Family In Things Fall Apart

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Most people have most likely despised their families at one point in time. Perhaps a parent or guardian discipline specific actions, and that results in temporary resentment. In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, family life is quite different than the modern American family. Despite what many may believe, many people probably have a better family life than the main family in Things Fall Apart. In the society of Achebe’s novel, the Igbo, polygamy is normal. Igbo people also value men more than women. The main family members of Abebe’s book are the following: Okonkwo (father), Ekwefi (second wife), Nwoye (first son), and Ezinma (daughter of Ekwefi and Okonkwo’s favorite child). Okonkwo’s family life is not great, and this can be seen through the way he treats his wives, sons, and Ezinma. Sadly, Okonkwo …show more content…
Baby boys were met with joy, especially from the father, as he would have someone to take his place down the line. Fathers were ambivalent towards girls, and many consecutive daughters without a son would be something to grieve …show more content…
Repeatedly throughout the novel, we see Okonkwo wishing his favorite child, Ezinma, was born male. For about the one hundred seventy second time Okonkwo thinks to himself, “‘I wish she were a boy,’ Okonkwo thought within himself. She understood things so perfectly” (173). As the reader can see, Okonkwo frequently believes things would have been better if Ezinma were born a boy. The reader can infer many reasons why Okonkwo may wish his daughter was born male. Maybe he believes his favorite child deserves more than being treated as a woman? Perhaps Okonkwo thinks Ezinma would have been worthy enough to carry on his name? The reader can see, once again, that Okonkwo’s family life isn’t perfect through the way he thinks of

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