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Examples Of Manliness In Okonkwo

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2. Reread pages 52-54 and copy down quotations that help us understand Okonkwo’s view of “manhood” or “manliness”. After each quotation, write down your analysis of it.

One quotation that expresses Okonkwo’s view of manliness states Okonkwo “was always happy when he heard [Nwoye] grumbling about women. That showed that in time he would be able to control his womenfolk” (53). This quotation shows that Oknonkwo feels pleasure when his son displays signs of power, such as the control of the perceived weaker gender. Ergo, Okonkwo views the subordination of others by his son as an example of “masculinity.” This idea is further supported by the quotation: “No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children… he was not really a man” (53). Oknonkwo clearly considers utter authority of one’s nuclear family as a prerequisite to meet “manhood.” He literally states that a man without patriarchy in his family is not a man. Therefore, when Nwoye displays the early signs of this dominance, like the grumbling about his subordinate women’s issues, Okonkwo is finally considering his son “masculine” as shown by his happiness.
Okonkwo’s view is further developed when he “encouraged [Nwoye and Ikemefuna] to sit with him in his obi, and he told them stories of the land- masculine stories of violence and bloodshed” (53). This quote shows that Okonkwo believes gory subjects to be suitable and honestly necessary for men entering “manhood.” He takes these two

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