Anagha Bandaru
12/14/17
Pd. 5
Things Fall Apart and Gilgamesh Comparison Essay: Gender Roles
Women always have been undermined in society. Though now, in the 21st century, they have more rights and freedom, it wasn’t always like that. They were always the lesser sex, including in today’s society, always coming after men. However, some civilizations/countries had slightly different views on men. For example, in Gilgamesh, even though women are still depicted as lustful and house wives, women represented more. They had power and were wise, helping the hero’s. However, in other novels, such as Things Fall Apart, women are more constrained, shown as someone much less than the men, always having to obey their rules/what they say. Women in these …show more content…
The role of working at home, taking care of the children, making/serving dinner, etc. They are portrayed as the lesser sex, always after the men. “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper […]” (12). As seen in this quote, Okonkwo dominated over his wives and daughters of the family. Women often lived in fear of their husbands, always listening to them, or else they would get beat to ‘teach them the lesson.’ For example, while one of Okonkwo’s wives was making dinner, and picked some leaves for the dinner, which was for Okonkwo and his guests. Okonkwo, however, said she had picked the leaves from the wrong plant, and “Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping. Neither of the other wives dared to interfere” (38). None of the other wives could do anything, and they all had to watch as Okonkwo took out his anger on his wife. In this book, women have a more constrained role in society and their households. They would have to drink wine/eat dinner after the men had, they would be able to grow certain crops only (men would grow yams, for example, and women would grow beans or other foods like that). Women would also be responsible for the children of the household. Daughter were often frowned upon in their society, such that “ At the end they decided, as everybody knew they would, that the girl should go to Ogbuefi Udo to replace his murdered wife. As for the boy, he belonged to the clan as a whole, and there was no hurry to decide his fate,” (12). The young girl was sentenced to marry a stranger, someone she doesn't know, since her elders had decided that it was the right thing. She did not have anything to do with the murder, yet she had no decision in this matter. She just had to give her hand in marriage and continue with it. The man, however, was let free, with
12/14/17
Pd. 5
Things Fall Apart and Gilgamesh Comparison Essay: Gender Roles
Women always have been undermined in society. Though now, in the 21st century, they have more rights and freedom, it wasn’t always like that. They were always the lesser sex, including in today’s society, always coming after men. However, some civilizations/countries had slightly different views on men. For example, in Gilgamesh, even though women are still depicted as lustful and house wives, women represented more. They had power and were wise, helping the hero’s. However, in other novels, such as Things Fall Apart, women are more constrained, shown as someone much less than the men, always having to obey their rules/what they say. Women in these …show more content…
The role of working at home, taking care of the children, making/serving dinner, etc. They are portrayed as the lesser sex, always after the men. “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper […]” (12). As seen in this quote, Okonkwo dominated over his wives and daughters of the family. Women often lived in fear of their husbands, always listening to them, or else they would get beat to ‘teach them the lesson.’ For example, while one of Okonkwo’s wives was making dinner, and picked some leaves for the dinner, which was for Okonkwo and his guests. Okonkwo, however, said she had picked the leaves from the wrong plant, and “Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping. Neither of the other wives dared to interfere” (38). None of the other wives could do anything, and they all had to watch as Okonkwo took out his anger on his wife. In this book, women have a more constrained role in society and their households. They would have to drink wine/eat dinner after the men had, they would be able to grow certain crops only (men would grow yams, for example, and women would grow beans or other foods like that). Women would also be responsible for the children of the household. Daughter were often frowned upon in their society, such that “ At the end they decided, as everybody knew they would, that the girl should go to Ogbuefi Udo to replace his murdered wife. As for the boy, he belonged to the clan as a whole, and there was no hurry to decide his fate,” (12). The young girl was sentenced to marry a stranger, someone she doesn't know, since her elders had decided that it was the right thing. She did not have anything to do with the murder, yet she had no decision in this matter. She just had to give her hand in marriage and continue with it. The man, however, was let free, with