The main role that was given to women was that they belonged at home and for the most part they were to be seen and not heard. Their influence and authority do not exist much in that culture, especially for the wives of Okonkwo. The main character in the novel, Okonkwo has several wives. Okonkwo presided over all of his wives and children with a heavy hand. When Ikemefuna comes to live with Okonkwo's family, the first wife questions the length of the boy's stay. In reply he answers, " 'Do what you are told, woman,' 'When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?' " (Pg 14). In these two sentences, Okonkwo not only manages to put his first spouse into her small niche of housewife, but also makes a reference to the village

This honorable staging of women is used by Achebe to identify women’s role in the Ibo society. This presentation is necessary to show that women indeed play an important role in society.

vengeful, unavoidable, and incomprehensible. In anxiety of a divine female principle, they come down heavily indeed on ordinary women whose lives they can control as they like. The only glory and satisfaction these women enjoyed was being a mother. They receive respect and love from their children. They are strong for their children. Women are viewed to be very gentle and caring. They are expected to take care of their offspring with the best of their ability. Women are trusted totally by their children.

In keeping with the Ibo view of female nature, the tribe allowed wife beating. The novel describes two instances when Okonkwo beats his second wife. Once when she did not come home to make his meal, he beat her severely and was punished. This was only because he beat her during the Week of Peace. He beat her again when she referred to him as one of those "guns that never shot"(Pg 75). When a severe case of wife beating comes before the egwugwu, he found in favor of the wife, but at the end of the trial one of the elders wondered, "I don't know why such a trifle sho

Some topics in this essay:
Supreme Pg, Chinua Achebe, Umuofia' Pg, Anasi Nwakibie's, Week Peace, Achebe Ibo, Hills Caves, Beware' Pg, , wife beating, wives okonkwo, ibo society,