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God. For instance, Muzu (1994:1) thinks that Achebe's women are voiceless, and highly invisible, there is an absence of moderating female principle in his fiction. The invisibility of women in also acknowledge by Snow (1989: 87) giving for instance that when the writer is describing a communal ceremony in Africa; "It was clear from t he way the crowed stood or sat that the ceremony was for men there were many women, out they look on from the fringe like outsiders". For many centuries African women languished on the fringe of their universe, neglected, exploited, degenerated and made to feel like outsiders. They were not invited to stay when men were engaged in any discussion, they were neither included in councils of war, not formed apart o the masquerades representing the ancestral sprit. Women in Africa constituted still do the core of rural work-force on farm, nurturing children and doing many other activities. In fact Achebe cultural universe is one in which women to be or not to be heard. They are coming and going with FooFoo)1(, pots of water, market basket, fetching kola nuts, being scalded and beaten before they disappear, and the hut of their compound.

)1( Foo Foo or Fufu: is a pounded yam eaten as part of most meal.

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But later African women in general confirm a diachronic development as it has been explained in this chapter. Richard (1956:10) states another view about women in Africa that they come in the second class after men. Man in Africa society dominate in various ways: they can beat their wives, receive the first and best food. Beside this women are very obedient and much respect to their husband. In other words husband have kneeling wives, whenever he orders her, she is obeying him. Achebe gives a progressive vision of women in Africa specially in the Igbo society. We noticed that women have sociological and political role. Achebe explained that: Igbo women had title associations that complemented to men, women controlled certain spheres of community life, they also gained statues by a missing wealth through tending, farming. The political and social activities for the Ibo women were very useful, though men occasionally felt they were contentious.

Achebe gives the African women new condition and modern situation. They have clear role, they share in most of the activities, they are able to express their ideas. Recently African women have gained more rights, they are teachers, doctors and share in the African parliament as a members and also in the African government.

Women In Achebe's World When literary activities marking the sixtieth birthday Chinua Achebe reached fever-pitch 1990, the greatest accolade given him was summed up one metaphor: The eagle on the Iroko. "Now, anybody familiar with the African landscape know the Iroko is the tallest,

-46- strongest tree forest and that the eagle is, of course, the king of the birds. It is not an easy feat to scale the tree; that is why the Igbo proverb insists: 'One does not climb the Iroko twice'. Having succeeded in climbing the Iroko, the climber should appropriate all that he finds there, he may not be able to do so again. The eagle, however, can both scale and soar above the tree and over.

In this metaphor the Iroko then represents the field of African literature; the eagle, Chinua Achebe. Achebe has, of course, literarily climbed and soared above the Iroko several times. More than those of any other African writer, his writing have helped to develop what is known as African literature today. And the single book which helped him to Launch his "revolution" is the slim, classic volume called Things fall Apart (1958) which is the core of our study. Having been the first, so to speak, to scale the top of the Iroko, this eagle Achebe, and other male eaglets after him, arguably have appropriated all that they have found there.

Achebe portraiture of women in his fictional universe, he is depicting the existing of socio cultural situation of the period and the factors in that condition male attitudes towards women. More about this will be illustrated through this study beside other point that explore what is left for female eagle.

Socio Cultural Background

Where Nigeria an Africa oppressively masculinist? The answer is, "yes" Ghana was known to have some matrilineal societies, scuch as Akans; but Nigeria's traditional culture, Muslim as well as non Muslim

-47- had been masculine-based even before the advent of the white man. The source, nature, and extent of female subordination and oppression have constituted a vexed problem in Africa literary debate, writers such as Ama Ata ADioo of Ghana and late flora Nwapa of Nigeria have insisted that the Image of the helpless, dependent unproductive African woman was one ushered in by European imperialists whose women lived that way. On the other hand, the Nigerian – born expatriate writer Buchi Emecheta, a long with other critics maintains that African women were traditionally subordinated to exist cultural mores. I ally myself to the latter camp. I believe that, in creating a masculine – based society, Achebe was merely putting literature to mimetic use, reflecting existing traditional mores. Colonial rule merely aggravated the situatin by introducing a lops side system in which African men received a well- rounded education while, like their European counter parts before the mid-nineteenth century, African women received only utilitarian, cosmetic skills in domestic science centers. So women's in Africa can received the kinds of skills that only could prepare them to be useful, help mates of educated, premier nationalists and professionals such as Namdi A zikiwe, Nigeria's first presidents the late obufemi a wolow. The Yoruba tribalist leader. "Things Fall Apart" is significant because it began the vague of African novels of cultural contact and conflict. It has been translated into over twenty major world languages. Commensurate with it popularity images of women receive attention. In style that is expository rather than prescriptive, Achebes novel mirrors the socio cultural organization existing in the Africa of the era.

The world in "Things Fall Apart" is one in which patriarchy intrudes oppressively into every sphere of existence. It is an androcentric world

-48- were the man is everything and the woman nothing. In domestic terms, woman are quantified as a part of men acquisitions. As wives, women come in multiple numbers, sandwiched between yam barn and title. These three-wives, yam barn, social title – are the highest accolades for the successful farmer, warrior, and man of worth. These determine a man's social status, as illustrated by N wakibie who has three huge barns, nine wives and thirty children. The society that Achebe is describing (1851- 1900) is an agrarian one in which the crop –the yam is synonymous with virility. Achebe explains that this all – important crop stand for manliness, and he who can feed his family on yam from one harvest to another is a very great man indeed, yam. The king of crop, is a very exacting king consequently, to produce an a abundant harvest. The traditional farmer need a good work force. Women constitute and still do the core of the rural work force farming, tending animal, untiring children– among other activities. Achebe cultural universe is one which are to be seen coming and going, with mounds of Foofoo, pots of water, market baskets, fetching kola, being scolded and beaten before they disappear behind the huts of their compound.

A similar near-invisibility of women in "Things Fall Apart" is acknowledged by the omniscient narrator. Describing a communal ceremony, he confesses. Achebe (1958:85) "it was clear from the way the crowed stood or sat that cermony was for men. There were many women, but they looked on from the fringe like outsiders" for many centuries, African women languished on the fringe of their universe, neglected, exploited, degenerated and indeed made to feel like outsiders. They were not invited to stay when men were engaged in any

-49- discussion, they were include in councils of war; they did not form part of the masquerades representing the judiciary and ancestral sprit.

Achebe's sexist attitude is unabashed and without apology. Unoka, Okonkwo's father, is considered an untitled man, connoting femininity. Coco- yam, is regarded as female. Osugo has taken no title; and so in a gathering of his peers, Okonkwo unkindly tells him this meeting is for men, guilt ridden after murdering Ikemefuna, his surrogate son Okonkwo sternly reprimands himself not be like a shivering old woman this is considers the worst insult. Fleeing after murder, Okonkwo has no other refuge than his son, Okonkwo sternly mother's town, which of course, has to be called Mbanta "small town" which I read as being opposed in Okonkwo thinking to the rugged, wild, violent, strong masculine connotations of his Umuofia (meaning children of the forest). Such excessive emphases on virility sex role, stereotyping, gender discrimination, and violence create an imbalance , a resulatant denigration of the female principle.

Such denigration brings Okonkwo to ruin just as much as it presages the demise of his society away of life.

Okonkwo largely embodies all the virtues and some of the excesses of his society for around him are heard the rhythmic beats of Umuofia's heart, one gets the impression of strangle hold on individuals. Especially on the weak; the untitled considered as Efulefu or "worthless" and the outcast, embittered mothers of twins, even designed to break the weak and women are the welcoming arms of Christianity – an alien religion which steals quietly into the clam, gathering adherents from

-51- those oppressed by umuofia's rigid insistence on allegiance to god, customs and law's.

The Absence of a Moderating Female Principle

"Things Fall Apart" is redolent of violent conflicts occasioned by the utter lack of a moderating female in Achebes employment of the folk tale narrating the female principle, and sky, representing the male principle. Donald Weinstock and Cathy Ramadan argue that 'the folktales initial quarrel between Earth and Sky represents the struggle between masculine and female power and principle they assert that Okonkwo, who Occasionally but reluctantly yields his tender emotions most often expressed perversely towards Ikemefuma and Nwoye, is a paradigm for sky who with holds rain but releases it reluctantly and perversely. Since rain falls as it has never fallen before, preventing vulture, who represents the female principle, from neturing to deliver his message, just as Nwoye, with his effeminate nature, does not return to Okonkwo's compound.

in the manner of the tragic hero, Okonkwos consequent despair and falls represent the despair and break – up of the Igbo clan before the inexorable invincible forces of the white man's religions and political organizations, all because of the absence of that female principle that could have maintained balance and sanity. This is enclosed by Chikweny Okonjo Ogunyemi's postulation that present day Nigeria finds itself in the same quagmire as Umuofia of old because of similar degree of machismo: Achebe (1985: 60) "Is it any wonder that the country is in shambles when it has failed to solicit the help of its better half women….for pacific pursuits, for the betterment of the country?"

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Achebe's female characters are generally stunted individuals as above, or they are idealized as mothers in the manner of such Negritude writings as Camara Laye's Dark child. The latter, maternal valorization is indicated by meaning of Nneka "mother supreme "…as provided by Okonkwo's uncle Uchendu: Achebe (1958: 124)

It is true that a child belongs to his father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut. A man belongs to his father land when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness, he find refuge in his mother land. Your mother is there to protect you.

The only women that were respected in Umuofia are those like Chielo, the priestess of the Oracle of the Hill and caves, who is moved from the pale of normalcy clothed in the mystic mantle of the divinity she serves, chielo transforms from the ordinary; she can reprimand Okonkwo and even scream curses at him; Achebe (1985: 95) "Beware of exchanging words with A gbala [the same name of oracle of the Hill and caves] Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!. Yet if Okonkwo is powerless before a goddess's priestess, he can, at least, control his own women, so when Nwoye's mother asks if Ikemefuna will be staying long with them, Okonkwo bellows to her". Achebe (1985: 18) "Do what you are told woman when did you become one of the ndichie [clan elders]?"

Perhaps Umuofia's shabby and degrading treatment of women and wives stems from unconscious fear of, rather than reverence for. The ubiquitous and capricious Earht goddess Ani or Ala, who wreaks such havoc on the townspeoples live. She is the goddess of fertility. She also gives or with holds children; she spurns twin children who must be

-52- thrown away; she prohibits any one inflicted with shameful diseases from burial in her soil. To the men of Umuofia, she must seem the embodiment of the two- faced Greek furies and Scylla and charybdis joined together vengeful, unavoidable and incomprehensible. Umuofia's men can compare to the ancient Greeks who were noted for similar female images such as Pandora, circe, medea and Clytemnestra. In helpless mortal dread of a fearsome divine female principle, they come down heavily indeed on ordinary women shoes lives they can control as they like.

Achebe's Progressive Vision of Women:

A cursory look at the place of women in Achebe's other works will confirm a diachronic development. In no longer at Ease (1963), there is ad discernible change in the style of Achebe's female portraiture. At the end of the novel Obi Okonkow yields to the implacable force of traditional ethos when choosing between his mother (representing traditionalism), who threatens to kill herself if he marries an out cast or Osu, and out cast protagonist clara (representing the modern female). In "A man of The People" (1966), there are Images of women playing traditional roles such as singers and dancers, or women adoring rich politicians like chief the honorable M. A Nanga. Mrs. Eleanor John, a tough party woman and board member – rich independent, with no note worthy role. We see chief Nangai's wife, a beneficiary of the colonial, utilitarian education, dissatisfied with her husban'd extermarital relationship and to impending marriage to the young Edna. Mrs. Nanuga complains to Odili, but when the latter sets out to unseat her husband, she reverts to her traditional role of helpmate fighting to

-53- retain her precarious social and economic position. Consequently, she remains a dependent, peripheral figure, deriving validity as a human being only from her husband.

In "Things Fall Apart" and "Arrow of God" (1969) the inexorable wind of change have caused Achebe, a consummate pragmatist to make a volt face the secret of his revisionist stance can be deduced from the cetneral theme of these two traditional based novels. In a world of change, whoever is not flexible enough will be swept aside profiting from the mistakes of his tragic heroes. Achebe become flexible.

In "Anthills the Savannah" (1987), speaking through his alter ego Ikem, a journalist and writer Achebe acknowledges that the malaise the African party is experiencing result from excluding women from the scheme of things. Beatrice of anthills, who has an honor degree from Queen Mary college, university of London, projects Achebe's new vision of women's roles and clarifies Ikem's hazy thoughts on the issue. Ikem accepts that his former attitude towards women has been too respectful, too idealistic. Beatrice gives Ikems insight into a feminist concept of woman hood- she is articulated, independent, and self – realized, and she re – evaluates women's position. Achebe strives to affirm the moral strength and intellectual integrity of African women, especially since the social conditions which have kept women down in the past are now largely absent. Urbanization and education have combined to broaden womens horizons, so we can notice that Achebe's newly envisioned female roles are to be expounded, articulated, and secured by women herself; and the modern African woman is doing just that.

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Feminism, Womanism, and Modern African women

It is insufficient that Achebe the icon merely acknowledge the injustic of his earlier treatments of women.

Feminist ideology lays the task of self actualization on women ourselves African women are playing active role in their nations histories by resisting 'being pushed or tempted into accepting subservient or decorative role.

In 1966, Flora Nwapa published Efurn. Significant in African feminist scholarship. It signals along a waited departure from the stereotypical female portraiture in male – authored African literature. The eponymous Efurn chooses her own husband and marries without his paying dowry. She decisively deals with conflict radically departing from the script of traditional African women. In the peripheral, tangential role of a passive victim of masculine – based cultural universe. But Efurn is plagued by infertility, polygyny, infidelity and abandonment by two undistinguished husband, she finally abjures marriage opting for meaningful singlehood as priestess of goddess of the river. For the Okonkwo, his father Unoka embodied the epitome of failure and weakness.

Okonkwo was taunted as a child by other children when they called Unoka a gbala. A gbala could either mean a man who had taken no title or 'women'. Okonkwo hated anything weak or frail, and his descriptions of his tribe and the member of his family show that in the Igbo society anything strong was likened to man and anything weak to women. Because Nwoye, his son by his first wife, remind Okonkwo of his

-55- father Unoka he describes him as woman – like. After hearing of Nowye's conversation to the Christianity, Okonkwo ponders how he, a Achebe (1985: 143) "flaming fire could have be gotten a son like Nwoye, degenerated and effeminate".

On the other hand, his daughter Ezinma should have been a boy. He favored her the most out of all of his children, yet Achebe (1985: 63) "if Ezinma had been a boy he would have been happier".

After killing Ikemefuna, Okonkwo, who cannot understand why he is so distraught, asks himself. Achebe (1985: 184) "When did you become a shivering old woman? When his fellows looks as if they are not going to fight against the intruding missionaries, Oknokwo remembers the days when men were men."

In keeping with the Igbo view of female nature, they allowed wife beating. The novel describes two instances when Okonkwo beats his second wife, once when she did not come home to make his meal.

He beat her severely and was punished but only because he beat her during the week peace.

He beat her again when she referred to him as one of those "guns that never shot" when a severe case of wife beating comes before the egwugwu, he found infavor of the wife, but at the end of the trail a man wondered. Achebe (1958: 89) "why such a trifle should come before the egwugwu".

Okonkwo disrupted the week of peace by beating his wife. For violating the sacred holiday, he was forced to pay a penalty. Although Okonkwo knew that he was in error and regretted his act against the

-56- gods, he did not show his regret to the villagers because he did not want to appear. But his pride made his neighbors believe that he no longer revered the gods and that his success had gone to his head.

More over the mistreatment of women in "Things Fall Apart" are often thought of as the weaker. Thus women's role in literature are often subdued and subordinate.

In the novel "Things Fall Apart" women are viewed as second – class citizens. Powerless and defenseless to the authority of men. Women are not respected as people, but as property, laborers, and producer of children. A woman has no identity of her own, the status and position of her husband defines her.

Achebe offers an accurate depiction of the role of women in a male – dominated society in "Things Fall Apart". The centeral character, Okonkwo, has three wives that he treats more like servants that companions. His wive live in perpetual fear of his fiery temper. They are never to act without orders or question them when they are given. Illustrating the level of submissiveness, a woman must display to be socially acceptable.

In the second chapter Okonkwo brings Ikemefuna, a prisoner of war with neighboring clan, into his home until the clan decides what should be done with him. Okonkwo tells his senior wife to look after him, she asks if the captive will be staying for a long period of time. Achebe shows that the Igbo none the less assign important roles to women. For instance, women painted the houses of the egwugwu. Furthermore, the first wife of a man in the Igbo society is paid some

-57- respect. This deference is illustrated by the palm wine cermony at Nwakibie's obi Anasi, Nwakibe's first wife, had not get arrived at the other there wive's could not drink before her.

The importance of woman's role appears when Okonkow is exiled to his mother land. His uncle, Uchendu, noticing Okonkwo's distress, eloquently explains how Okonkwo should view his exile: Achebe (1985: 12) "A man belongs to his father land when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his mother land. A man has both joy and sorrow in his life and when the bad times come his mother is always there to comfort him. Thus comes the saying 'Mother is supreme" as we said before.

Chinua Achebe "Things Fall Apart" portrays Africa, mostly the Igbo society, before white men arrived. Achebe is trying not only to tell the outside world about the Igbo cultural tradition, but also remind his own people of their past out it is value. In teaching the reader about Igbo society, he explain the role of women in pro colonial Africa.

Nigeria's traditional culture, Muslim as well as non-Muslim, had been masculine – based even before white man arrived. This has caused many problems in Africa literary debates.

Many other female writers believe that the Image of helpless, dependent, unproductive African woman was one that was delivered by Europeans whose women lived that way.

Colonial rule just aggravated the situation by introducing a lopsided system in which African men received a good education while, like

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European, African women received only the type of skills that could prepare them to be useful, helpmates of successful men.

In a representative of society at large, Okonkwo views women as weak and foolish. The Omniscient narrator acknowledges clear- invisibility of women in "Things Fall Apart. Osugo has taken no title and in gathering of his peers. Okonkwo unkindly tells him to "This meeting is for men" Though Enzinma is the favorite of nine children, Okonkwo thinks she should have been a boy because such intelligence and will is wasted on female.

Okonkwo's attitudes is indicative of intolerance for weakness, the association of weakness and femininity and thus intolerance of women and womanly characteristics.

The only glory and satisfaction, these women joy as motherhood. The importance of women role as motherhood or of mother is demonstrated when Okonkwo is exiled to his mother land.

Regardless of male acceptance, women pay a pivotal role in Igbo society. Women are completely entrusted with the care of the children. Yams of smaller size and lesser value than other yams is regarded as female so more attention should be given to the yams and how they are considered in the Igbo society.

From their tradition yam's stood for man lines, with yam's which are wealth, a man could take titles in the clan, he could achieve power and influence the conduct of the clan affairs.

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Conversely a man without yam's wasn't able to take title, he is described as Agabala a word which denotes a woman and man without title.

Tow concept are un acceptable to possess a female deposition is undesirable if not wholly unacceptable. Yet in the opposition between the man who possess yam's and one who doesn’t a paradox is apparent. While continuing emphasis an male activities acquisition of wealth and wive's the production of children, courage and resourcefulness in sport and war.

In "Things Fall Apart" all these form of activities mentioned in the above line is judged by what is or not is accepted to "Ani" the Earth goodness and source of fertility.

According to Killam G. (1997:20) "female principle pervades the whole society of Umufoia and sits in judgment of events in the community" This is conveyed in one of the most impressive scenes in the book. The scene in which Chilo, priestess and Orcale to Ani, borrows Ezinma. Okonkwo's daughter by his second wife Ekwefi.

Ekwefi has been afflicted by a series of still – birth and dreads. The loss of Ezinma the only child to survive. She approaches despair as she follows the priestess through the nine village where Ani's power over life and death is successively proclaimed if we are made to fell Ekwefi's terror of world "people with vague, fantastic figure that dissolved under her gaze and then formed again in new shapes. And the omnipotence of the goddess is ultimately suggested by the change, her influence works on the woman who is her priestess, and this speech can be clear in such

-61- lines from the novel Achebe (1985: 75)"……at that very women Chielo's voice rose again in her possessed chanting, and Ekwefi recoiled, because there was no humanity there. It was not the same chielo who sat with her in the market place and sometimes bought beans – cakes for Ezinma, whom she called her daughter. It was a different woman – the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and caves."

The woman world is normally begin, but this centeral scene in the first part of the novel dramatize the essential power, who govern and control the society. Powerful as he is, the embodiment of the male principle, Okonkwoi's subservient to the female principle and follows the course of Chielo with his beloved daughter Ezinma.

Okonkwo's downfall and eventual banishment from the tribe at the end of the first part of the novel resulted from the offence committed "against the earth". The first occurs during a week of peace when he beats his wife and thus appear the role of women in the downfall of the tragic hero. The second offence relates to the killing of Ikemefuna, a boy hostage taken from a neighboring clan and placed in Okonkwo household. Ikemefuna becomes as a son to Okonkwo. Nwoye, Okonkwo's eldest son and source of grave concern to Okonkwo because he shows all signs of weakness and possessing women characteristic. African women must acknowledge gratitude to women and men – to mothers, fathers, uncles and brothers who, disregarding patriarchy and traditionalism, ensured them educations.

It is only through such enlightenment that African women writers have been able to dismantle the myth of female irrelevance by

-61- challenging such archetypal roles as witches, faithless women, femmes fatales, and play things of capricious gods.

In achieving this, such women writers have been supported by some male writers such as Henri lopes, Nggwa Thiongo, Isidore Okpewho.

Given the intensely patriarchal nature of traditional African cultures, African feminism can not be considered radical. For white European and American women, feminism has predicated itself on ending gender discrimination and demanding equal job apportunities and voting and property rights.

For the African women feminist ideology reflect specificities of race, class and culture, it is for this reason that the former has failed to make any lasting appeal to African. Because African women do not wish to alienate men, because African women do not wish to alienate the bulk of their tradition – based sister , because many traditional African customs and more are worth preserving, most African feminists espouse womanism, which Alice walker defines as a philosophy that celebrates black roots, the ideals of black life, while giving a balanced presentation of black womanhood. It is aim is the dynamism of wholeness and self healing.

The iroko is therefore women to climb, after all. Educated African women, and those African women and men in exalted, decision – making bodies must realize their duty to make society an equitable place for their less – privileged sister. Equipped with education, resilience and the will to survive, female eagles can scale and even soar over irokos, placing no limitation on their capabilities

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African women recently are making meaningful contributions: as lectures, professors and presidents of universities, as commissioners and ministers, senators and governors and chairpersons of political parties, as directors and other involve in literary movements and campaigns against their fictive counterparts to be partners with men in national progress and development, and to again individual self realization and fulfillment.

Gender Role in Things Fall Apart

Gender differentiation is also seen in Igbo classification of crimes. The narrators of "Things Fall Apart" states that the crime of killing Ezeudu's son was of two kind, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years "Okonkwo fled to the land of his mother, Mbanta, because a man finds refuge with his mother. Uchendu explains this to Okonkwo: (Achebe 1958:12) "it is true that a child belongs to his father land, when things are good and life is sweet but where there is sorrow and bitterness he find refuge in his mother land. Your mother is there to protect you, she is buried there. And that way we say in other, is supreme"

Such speech lead us to the position of women in the novel "Things Fall Apart" which will be discussed we noticed also that in the Ibo tribe, women play the role of care-taker who are submissive to their husband and tent of the needs of their families, their rights and freedom are limited, and their marriage are negotiated by their father or any male figure within the tribe. Many of the men freely beat their wives when they do not behave properly or complete tasks ineffectively and there are usually no repercussions for this.

Women are viewed by the tribes men as inferior, but upon closer examination of the role the two genders play within the novel we can see that the roles of women or female is great compared to the male this is according

-63- to my point of view since they are truly a source of strength and sustenance for their families. They nuture and care for their husband and children and therefore sustain the very life of the tribe.

Also we noticed that the illusion to Okonkwo's psychological nature towards women raises the issue of gender and it's narrative implication, for it is this element that seem to have inspired the most inattentive reading of Achebe's novel, especially by some feminists, who object to what they perceive us the work's under focus on masculine principle and corresponding depreciation of the feminine.

Women in Things Fall Apart

The position and image of women "Things Fall Apart" is an important topic, un fortunately, people have not paid much attention to it beyond going along with the assumption that this novel presents women as a sadly oppressed group with no power. This assumption may appear to be right, but there is much more to think about.

Women in "Things Fall Apart" are the primary educators of children. Through storytelling and other forms of discourse, they educate and socialize the children, inspiring in them intellectual curiosity about social values, relationships, and the human condition.

The stories that women tell also develop the artistic consciousness of the children, in addition to entertaining them.

The women bear children, cook and take care of the household in many other ways. Through their labor, they are an important pillar of the society.

The presence of Chielo, the priestess in "Things Fall Apart" is instructive. She is a spiritual leader whose authority is questioned. If we want to comments on the Igbo view of women's ritualistic power we noticed that

-64- the ritualistic function of women emanated from belief in the ritual essence of women as progenitors of the society. The idea is that women know the secret of life since they are the source of life. Because of t heir biological function in the life – giving process, the society looks of them to safeguard life. Thus, it is the biological role of women that influenced belief in their power.

There is a memorable question that old Uchendu asks, which emphasize the position of women in "Things Fall Apart" in dramatic way. Achebe (1985: 94). Can you tell me, Okonkwo, why it is that one of the commonest name we give to our children is Nneka, or "Mother is supreme"? We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. A child belongs to its father and his family and not to its mother and her family. A man belongs to his fatherland and not to his mother land. And yet we say Nneka. "Mother of the supreme. Why is that?"

Uchendu answer the question himself. A man belong to his father land when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his mother land. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that is why we say that mother is supreme.

The Role of Women In "Things Fall Apart"

Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" portrays Africa, particularly the Igbo society right before the arrival of the white man "This Fall Apart" analyzes the destruction of African culture by the appearance of the white man interms of the destruction of the bonds between individual and their society. Achebe, who teaches us a great deal about the Igbo society and translates Igbo myth and proverbs also explains the role of women in pre- colonial Africa.

In "Things Fall Apart", the reader follows the trails and tribulation of Okonkwo, tragic hero whose tragic flaw includes the fact that "his whole life

-65- was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness. Female disposition of his grandfather, thrives under the influence of Ikemefuna. Nwoye, we are told "grow like ayam tendril in the rainy season". The deity eventually decrees that Ikemefuna must be killed. Okonkwo is warned that he must take no hand in the killing. Yet for fear of appearing weak and cowardly like women Okonkwo cut down Ikemefuna with his machete.

The crime for which he is eventually exiled to his mother clan is that of accidentally killing the son of kinsman whose funeral observances Okonkwo attend. Okonkwo and his gun have been the subject of an earlier episode which have provided Achebe with the chance for an interesting exercise in irony. Okonkwo has beaten his wife for cutting down a banana tree (Achebe 1958: 27)

"His anger thus satisfied Okonkwo decided to go out hunting, he had an old rusty gun made by a clever blacksmith who had come to live in Umuofia a long ago. But although Okonkwo was a great man whose prowess was universally acknowledged, he was not hunter. In fact he had not killed a rat with his gun, and so we called Ikemefuna to fetch his gun, the wife who had just been beaten murmured something about gun that never shot. Unforturtly for her, Okonkwo heard it and ran madly into his room for the loaded gun, ran out again aimed at her as she clambered over the dwarf wall of the barn. He pressed the trigger and there was aloud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and childrey he threw down the gun and jumped into the barn and there lay the woman, very much shaken and frightened but quite unhurt. He heaved a heavily a heavy sign and went away". Had Okonkwo been hunter and skilled shot, his wife because of his inordinate rage, would most certainly have been killed. The irony is that when killing is farthest from Okonkwo's mind his gun explodes killing a kinsman, a sin he must expiate through exile to his mother clan.

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From all of the above we lines we noticed that female principle is invoked in the novel. Women accepted moral and ethical basis of the clan and consistently observed. The close dramatization of female principle virtually disappears from the second part of the book, to be invoked again in the final section and made the account for the novels tragic resolution.

Okonkwo is well-received by his mother's people in the village of Mbanta to which he goes in his banishment. The female principle within the tribal ethic is apparent. Okonkwo's offence has been against the Earth Godess and forced to exile. Yet it is to the mothers' village he proceeds. Uchendu, his mothers' youngest brother and now an old man explain the rationale as we see before "it is true that a child belongs to his father but when a father beats his child, if seeks sympathy in its mother but." So the importance of women's role as mother is domenstrated when he is exiled to his mother land and we said before and his mother's kinsmen help him a lot during his seven years.

In general the image of women in "Things Fall Apart" is that women present as weaker and subordinate viewed as second class citizen powerless and not respected by people.

Women in the Igbo society through Things "Things Fall Apart" play the role of care-taker who are submissive to their husband and tend to the needs of their families, their freedom is limited and also their rights, their marriages are decided by their fathers and other male figures within their tribe.

Men have the right to beat their women or wives when they don't behave correctly or do their affair in the best way.

Women are viewed by the tribesmen as inferior, but upon closer examination of the roles the two gender play in the novel, we can see that women are truly a source of strength and substance for their families.

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Moreover Chinua Achebe introduced the pristes of Agbala in his early chapters, she is a very significant in the novel "Things Fall Apart" it reflects the important roles that is played by woman the Igbo society culture. Because Agabala the oracle of the hills and caves plays an important role in the life of these people according to their belief.

To indicated the important role of women in Achebe's novel and how they affected and reflected the traditional Igbo society Achene's introduce the tradition of the bride- price which is the converse of dowry. This involves the substantial wealth that is to be paid in cash or goods by the bridegrooms family for the privilege of the bride family of marrying a young woman.

In some culture this tradition tends to make woman valuable than a dowry system where the woman's family offer the gifts to bride groom family. Such system would affect the women themselves.

The Role of Women in Society "Things Fall Apart" compared to Mother was a Great man

Culture of African, predominantly the Igbo society culture. In traditional Igbo culture men are perceived as the dominant and the source of power, while women are perceived as weak lesser people.

Women seem to play an inferior role in society, there are many tradition that exemplify the value and importance of women to men in society.

Although women are mistreated the Igbo society assigns important roles to the women. Women are the ones who paint the egwugwu house the house to the most powerful and the most secret cult in the clan.

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"Many colored patterns and drawing done by especially chosen women at regular intervals" because men are the dominant characters, it would seem that they would have the honor of decorating this sacred house.

The fact that women have the rights of decorating the house of the most important cult in the clan, demonstrates the hidden respect for women in this culture.

Part of the Igbo culture is to show respect to the first wife of the household, this is illustrated by the palm wine ceremony of Nwakibie's Obi- Anasi, Nwakibies first wife, had not yet arrived to the ceremony and so his other wives were not allowed to drink the wine until she had arrived.

"Anasi was the first wife and the other could not drink before her, and so they stood waiting". The respect for the first wife of the household is evident. Although respect for the other wives is not clearly shown, in the way they are receiving respect just because one person of their gender is.

Nwakibie could have easily let his other wives drink before his first wife, but he did not because of the respect he has for Anasi. Nwakibie noticed that Anasi was not present and then took the time to wait for her to come so that she would be given the proper respect.

The important of women also appear when Okonkwo is exiled to his mother land, like "a shivering like old woman which he considers the worst insult.

Okonkwo fleeing after the murder of a person, he has no other refuge than his mother town called Mbanta. There he was escorted by his mother's kinsmen. Also it the first time born to him in Mbanta is named "Nneka" (Mohter is supreme) because his mother's kinsmen help him a lot during his seven years exile.

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Discerning Truth from Perception

Discerning the role of women in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" requires an attentive and unbiased reading of the novel.

At first glance, the women in "Things Fall Apart" may seem to be an oppressed group with little power, and this characterization is true to some extent.

However, this characterization of the Igbo women reveals itself to be prematurely simplistic as well as limiting, once the reader uncovers the diverse roles of the Igbo women throughout the novel.

An excellent example of powerful women in the Igbo religion village is found in the women routinely and usually perform the role of priestess. The narrator recalls that during Okonkwo's boyhood.

The priestess in those days was woman called Chika, she was full of the power of her god and she was greatly feared.

The present priestess is Chielo the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the hill and the caves. There is an episode during which chielo has come for Okonkow and Ekwefi's daughter Ezinma. We are told through Achebe (1958:101) "Okonkwo pleaded with her to come black in the moring because Ezinma was not sleep. But Chielo ignored what he was trying to say and went on shouting that Aggala wanted to see his daughter the priestess screamed Bewar, Okoukwo, she warned".

There is no other point in the novel in which we see Okonkow "plead" with any one male or female, for any reason.

We witness a woman not only ordering Okonkwo to give her his daughter, but threatening him as well. The fact that Okonkwo allows this is

-71- evidence of the priestess a spiritual leader, reveals a clear degree of reverence for women being present in Igbo society.

Finally we noticed that Chinua Achebe's seemingly negative depiction of women in "Things Fall Apart". Achebe's depiction of women role in Igbo society at first glance is propagate images of subservient women.

Upon closer inspection, the reader can deduce that femininity and female strength, not weakness, are centeral to the novel.

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Chapter Five conclusion

In the conclusion of this study one needs to go back to the previous chapters where it is mentioned that Chinua Achebe is one of the best novelist in African who is trying not only o inform the outside world about the Igbo and Africa society: tradition and beliefs, but also to remind his own people of their past and assert that it contained much value.

Chinua Achebe's novel "Thins Gall Apart" is the seminal African novel in English. Although there are others none are as influential, not only in African literature but in literature around the world. It is most amazing feature is that it portrays Africa mostly the Igbo society before the white man arrived.

Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" reflects his interest in the recent history of his people and their tradition, culture, religious and political position.

Achebe uses environment in his writing not only to symbolize character but also moral and principle value on which the Igbo society is based.

In "Things Fall Apart" Achebe deals with social and psychological conflict created by the domination of the white man and his culture into the self-contained world of African society.

Achebe deals with individualism and it is precisely the cycle created by the responses of men to the pressure of event, their

-72- evaluations at significant levels of feelings and thoughts all of these things make the real world of the novel "Thins Fall Apart"

Achebe's identification with the setting ensures close familiarity with the external of life, habits, customs and attitudes with social institutions which affect individuals in their day to day relationship.

The importance of Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" derives not only from his theme but also from his complete presentation of men in action, in living reaction to their fate thus showing his imaginative mythical world confer upon it relevance and truth.

Achebe's novel "Thins Fall Apart" come to indicate that traditional life has its collective nature. Every aspect of human experience, action, beliefs, thoughts and ideas derives its realistic authority from past usage handed from generation to generation. So Achebe considered to be the spokes man of African society.

In "Things Fall Apart" Achebe's shows us the place of women in the Igbo Achebe portrays women and woman role in the Igbo society through this novel. So the researcher is deeply interested in discussing role of women.

In "Things Fall Apart" the reader follows downfall and tribulation of Okonkwo, a tragic hero whose tragic includes the fact that his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness which was associated with woman according to Igbo view's. In "Things Fall Apart" Achebe tell us the story of Igbo village of the late 1800's and one of it's great men Okonkwo who has achieved much of his life, he is a champion

-73- wrestler, a wealthy farmer, husband of three wives, a title – holder among his people.

The order disrupted, however with the appearance of the white man in Africa. The conflict of the novel rested in Okonkwo, derives from a series of crushing blows which are levelled at traditional values by an alien and more powerful culture causing in the end the traditional society to fall apart.

Okonkwo is unable to adapt the change that accompany colonialism. In the end, in frustration he kills an African employed by the British and then commits suicide, a sin against the tradition to which he has long clung.

Okonko's struggle to live up to what he perceives as traditional standards of masculinity and his failure adapt to changing world help to point out the importance of custom and tradition in the novel "Things Fall Apart".

Okonkwo's whole life dominated by fear the fear of failure, his father unoka embodied the epitome of weakness, Okonkwo was taunted as a child by other children when they called his father "Unoka" agabala. Agabala could either mean a man who had taken no title or a woman. Okonkwo hated anything weak or frail, and the description of his tribe to his father made him know how the Igbo associated every things strong to men and any things weak related to women. And because his son Nwoye reminds him with his father, Okonkwo describe him as a woman – like.

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The researcher discussed the position and Image of women in "Things Fall Apart" which is an important topic.

In the analysis of Chinua Achebe novel "Things Fall Apart" which reflect some tradition, view of the Igbo society women play the role of care taker, woman are submissive to their husband and tend to the need of their families, their rights and freedom are limited, and their marriages are negotiated by their fathers and others male figures within the tribe.

Many of the men freely beat their wives when they do not behave properly or complete tasks ineffectively and there are usually no repercussions for this, women are viewed by the tribesmen as inferior accordingly people have not paid much attention to the position of women in "Thins Fall Apart" going along beyond the assumption that this novel presents women as sadly oppressed group with no power, source of weakness and failure.

This assumption may appear right but through the analysis of women role in the Igbo society and also upon closer examination of the role the two genders play with in the novel, we can see that women are truly a source of strength and sustenance for their families.

Women bear children, cook and take care of the household in many other ways through their labor, they are an important pillar of the society. Thus the hypothes which concerning the position and image of women as weak powerless group appear to be right but upon closer examination to their function and role in the Igbo society indicate that they have very important role in and outside their families, beside this

-75- the novel "Things Fall Apart" introduces the presence of Chielo, the priestess is instructive she is a spiritual leader, whose authority is unquestioned thus indicated the ritualistic function role of women emanated from belief in ritual essence of women as progenitors of the society.

Another idea which indicated the importance of women in the Igbo society is that women know the secret of life since they are the source of life, because of their biological function in the life – giving process, the society looks on them to safeguard life. Thus, it is the biological role of women influenced beliefs tradition and life in general in Igbo society.

There is memorable question that old uchendu asks, which emphasizes the position of women in "Things Fall Apart" in dramatic ways.

Can you tell me, Okonkwo, why is that one of the commonest name we give to our children is Nneka, or "mother is supreme"? we all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do this bidding. A child belongs to its father family. A man belongs to his fatherland and not to his mother land. And yet we say Nneka "mother is supreme". Why is that Uchendu answer the question himself. A man belongs to his father land when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his mother land. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that why we say that mother is supreme. (Achebes: 185:94).

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Such question and answer which was introduced by old Uchendu who was represented as one of the effective characters in the novel "Things Fall Apart" indicted that women are the important pillar in the Igbo society and the assumption which present women as sadly oppressed group is completely untrue and there is much and more to think about women and women role in the Igbo society.

So discerning the role of women in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" require an attentive and unbiased reading of the novel. At first glance, the women in "Thins Fall Apart" may seem as weak and with no title but there are an excellent example of powerful women in the Igbo society is found in the role they play in the Igbo religion where as we found women perform the role of priestess. The ability of a woman to Occupy the role of a priestess, a spiritual leader, reveals a clear degree of reverence for women being present in the Igbo society.

In hypothesis three which illustrated the role of women in the Igbo society compared to mother she is considered to be a great man we found that in the traditional Igbo culture men are perceived as the dominant and most powerful gendes while women are perceived as weak lesser people. Although women seem to play an inferior role in the society there are many tradition that exemplify the value and importance of woman to males to in Igbo society.

Although women are mistreated, the Igbo society assigns important roles to the woman. Women are the ones who paint the egwngwu house, the house to the most powerful and most secret cult in the clan. Achebe (1985:88) "Many colored patterns and drawing done by especially chosen women at regular intervals" (Achebes: 88).

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Because men are the dominant gender, it would seem that they would have the honor of decorating this sacred house. The fact that women have the privilege of decorating the house of the most important cult in the clan, demonstrates the hidden respect for women in this culture.

Part of the Igbo culture is to show respect to the first wife of the household. This is illustrated by palm wine ceremony at Nwakibie's obi Anasi, Nwakibie's first wife. Had not yet arrived to the ceremony and so his other wives were not allowed to drink the wine until she has arrived. Achebe (1958: 20) "Anasi was the first wife and others could not drink before her, and so they stood waiting". The respect for the first wife of the household is also an evident demonstrates the hidden role and respect for women in the Igbo society.

The importance of women also appear when Okonkwo is exiled to his mother land and there we explain how mother and motherland protect protection and help Okonkwo.

Achebe's depiction of women in "Things Fall Apart" seems, at first glance, to propagate images of subservient women. Upon closer inspection, the reader and researcher deduce that femininity and female strength, not weakness, are central to the novel.

To conclude this study the researcher noticed that the novel "Thins Fall Apart" is a carefully. Plotted and come to be unified piece of work Achebe achieves balance and proportion in the treatment of his theme by evoking both absurdity behaviour the principle characters

-78- beheviour while at the same time suggesting the serious and destructive consequences of this behaviour.

Achebe's interest in presenting the tradition culture of the Igbo society beside language of the novel, style, character, study, which remain indigenous by exploiting mythology and oral literature as the background for his novel "Thins Fall Apart"

Through the examination of different aspects in the novel "Things Fall Apart" the researcher found that Achebe achieves his aim to help his society regain belief in itself and put away the complexes of the years of denigration and self – abasement.

One of these aspect he illustrated clearly was the role of women in "Thins Fall Apart" which seems to us as pillar of the Igbo society and women play pivotal role for both men and society.

So Achebe achieved his aims in portraying the African Igbo society women and explain the role of women in the pre colonial Africa.

Achebe depicts the Igbo as people with great social institutions. Their culture is rich and impressively civilized with tradition and laws that place great emphasis on justice and fairness concerning women to such culture. Achebe shows that the Igbo nonetheless assign important role of women but upon closer examination of the gender role in the novel the researcher found that Achebe indicated the important of women in the Igbo society.

So Achebe through his novel "Things Fall Apart" introduce to us how the Igbo society viewed women as second class citizen, powerless and defenseless to the authority of men, women in the Igbo society are

-79- not respected as other people, but as property, laborers, and the producers of children. Also Achebe inform us that the Igbo woman has no identity of her own the status and position of her husband defines her.

So through the events of the novel, Achebe ensure the important role of women in the Igbo society. He inform us about how women pay a necessary role in the Igbo society in many ways, such as Okonkwo exiled to his motherland this exile demonstrated woman role as mother, also he tell us about her ritualistic function beside her biological function in the life – giving process. Women in "Things Fall Apart" are the primary educators of children socialize and inform them children about social values, relationships, and human condition. So women come to be pillar of the society and truly a source of strength and subsistence for their families and therefore sustain the very life of the tribe.

Finally, it might be convenient to conclude the discussion of this study with the fact that Achebe uses the English language to write about African society culture, tradition, views, and image also discuss different topic such as women and women role in this society. And the readers of Achebe's novel "Thins Fall Apart" receive illumination as well as a finished product of creative art – novel writing.

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Reference

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Achebe, C (1958) "Things Fall Apart" {London, Heinemann}

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Conch, A. (1997) "Igbo life and Art". London Longman.

Conrad, J. (1993) "The heart of Darkness". New York; Norton.

Cutru fetti, M. R. (1983) "Women of African. Root of oppression" London: Ozed press.

Darthone, O (1976) "African literature in the twentieth century". U. S. A. (Heindemann

Hinckley , A (1985) "The Art of literary Research". New York Norton.

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1966 Mundelstrup, Den. Dargroo

Killiam, G (1997) "The writing of Chinu Achebe" London Heinemann

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Illinois, U. (2000) "Welcome to LTHS and RBHS engaged learning project" U. S. A computer research

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Richard, N (1956) "African Women South of sabara". New York Norton

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