Okonkwo defines his manliness through his strength. This can be shown through Wrestling, war, hunting, farming, and procreating. Having a large successful family, with many wives and children, that is well respected by the Igbo culture is essential to manliness.
The book does not say this explicitly until Nwoye joins the Christians, when Okonkwo calls him an abomination. However, Okonkwo often wishes that Nwoye was stronger, saying that at his age, he should already have impregnated a wife and taken a farm. Okonkwo also wishes that Nwoye were as strong a wrestler as Obierika's child, Okafo.
Okonkwo was respected because he embodied the ideals of manliness among the Igbo. He was strong, and a fierce fighter who had killed other warriors. He threw Amalinze the Cat during a wrestling match. He was a hard worker and farmer, and was financially successful. He had three wives and many children, along with a fairly large compound. He had taken several titles.
"Okonkwo was a man." "Did you see that man, Okonkwo?" "You are my son. Okonkwo, I am your father!"
After Okonkwo's gun accidentally explodes, killing Ekeudu's son at Ekeudu's funeral, he is exiled from the village for seven years. His land and property are destroyed, with the exception of yams saved from his farm, and the property that Okonkwo and his family take with them.
Okonkwo's best friend is Obierika.
Okonkwo values hard work, strength, masculinity, and traditional Igbo customs and values. He strives to be successful and respected in his community, often measuring his own worth based on these ideals.
Okonkwo insults others because he himself is subtly insecure about his manliness. Therefore, he must make a show of his own manliness in order to prove himself to others. Further, he is annoyed with people who do not live up to his own standards, because he feels that they weaken the tribe and are harder to deal with and trust.
When Okonkwo thought of his father's weakness and failure, he would work and become successful to prove to himself that he is nothing like his father. He would think of his own shows of manliness to silence the thought that he might be like his father.
When Okonkwo thought of his father's weakness and failure, he would work and become successful to prove to himself that he is nothing like his father. He would think of his own shows of manliness to silence the thought that he might be like his father.
The book does not say this explicitly until Nwoye joins the Christians, when Okonkwo calls him an abomination. However, Okonkwo often wishes that Nwoye was stronger, saying that at his age, he should already have impregnated a wife and taken a farm. Okonkwo also wishes that Nwoye were as strong a wrestler as Obierika's child, Okafo.
Okonkwo sees the killing of Ikemefuna as proof of his manliness, his willing to sacrifice one who was like a child to him to the gods based on the Oracle's word. Okonkwo feels that Obierika should have fulfilled his duty to the tribe and gone on the death march as well. Obierika finds it shameful that Okonkwo should have been the one to kill Ikemefuna. Letting him be sacrificed is one thing, but taking part in the death march and doing the killing himself are different things entirely. Obierika feels that Okonkwo should not even have gone on the march.
The ISBN of The Alphabet of Manliness is 0718152026.
Manliness - book - was created in 2006.
The ISBN of Manliness - book - is 0300106645.
The Alphabet of Manliness was created in 2006.
Manliness - book - has 288 pages.
The Alphabet of Manliness has 224 pages.