Parental Relationships in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Buchi E

Parental Relationships in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart and Buchi Emechetas The Joys of Motherhood Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart, and Buchi Emechetas The Joys of Motherhood, are two novels that emphasize the complexities of relationships between parents and their children. In Achebes story, the protagonist of the novel, Okonkwo, has distant relationships with his children (particularly Nwoye and Ezinma) because their father sees them as inadequate in many ways. Okonkwo has high expectations of his children, oddly Nwoye, his eldest son and often finds fault in almost everything he does. Okonkwo resents the fact that the child he feels has the most promise is his daughter Ezinma. Her strength of type is everything he has ever wanted in a son. In Emechetas story, Nnu self, the protagonist of the novel, dedicates her life to working for the health and happiness of her children. Unlike Okonkwos situation, Nnu Egos children do not try to seek her approval. In fact, her c hildren, namely Oshia and Adim, are not appreciative of all the sacrifices she has made for them and even blame her for the familys misfortunes. Things Fall Apart and The Joys of Motherhood are two telling stories that demonstrate the differing relationships parents and their children can have. One story, shows a father whose children can never meet up to his standards, although the children unsuccess amply strive for his praise. The other story displays a mother whose unappreciative children do not try to seek their mothers approval, even though she strives to please them in the best way she knows how. Okonkwo is the type of man that has had to work for everything that he has attained in life. His father left him... ... children. Her children do not fully understand nor do they appreciate their mother as much as they should, because as hard as life was for them, Nnu Ego is the reason they are alive. On the other side of the spectrum is Okonkwo, the main character fro m Things Fall Apart. He is not the type of father who is very caring of his children. In fact, Okonkwos only absorb for them is that they live up to his expectations. Okonkwos children try to please their father but a man of such impossible and illogical standards can never be satisfied. Whether a relationship between parents and children is one of love, struggle, or expectation, the truth remains that no bond is ever perfect.Works CitedAchebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart . Oxford Heinemann educational Publishers, 1958.Emecheta, Buchi. The Joys of Motherhood. Oxford Heinemann Educational Publishers, 1979.