Things Fall Apart/ Feminism

       I plan on writing my essay on Thing Fall Apart with a feminist lens. In the book, there is three different types of perspectives on women. I will describes the treatment of the women in Umuofia, Mbanta, and England.
       In Umuofia the men are the higher than the women. They treat the women with little respect and as if the women are their own personal slaves. In the first chapter, Achebe described how Okonkwo was "cut out for great things" (7), because he had just married his third wife. Then on page 13, Okonkwo got mad at Anasi, his first wife, for asking a question. He responded to her saying, "Do what you are told, women", and "When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia". Yelling at her just because she asked a little question!
       In Mbanta, the motherland, the women have more respect than the Umuofia tribe. In the book it describes, "But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you." (111). That is why they say that the mother is supreme. No matter what, if thing are bad, the mother would protect them through rain or shine. Achebe also describes the song that the people sing when a women dies, " For whom is it well, for whom is it well? There is no one for whom it is well." (112). It means that if life is all good then there is nobody there for that person.
       Then finally in the third part, English women have the same rights as the men do. In the book, on page 147, the interpreter stated that, " They have a queen.". They see that women could do whatever the men do, and in this case a women is ruling a country. They don't beat their wife for asking a basic question.