The following term paper deals with the question in how far the theory of precarious manhood can be applied to novel “Embassy of Cambodia“ by Zadie Smith, that was first published in 2013.
As the main female character Fatou, a woman from Ivory Coast, who works as a live-in maid with Pakistani family, the Derawals, in a working-class suburb of London, is a very strong character, who, apart from her gender, does not show many traits of character that are stereotypically female, the implications of the theory of precarious manhood suggest, that a male character behaves accordingly next to a strong femine hero.
Therefore, the main goal of this term paper is to analyse in how far the main male character, Andrew Okonkwo, complies with this theory in his behavior and actions.
Although there are also other male characters, for example Fatou’s father, Mr. Derawal, Faizul Derawal, the man from Russia and several other miscellaneous male persons, but due to the limitations of this term paper and the fact that all other characters do not have enough appearances or are even mentioned only once, this paper is limited to an analysis of Andrew Okonkwo. In addition to that the behaviour of the other male characters largely could only be only be inferred by interpreting the situation they are living in or making assumptions, that go beyond what is written in the book.
At first, the term paper gives a brief overview about the terms masculinity and manhood and the theory of precarious manhood is introduced. Later, the main male character in the novel is described and his behaviour is being analysed according to being stereotypically male and compliant to the theory of precarious manhood. In the conclusion, the author summarises the findings and also adresses topics for potential further research.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Masculinity and Manhood
3. Precarious Manhood Theory
4. Main male character in “Embassy of Cambodia“
5. The Precarious Manhood of Andrew Okonkwo
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the applicability of the theory of precarious manhood to the male protagonist, Andrew Okonkwo, in Zadie Smith’s 2013 novel "Embassy of Cambodia." It investigates whether the character exhibits stereotypical masculine behaviors—such as aggression, dominance, or risk-taking—when his social status or intellectual confidence is perceived as threatened.
- Application of the Precarious Manhood Theory to literary analysis
- Distinction between masculinity and manhood in sociological terms
- Psychological mechanisms of "antifemininity" mandates in male behavior
- Analysis of literary character traits through the lens of gender stereotypes
- The intersection of intellectual insecurity and reactive dominant behavior
Excerpt from the Book
4. Main male character in “Embassy of Cambodia“
As already mentioned above, the main male character of the novel “Embassy of Cambodia” is Andrew Okonkwo.
Andrew Okonkwo, who is most probably of Nigerian origin, as he for example cheers for the Nigerian soccer team (Smith, 26), is the main male character in “Embassy of Cambodia“ and he is the only person Fatou has regular and serious interaction with (Smith, 25). Andrew is also responsible for Fatou’s Baptism (Smith, 46-47). In fact, religion and in particular the Christian belief is one of their central topics (Smith, 46). It might be a coincidence, but the name Andrew, which originates from Greek, meaning “manhood, valour“ (Schäfer, 1) and is also the name of an important Christian Apostle, who was also called the “fisher for men“ (Schäfer, 1). Andrew’s surname Okonkwo, which is a classical Nigerian name, is also the name of the protagonist in Chinua Achebe’s “Things fall apart“, a novel fist published in 1958. Achebe’s protagonist Okonkwo can be seen as the counterpart to Smith’s Andrew Okonkwo. While Achebe’s Okonkwo is depicted as a “traditional hero“ (Strong-Leek, 1) whose „every muscle stood out“ (Bloom, 1), Andrew Okonkwo in “Embassy of Cambodia“ is described having a “chubby face“ (Smith, 27) and showing both “baby fat and a struggling moustache“.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the character Andrew Okonkwo and the central application of the precarious manhood theory.
2. Masculinity and Manhood: Provides a theoretical foundation by distinguishing between the definitions of masculinity and manhood and introducing the "antifemininity" mandate.
3. Precarious Manhood Theory: Explains the core tenets of the theory, stating that manhood is an elusive status requiring constant public demonstration and validation.
4. Main male character in “Embassy of Cambodia“: Introduces the character Andrew Okonkwo, his relationship with the protagonist Fatou, and his literary parallels.
5. The Precarious Manhood of Andrew Okonkwo: Analyzes specific incidents in the novel where Andrew exhibits stereotypical masculine traits in response to perceived threats to his status.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming that Andrew acts as a prototypical subject for the theory, and suggests avenues for future research.
Keywords
Precarious Manhood, Masculinity, Zadie Smith, Embassy of Cambodia, Andrew Okonkwo, Gender Roles, Antifemininity Mandate, Social Status, Literary Analysis, Stereotypes, Behavioral Psychology, Gender Identity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this academic paper?
The paper examines the male protagonist Andrew Okonkwo from Zadie Smith's novel "Embassy of Cambodia" through the sociological framework of the Precarious Manhood Theory.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
Central themes include the construction of gender, the definition of masculinity versus manhood, the psychological impact of perceived threats to gender status, and how these manifests in behavioral actions.
What is the core research question?
The study asks to what extent the theory of precarious manhood can explain the actions and behavioral patterns of Andrew Okonkwo within the narrative of the novel.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author utilizes a qualitative literary analysis, applying the Precarious Manhood Theory by Vandello and Bosson and gender-role assessments based on the Bem-Sex-Role-Inventory to interpret character behavior.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It provides a theoretical overview of masculinity, introduces the precarious manhood theory, presents a character study of Andrew Okonkwo, and performs a detailed analysis of specific scenes where he reacts to insecurity.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Precarious Manhood, Masculinity, Gender Identity, Stereotypes, and literary analysis of Zadie Smith's work.
Why is Andrew Okonkwo compared to Chinua Achebe's protagonist?
The author draws this comparison to highlight the contrast between a "traditional" hero figure and Smith’s character, who exhibits a more complex, often contradictory form of contemporary masculinity.
How does Andrew’s Christian belief intersect with his behavior?
The paper notes that while Andrew is a religious and sympathetic person, he often experiences a conflict between his stated Christian values and the aggressive, dominant behaviors he exhibits when he feels his manhood is threatened.
- Quote paper
- Holger Weinreich (Author), 2015, Precarious Manhood in Zadie Smith's "Embassy of Cambodia", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/313732
