Essentialism and Achebe

Date: December 12, 2024

I recently read a very interesting book, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. It is a critically acclaimed narrative about Africa’s cataclysmic encounter with British colonialism. As portrayed through the eyes of Okonkwo, an Igbo warrior in the 1800s, it offers a human view into the resistance to the changes spurred by colonial ideas and deep insights into Igbo culture.

An underlying theme to the story is the philosophy of essentialism, the theory that certain traits or characteristics are inherent to individuals or groups. Achebe dramatizes and explores this theory through Okonkwo’s single minded approach to masculinity based on gender essentialism, and illustrates how Okonkwo’s rigid beliefs about manhood shape his actions and behavior towards his family and community. This exploration reveals the destructive consequences of strictly acting based on essentialist sentiments in a changing world.

As a masculine man and a powerful person in Umuofia, Okonkwo sees himself as “a man of action, a man of war.” His prowess in war, since he “killed five men in battle”, is clearly a source of pride for him. These achievements serve as the foundation of his self-worth because they are revered by those around him in his community in Umuofia. Gender roles were very strictly defined in traditional Igbo society. Men were the leaders and in charge of providing for the family and farming, while women were subservient and consigned to child-bearing and managing the household. This structured division reinforced male dominance and expectations, and created a culture where men’s identities were closely tied to their roles as providers and protectors.

Achebe has set this novel in late 19th-century Nigeria, and uses it to describe a society deeply rooted in traditions based on gender roles. In the novel, the traditional values of masculinity are deeply ingrained in a person’s self-identity, and require displays of violence and emotional suppression. Okonkwo embodies these values as he strives to distance himself from these “weaknesses" which he views as feminine. In Igbo culture during the late 19th century, femininity was seen in opposition to masculinity, leading to an intense emphasis of male dominance while associating female attributes to a subordinate status to males. Scholars note that “the cultural narrative positioned women primarily as caregivers and moral guardians, defining their worth in relation to male achievement.” (Toutziari) Okonkwo and Igbo society’s view of gender based on essentialism holds that women embody emotional weakness and are inferior, while masculinity is associated with strength and authority and is superior.

Because society is formed by individuals and families, individual adherence to essentialist beliefs can lead to collective dysfunction that can impact society as a whole. While essentialism may seem intuitive and provide a clear framework for identity, it becomes problematic in a rapidly evolving cosmopolitan world. The rigid worldview that essentialist philosophies demand exacts an emotional toll as well as hinders the ability to adapt in a changing environment. As exemplified by Okonkwo and his eventual suicide later in the novel, the inflexibility in adapting to societal changes can lead to despair, suggesting the need to be more flexible in defining one’s identity. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe’s portrayal of Okonkwo’s downfall suggests to readers that true strength lies in our resilience, which rests on our ability to adapt and grow. In an increasingly interconnected world, moving away from the rigid definitions of identity that essentialism posits, allows individuals and communities to move towards a society that values shared humanity more than adherence to inflexible ideals.