Paper 2

3- Discuss the significance of social status in Things Fall Apart and comment on its contribution to characterization.

            Social status plays a significant role in Things Fall Apart as it drives many of Okonkwo’s actions. Okonkwo’s hamartia or main fatal flaw is his fear of emulating his idle father or any hint of femininity or weakness. Driven by this fear, Okonkwo reacted violently, worked intensely, and strove to hold a respectable status in his village.

            In Igbo culture, a man’s social status was determined by his merit rather than his inheritance. The narrator reiterates that Okonkwo holds two titles in the village in order to prove that he is extremely hard working and has worked his way up the social ladder in order to become a well-respected individual. His father on the other hand, never earned any titles which further emphasizes the large contrast between both characters. Okonkwo specifically worked to break away from his father’s lazy lifestyle by showcasing his bravery in war, athletic skill as a wrestler, and wealth of yam crop. His first major step towards becoming a upright individual was when he sought out the help of Nwakibie, a wealthy clansmen who takes a chance on Okonkwo by lending him 800 seed yams—twice the number for which Okonkwo asks. Nwakibie thereby helps Okonkwo build up the beginnings of his personal wealth, status, and independence. His other major feat was his defeat of the Cat. Though he accomplished considerable feats, his determination in earning social status lead him to have an inflated ego and become very prideful.

            Okonkwo’s village is largely achievement oriented. Therefore, in an attempt to maintain his social status, Okonkwo is steered to acts he emotionally does not agree with. For instance, Okonkwo not only volunteers to join the party that will execute his adopted son but also violently stabs him with his machete simply because he is afraid of appearing weak and losing status in his village. In order to establish his patriarchal role in his domestic life, he beats his wife when she does not bring him dinner though it was unheard of to commit violent acts during the week of peace. During his exile, he even asks his daughter not to marry anyone, though they were at a ripe age, until he returned so that he could quickly reinstate his name in the village. Clearly Okonkwo values his standing in the village since this trait is a large separator from his father’s reputation of apathy.   

            Okonkwo’s compulsion to maintain his social power plays a major role in his inflexibility to adapt to the colonization of white missionaries. Unwilling to relent his standing as an Igbo warrior in order to make compromises to peacefully coexist, Okonkwo reacts defensively and proposes the formation of a war committee. Out of rage, Okonkwo even murders a white messenger. He is so blinded by his need for power that he does not recognize the harm he is inflicting upon his community.

            Additionally, it is interesting to note that women enjoy considerably less prerogatives in regards to social status.  Okonkwo yelled at his oldest wife, "Do what you are told , woman.  When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?"  Ndichie or "elders" are the most respected Umuofians.  This statement implies that no woman has the right to be considered one of the elders.  An interesting concept is the distinction between male and female actions.  For example, there is a distinct difference between a male and female crime.  It could be argued that male crimes are much more severe in nature, possibly planned crimes; whereas female crimes are inadvertent, and possibly less severe.Therefore, according to a traditional Igbo social hierarchy, women are inherently placed below men.