Context of Interpretation

Things Fall Apart evokes salient significance of gender roles within the Igbo society presented, hence one’s context of interpretation, consisting of such components as culture, beliefs and time period, will engender differing personal understandings and perspectives of the way in which males and females are delineated.

• Outline of how the culture a reader resides within influences their understandings, perspectives and opinions formed
• The world consists of a myriad of differing cultures, each with their own paradigms, ideals and expectations; such aspects can influence entire demographics’ perspectives formed on the theme of gender roles between the text. 
• Cultural beliefs and values of gender roles differ internationally
• Customs, traditions and expectations and how they relate
• How religion affects views of gender roles within differing cultures

• Outline of how the personal beliefs a reader possesses influences their understandings, perspectives and opinions formed
• Although many personal beliefs would be derived through their respective culture, each individual is different from the next hence their interpretation of certain features and aspects of the novel would also differ.
• How personal views can affect views of gender roles
• How personal experience and the emotions as a result affect views of gender roles
• Personal expectations beyond those of the culture

• Outline of how the time period a reader resides within influences their understandings, perspectives and opinions formed
• People within alternate time periods would indubitably view certain material differently and hence form differing and perhaps opposing opinions and understandings, hence considering one’s place in time and the changes between time periods is significant due to general changes in values, beliefs, expectations etc.
• Highlighting differences between times since the book was written and further in the future and how these may affect the interpretation of gender roles
• Any changes in values, beliefs, expectations etc. and how the former would compare and contrast to the latter