Nathan, Okonkwo, and Women

Nathan and Okonkwo are both very masculine men, driven by insecurity and influenced by society. Both men are compelled to action by situations in their lives that made them feel weak or out of control. Nathan Price was coincidentally spared from a situation in World War II where he surely would have died; as it is, he survived but has to live with the guilt of knowing that all of the other men were not as fortunate. This plagues him, pushing him to be demanding and to fight for the spread of his religion throughout the Congo -- he must resist failure of any kind, to make his life worth it in his own eyes and to deserve survival.

Okonkwo is in similar circumstances. His father was a weak and shameful man, constantly demonstrating physical and mental weakness. Okonkwo feels his father's shadow over him at all points in time, making him feel as if he too will become a failure. This insecurity of his own worth and power makes him constantly work hard to be a man of prestige and honor. He takes multiple wives and does not tolerate disobedience or insubordinance from his wives and children. He works to be a great farmer and warrior to gain social standing in his village. All of this is to avoid the humiliation and dishonor of being like his father, who was mocked and hated.

Okonkwo and Nathan are so insecure that they become madly driven to hypermasculinity, in order to prove (to themselves and others) that they are not weak or failures. They use the same methods through which they attempt to gain power. They try to take control of their wives, families, and villages through violence, in order to feel powerful and accomplished and to maintain their respective traditions and religions, because these things are ways for a person to feel in control. I don't see many differences between them; Okonkwo has some moments of softness, though not many. Both men are driven mad by their loss of control and tradition.

I think that the reason why Nathan (and Okonkwo) resist femininity is because it is seen to be weak. Because Nathan is so dogmatic, he surely believes the Bible's dictations that women are base, temptresses, unintelligent: meant for producing children and quite certainly not meant for expressing their opinions and being individuals. Especially because he has a wife and four daughters, and so is surrounded by women who could easily come together and undermine his authority, he feels that he must maintain total control in his household through violence and bullying. When his wife and daughters eventually abandon him, he is driven insane because he feels his total lack of control over his family, Africa, and his attempts at mass conversion.