Paper #2: Analysis: 'Discuss the significance of social status in Things Fall Apart, and comment on its contribution to characterization.'

In the book Things Fall Apart, the characters have constructed in a critical and meaningful way. A lot of their actions characterize them, but a large part of their identity is influenced by social status. The importance of social status in Igbo society cannot be understated. The Igbo judged and ranked their people according to what one has accomplished; not what his ancestors have done. This can be seen in the book when the readers are informed that 'Even if a man washes his hands with elders, he can have food with an elder'. However, this was often only true to males. 

The laureates of men ranged from heads from wars to the titles they bought and the number of wives they had. A lot of the men when presented in this book are seen through the lens of a typical Igbo citizen. For example, Okonkwo was characterised as one of the most important and influential men in Umofia. He had started working hard from a tender age,  and was a famous wrestler in his young years. He had thrown Amalinze the cat, who at that time was considered to be one of the best wrestlers in the village. Okonkwo worked hard on his farms, even in the hardest of times, and never gave up. He eventually began fighting wars and winning them with ease. This social power that he gained accelerated him towards getting titles. Earning these was a mark of accomplishment in the Igbo community. Okonkwo in the book had earned two titles, and with his hard-earned money, bought two barns and had three wives. The effect that his social position has had on his characterization can be clearly understood here. Having all of the above helps Achebe to characterize Okonkwo as one who has great strength, emotionally and physically.

On the other hand, Okonkwo's father, Uknoka, is characterised as a lazy and nonchalant person. Unoka hasn't earned titles all his life, and hence is characterized as a blemish on Igbo society. All he used to do was play the flute, and rejoice during the harvesting season. Unoka was a very good mooch though. His tongue was said to have a silver lining. As seen in the text, whenever any lender used to ask Unoka for their money back, they would receive no money. Instead, Unoka says that he has bigger debts to pay off, and that he would pay back the lender's money when his bigger debts were repaid. According to Achebe, Igbo was a language which used a lot of metaphors and imagery. Hence, according to the society's language and his unique abilities, he should have been respected. However, the Igbo people fail to see this side of him and he is looked down upon in the society. This disrespect for Unoka ultimately leads to a characterisation of Unoka as a man who had no skill, and was unwilling to work. The readers are blinded by his social status, and understand his character in a lower light than they should.

Some of the women characters in this book aren't regarded in the highest position of society as well. For example, Okonkwo's third wife had once gone to plait her hair, leaving Okonkwo's children and meal behind. When she returns late, Okonkwo starts beating her, only to be eventually stopped by other members of the house. The children were safe at home in the care of the other wives anyway. This portrays his third wife as an outlet for Okonkwo to vent all his angers. This objectifies and minimises the social status of the third wife. She has no power over where she can go just because of her social position, i.e., being the third wife of Okonkwo. The third wife is ended up being characterised as a weak and helpless woman due to this. Similar instances in the book that cannot be discussed in the commentary, such as how Okonkwo follows Ewkefi solely to give her 'moral support', also undermines the social status of women in Igbo society, leading to lot of controversy around the book. This portrayal of a lower status of  women in this book is a large indication of the effect of social status on characterisation, and the importance of characterisation in this book as a whole