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 -i- 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 -ii- Acknowledgements: I gratefully acknowledge the efforts of my supervisor Dr. Ibrahim M. Al Faki who has supported me with his advice and his patience. -iii- 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. -iv- ملخص البحث إن فكرة هذه الدراسة نبعت من اهتمام الباحثة باﻷدب اﻷفرٌقً خاصة رواٌة )جٌنو أجٌبً( هذه الدراسة محاولة للبحث عن دور المرأة اﻷفرٌقٌة فً المجتمع. من خﻻل دراسة دور المرأة فً رواٌة أجٌبً )اﻷشٌاء تتداعى( والتً تناولت بشكل خاصة مجتمع )اﻻبقبو( وفً هذه الرواٌة تناولت الباحثة المرأة اﻷفرٌقٌة بصورة عامة والنظرة السائدة فً المجتمع اﻷفرٌقً عن دورها خاصة مجتمع )اﻷبقبو( كما ناقشت التأثٌر المباشر للثقافة والتقالٌد اﻷفرٌقٌة على دور المرأة فً المجتمع. وكٌف أن الكاتب حاول أن ٌزٌل هذه اﻵراء التقلٌدٌة من خﻻل الرواٌة. تتكون الدراسة من خمسة أبواب فالباب اﻷول ناقش مشكلة الدراسة وأهداف الدراسة والفروض التً طرحتها هذه الدراسة. الباب الثانً محاولة ﻹعطاء موجز عن حٌاة )أجٌبً( أعماله وأفكاره. الباب الثالث قدم تحلٌل للرواٌة وتزوٌد القارئ بمزٌد من المعلومات عنها من خﻻل تحلٌل اللغة والشخصٌات وعرض ﻷحداث القصة. الباب الرابع وهو هدف الدراسة تناول المرأة اﻷفرٌقٌة ودورها خاصة فً رواٌة )جٌنو أٌجبً( وكٌفٌة نظرة المجتمع اﻷفرٌقً التقلٌدي لها. وكٌف أن الكاتب حاول أن ٌثبت أن دورها أساسً وضروري أو أنها تمثل مصدر القوة فً مجتمعها وﻷسرتها. الباب الخامس ٌحتوي على الخاتمة ونتائج البحث التً أكدت أن دور المرأة فً رواٌة )اﻷشٌاء تتداعى( دور هام وضروري إذ أنها تمثل العمود الفقري ﻷسرتها ولمجتمعها الدور الذي ظل المجتمع اﻷفرٌقً ٌتقاضً عنه لفترة طوٌلة. -v- 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 -vi- 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 -vii- 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. -1- 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. -2- 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. -3- (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.