discuss feminisim in the anthills of the savannah?

Answer 1

Achebe's much praised objectivity with regard to the merits and flaws of traditional Ibo society becomes less than praiseworthy seen in this light: his traditional women are happy, harmonious members of the community, even when they are repeatedly beaten and barred from any say in the communal decision making process and constantly reviled in sayings and proverbs . . . The obvious inequality of the sexes seems to be the subject of mild amusement for Achebe. The problem, he comes to realize in the course of Anthills of the Savannah, stems from his discovery of inherent sexism within African culture -- he realizes that, though there is no Eve parable as in Western myth, the sanctification of women through the idea of a supreme mother, one who is somehow removed, also functions as an attempt to separate women from the matters of everyday life. The truth, he argues, is necessarily messier, "there is no universal conglomerate of the oppressed". Each situation deserves its own unique attempt at a solution. By realizing what he does about the status of women in the world (a point that resounds through the majority of postcolonial feminist theory, that universal sisterhood is essentially a falsehood, each of the world's cultures has its own visions of femininity), Ikem comes to a greater understanding about the fate of Africa as well: "society is an extension of the individual. The most we can hope to do with a problematic individual psyche is to re-form it. No responsible psychoanalyst would aim to do more" (91). Ikem, and therefore Achebe's, potential sexism is his own, not to be considered a Western attribute like his suits and language. And this African sexism deserves an African response. A response that is made clear by Achebe through his conclusion, a conclusion in which only the women remain.

Answer 2

Beatrice is the epitome of feminism. She is strong, resilient, educated and willing to stake a lot for the sake of her country. She is sad that Chris died but she knows that she will have to be one to move on. It is up to the women to take charge and change the destructive path the country is destined for. There are two passages where Achebe digresses quite a bit talking about Beatrice waking up and becoming a goddess. That is pretty feministic.