Okonkwo's Flaws In Things Fall Apart

Words: 1676
Pages: 7
Open Document
Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart, lived in Nigeria during a time of civil unrest, when Nigeria was fighting for its independence from Britain. His family converted to Christianity, but lived a traditional Igbo life. Achebe wrote his novel to show the effect of British colonialism and the clash of Nigerian culture, the loss of human dignity by Nigerian people, the fragility of manhood, and the twisted mental pictures both cultures had of each other. Things Fall Apart, set between 1890 and 1915, tells the story of one Igbo man’s defiance and arrogance, the faults of his tribe, and European influence and its disastrous impact, altogether leading to the tumultuous end of tradition and custom. Achebe was inspired to write this novel from …show more content…
61 and because of this, Okonkwo “did not taste any food” pg. 63 and “drank..from morning till night.” pg. 63 In his fight to prove himself to his clan, Okonkwo ultimately hurts himself; becoming a drunk with no sense of purpose, once again not taking into account his wants, but only his needs. The need for his clan to respect and accept him overrides everything else, shining a light on his inner demons and insecurities. All of Okonkwo’s flaws and mistakes are coming to a head, and not only is the tribe becoming increasingly aware of this, but also the ancestral spirits of Umuofia. Obierika comments on how Okonkwo’s killing of Ikemefuna “will not please the Earth” pg. 67 and that it is the “kind of action...goddesses wipes out..families” pg. 67 for. He knows that for Okonkwo taking part in Ikemefuna’s murder, the gods will not be happy with. Ikemefuna was not his birth son, but Okonkwo treated the boy like his own, and Ikemefuna thought of him as his father. The warning foreshadows the consequences of Okonkwo not heeding the advice. Obierika, the voice of reason throughout the novel, is always one to point out the unfairness and injustices of the tribe, unlike Okonkwo.
Show More

Related Documents: Okonkwo's Flaws In Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo's Tragic Flaw

Written in the 1959, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, explores modern day feminist and postcolonial topics, as well as Aristotle’s ancient tragic flaw theory. Achebe expresses structuralism through Okonkwo’s tragic flaw. A tragic hero possesses a tragic flaw, holds a position of prestige and power, chooses his course of action, and gains awareness of circumstances that lead to his fall. Tragedy depicts the downfall of a basically good person through some fatal error or misjudgment, producing…

Words 956 - Pages 4

Essay Downfall: Things Fall apart and early Age Okonkwo

see him climbing to the top. Okonkwo was dark, tall and strong with defined muscles, his fame was built on solid personal achievements and titles and this set him up for a big fall. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is seen to have a strong likeness and the definition of Aristotle’s tragic hero. Okonkwo’s early suffering was brought on by his father’s weak work ethic. “He was lazy and improvident…incapable of thinking about tomorrow (Achebe 4).” “He neither inherited a barn nor title…

Words 389 - Pages 2

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

In the historical fiction novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the protagonist, Okonkwo, is primarily depicted with a contradiction to his father’s characteristics. As a strong man, Okonkwo “was well known through the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements” (3). Unlike his father, the main character is hardworking and driven to succeed. Unoka was “lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow” (4). As a child, Okonkwo despised…

Words 284 - Pages 2

Okonkwo Tragic Hero

In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the main character is a man named Okonkwo who is the groups most lethal fighter. He was a powerful leader that was big. He was ruthless and strong. He was a fierce person that was well respected. Okonkwo is a tragic hero and has a fatal flaw that causes his downfall. His self confidence was the reason why he is known as a tragic hero. Okonkwo’s self confidence was too high, and he was always afraid of weakness and failure. In chapter one, the author…

Words 545 - Pages 3

Who Is Okonkwo A Tragic Hero

are many ways that a hero can be viewed, but they usually have a flaw. Flaws can be big and some can be small but in Okonkwo’s case it hurt his reputation of being a manly, bestial man. Aristotle tells of many characteristics on how a character can be a tragic hero and most of his ideas fits Okonkwo’s flaws, personality, and actions. Aristotle also shares of traits on how their life was and what they went through. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe the author uses the plot to show the Protagonist…

Words 779 - Pages 4

Okonkwo Quotes

their children. Although fear of becoming like his father was his drive for success, it is also his internal flaw. It causes him to make reckless actions with emotions. Okonkwo’s family relationships make him a sympathetic character because he loves and feels compassion toward his family, but hides it, and is unsympathetic because he does not want to…

Words 606 - Pages 3

Who Is Okonkwo In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is divided into three parts and in part one of the historical fiction the author reveals elements of Igbo culture and about what they do. In the novel the protagonist Okonkwo is one of the well known men in the village. His victory bought him to have fame but his flaw got a hold of him. Okonkwo's fear of becoming like his father leads him to a great downfall. Unoka, the father of Okonkwo was always a man that was lazy and improvident. He died ten years…

Words 633 - Pages 3

Okonkwo's Tragic Hero In Things Fall Apart

work that means a person who faces adversity or demonstrates courage and faces a downfall as well. In the novel Things Fall Apart, chinua follows the life of his main character Okonkwo as he deals with the influence of British colonialism and christian missionaries on the Igbo community. Okonkwo is considered a tragic hero. Although he was an important figure in the Igbo tribe, his tragic flaw and outside forces led to his downfall. Okonkwo is a tragic hero, his own inner forces are his downfall…

Words 287 - Pages 2

Things Fall apart and Okonkwo’s Reputation Essay

Andre Bourne December 07, 2012 Respect In this novel Things Fall Apart there reputation in general is very important to them. The Reputation are based on their fights, battles, bravely, to how they crop and harvest, to what their job titles are, and its even to believe that there power from reputation owned them such as wives, and respect of the village. Okonkwo is worried about his very own…

Words 2215 - Pages 9

Oedipus Tragic Hero

greatness, but not perfection which helps the rest of humanity relate to him. Inherently, a tragic hero has a downfall, of his or her own doing, which frequently is a result of hubris. Typically, the consequence of this flaw is greater than the act committed, but the tragic hero’s fall from greatness will lead to greater personal self -awareness. The demise will also raise empathy in the audience, but consequently will not cause depression or deep mourning. The audience will have a cathartic response…

Words 1392 - Pages 6