Okonkwo Essay

Submitted By Taylor-Falcon

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Pages: 2

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Taylor Falcon
English 2 Honors
Mrs. Keebler
Period 6
Throughout the historical novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, the protagonist Okonkwo continuously acted out in many different ways. He acted violently towards family and his tribe of Ibo people. His violent tendencies lead to his alienation from his family and his community. Okonkwo’s outbursts leaf to his alienation from his family. He held one of his wives at gunpoint, and beat his wives often, one instance even being during the week of peace. Him being abusive caused him and his wives not to be as close, as they feared him. When Ikemafuna was stabbed in the back by a machete, he yelled out to Okonkwo to save him but in fear of looking weak (which comes from his issues with his father) in front of his friends he finished off Ikemafuna. When Okonkwo killed Ikemafuna, it had a negative effect on his family and in the long run lead to his alienation from them. Not only did Okonkwo’s outbursts lead to his alienation from his family, but also from his community. As mentioned earlier, Okonkwo beat one of his wives during the week of peace. That is highly forbidden and he faced major consequences. The priest demands that Okonkwo make a sacrifice for his sin. The priest demands that a goat and a hen be sacrificed, and that he also pay a fine of one length of cloth and one hundred cowries (shells used as currency). Okonkwo repents for his sin and follows the priest’s orders. Okonkwo also accidentally killed

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