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Ivy Fan
Mrs. Marie
English Literature
November 27th, 2016
Domestic Violence: A Lasting Problem
While the feminist movement has been gradually spreading around the world under the
current society, there are still urgent problems that remain unsolved, one of which is domestic
violence. The protesting arisen ferociously does relieve it by certain degree, though still leaves it
not settled for good. In numerous literary works and television programmes that had once been a
boom in the long process of history, problems about gender bias never fail to play a considerable
part. Things Fall Apart, with various plots containing sexism and lines reflecting gender stereotype, is undoubtedly a perfect example that reveals the true status and treatment women have in
that era. One of the themes about gender that the story exposes is domestic violence, a lasting
problem and an urgent issue that still happens in the modern, civilized society.
The main character, Okonkwo, a man who has achieved extraordinary achievements by an
extreme young age, is admirable in most villagers eyes of awe, if not of fear. He is a typical case
of the exact kind of men the human society used to appreciate and seek: masculine, strong, tough,
valiant, and owning serval women who are considered trophies and by extension, possessions.
Being a man that all others have ever wanted to be, Oknokwo not only is proud of his own
strength, but also see it as a prerequisite. Okonkwo knew she was not speaking the truth. He
walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo's return. And when she returned he beat her very heavily.
In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace. (Achebe) In the given circumstance,
women are considered inferior as its a traditional patriarchal society. As a result, domestic violence is, according to the story, common, mundane and a matter of course. As a matter of fact

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the tree was very much alive. Okonkwo's second wife had merely cut a few leaves off it to wrap
some food, and she said so. Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left
her and her only daughter weeping.(Achebe) While women are prized possession, considering
the symbol of success is judged by the number of women owned by a man, their human rights are
neglected, resulting in the violence act Oknokwo does to his wives and other ones that are not
mentioned specifically. The seemingly deserved rights that are given to Oknokwo show the essential tendency of the society that, women are as same as properties, a possession to be owned,
not a person to be treated and seen equal in every meaning, a way people use to treat slaves before. Oknokwos brutality and male chauvinism are the result and the origin of that society.
Besides the plots that are directly written, Oknokwos other behavior clearly shows that
while he enjoys to be a male who have all strengths and rights to be the one who dominate, he
ignores womens personalities as independent human beings. Do what you are told, woman,"
Okonkwo thundered, and stammered. "When did you become one of the ndichie of
Umuofia?(Achebe) Lacking certain strengths, women, in Oknokwos eyes, deserved to be treated like chained animals who are born to listen to orders, otherwise they ought to be punished. He
never ever considers women as formal, proper and whole people who are exactly the same as he
himself. Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest,
lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper. (Achebe) An advocate of strength and power,
Oknokwo seems to have the right to rule his family in whatever way he wants, despite their
fear.
Domestic violence is a problem that is never truly solved. In some countries, like China,
female victims couldnt even be protected by justice, due to the defective laws and the constant
sexual discrimination. She must absorb all the change and debt and difficulty. Its pathetic that,
says Netteton, She must dismantle her life and the lives of her children; she must disrupt her

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community ties, her job, her educational goals and opportunities, and create her own victim protection program because the police cannot protect her and because women who leave are often
killed for doing so. (Nettleton) The traditional view of marriage that most people bear in China
allow them to constraint women ideologically. Traditional men expect women to do housework,
bear children while they themselves work up business, have ambitions and take other probable
achievements a mankind is able to accomplish as their privilege. In consequences, almost all the
activities that are exclusively belongs to human instead of animals are saved for males. The constant pattern of diving the work decides males as the dominant, while females are the submissive.
This certain idea, while almost abandoned in some countries, are well accepted in China, Africa,
etc.
It could be seen from Things Fall Apart that, gender bias had occurred very early, and had
not yet walked off by far. Its a problem that has existed for too long for a modern society, as for
human civilization which is too great to contain such issue. Also, Oknokwo, though an admirable
tribe hero to be praised and acclaimed, as a human being who lack certain moral integrities, is
never a man of dignity who would be eulogized. In the end, his brutality and atrocity, along with
the unruly conduct and the act of violence, finally brings him the karma.

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Work Cited
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.
Nettleton, Pamela Hill. "Domestic Violence in Men's and Women's Magazines: Women Are
Guilty of Choosing the Wrong Men, Men Are Not Guilty of Hitting Women." Women's Studies in Communication 34.2 (2011): 139+.

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