In our current culture and throughout history, there has been a tremendous emphasis on masculinity. This is completely natural due to the dominant male culture that has been prevalent since the dawn of human civilization. This is also the case in Haggard's She and Achebe's Things Fall Apart. When examining Holly and Okonkwo, they both express raw masculinity, but the ways in which they display their masculinity as well as the role that masculinity plays in their identity are very different. Okonkwo displays an heir of masculinity due to his own insecurities and unleashes his anger on those close to him, while Holly's masculinity is unleashed in times of need and when hunting. Throughout his life, Okonkwo was ashamed of his father, Unoka. Throughout his life, Unoka was a poor, lazy man unable to provide for his family, which in Umofia society was considered one of the most shameful things a person could do. man can do. Growing up, Okoknow was embarrassed and swore to be the opposite of his father. He was afraid that he too would one day become the man (or lack of a man) that his father was (Achebe 15). This motivated him to become one of the greatest wrestlers and warriors Umofia has ever had. He embodied masculinity, which was valued in his society. He was a self-educated, successful and well-respected man in the nine villages. This respect earned him the title of war emissary. His entire life and achievements were earned because “his entire life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness” (Achebe 13). Nyame argues: "Okanakwo's masculinity becomes a defensive resource and his adherence to a masculine philosophy will now bring order to his ...... middle of paper ......n in which they display the masculinity as well as the role that masculinity plays in their identity is very different. Okonkwo presents an heir to masculinity in order to mask his own insecurities regarding his father's failures and fear of becoming the same man as his father. Masculinity ruled his life and any member of his clan or house he considered weak or any man he considered feminine suffered the full wrath of his alpha male angry outbursts. The difference between Holly and Okonkwo is that while Okonkwo displays his masculinity to mask his insecurities and maintain order, Holly only expresses his masculinity when trapped in a life or death situation or when hunting. The only people Holly harms are those who pose an immediate threat to her life, whereas with Okonkwo, no one is safe from her outburst of anger..