The Role of Women in Chinua Achebe's Novel "Things Fall Apart"

Women in Ibo society, although having only a few rights and serving their men, are important and inalienable parts of the tribe and its religion. Basically, the role of women in African society is to give birth to numerous children, to take care of them, to cook, to clean, to serve and obey their husbands and fathers. However, Chinua Achebe in his book "Things Fall Apart" shows that African women are actually strong and important …

…the society. Women's biological function of giving birth is important and undeniable. In the religious ceremonies woman is inseparable art of it. The priestess of Agbala is a woman but she is powerful, everyone respects her. And even Okonkwo needs his wife and daughter to talk to and to take care of him. All of that above proves that women are strong and important. Works Cited: Achebe, C. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor Books, 1994.