"Female" Virtues Ignored

            In Mbanta, Okonkwo is scolded for not understanding the Ibo proverb that “Mother is Supreme”. Okonkwo ignores “female” virtues in himself and others like affection and the quality of listening. This creates any problems in his life because of his one-sidedness.

            Okonkwo ignores the “female” virtue of affection by not showing love for his family. I believe he is like this because his own father was lazy and could not care for his family, so Okonkwo believes that he should show that he is strong and tough. He thinks that he should not show any vulnerability.

            Okonkwo also does not show affection towards his son, Nwoye. Okonkwo thinks his son is not a man because Nwoye is sensitive and actually has an emotional side. Okonkwo wishes that Nwoye was more like his daughter, Ezinma, whom is strong and tough, like Okonkwo.

            Okonkwo’s one-sidedness creates problems in his life like selfishness. When he is exiled, Okonkwo begins to feel sorry for himself, in which he should not. Uchendu tells Okonkwo that “Mother is Supreme” and that other people are in a much worse situation than Okonkwo himself. Although Uchendu tells Okonkwo about many stories in which people’s lives are much worse than his own, Okonkwo continues to feel sorry for himself which will cause many more problems in the future.