Okonkwo's Personality In Things Fall Apart

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Self-absorption, anger, and violence. These three words are just a brief summary of the list of immoral characteristics that make up Okonkwo’s personality. Through numerous instances in the novel Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe heavily emphasizes Okonkwo’s general lack of sympathy for other people. A primary example of this occurs after one of wives, Ojiugo, returns late from getting her hair done at a different location: “He [Okonkwo] walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo’s return… when she returned he beat her very heavily,” (Achebe 37). The implications of his lack of emotions is two-fold in this case, as he clearly cares so little about his wife that he will beat her for being late to dinner, and also, his poor-decision making put the clan in jeopardy since this took place during the Week of Peace. Okonkwo’s …show more content…
The children require a father who cares for them, more than just with food and a place to live. Nevertheless, the fact remains that he cared for Ikemefuna more than his own children, which can be seen through him allowing “Ikemefuna to accompany him, like a son” to certain “big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts,” (Achebe 36) which is something none of his other children had the privilege of. Although unstated, his kids were likely feeling disdain, which their father of course would never attempt to acknowledge or compensate. However, his seeming proclivity for Ikemefuna vanishes when his reputation suddenly appears to be at risk. After realizing what is about to happen Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo in hopes of finding safety in his stand-in father only for Okonkwo to “dr[a]w his machete and cut him down,” (Achebe 65). Just the thought seeming weak to his clansmen causes Okonkwo to murder Ikemefuna, one of the people he held dearest in his heart, further reiterating that when it comes down to it, Okonkwo will put himself before

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…

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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…

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Essay on Things Fall Apart

between Okonkwo and Nwoye falls apart. A relationship between a father and son can have a decidedly profound impact on each other’s lives. Whether this relationship is bifurcated, the psychological effects of having an intimate or inadequate parenting skills can have a nurturing or depriving effect on a child's personality from birth all throughout adulthood. This relationship although sustained has the potential to be either beneficial or untenable. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, we see…

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Who Is Okonkwo A Tragic 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 of Okonkwo to portray him…

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Emperor Is Divine

Culture is extremely important to many people and plays a huge role in their lives, but what happens if their culture is challenged or oppressed? In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and from “When the Emperor was Divine” by Julie Otsuka both protagonist’s cultures are challenged. To some people, their culture means everything to them, so if someone were to try to take that away from them, they would likely be more than displeased. However, some changes cannot be avoided. Resisting change…

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What Is Okonkwo's Role In Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo’s character is a very unique and interesting one that is easily differentiated from other well-known heroes. Due to his lack of a proper upbringing, he sought to achieve greatness through other means, rather relying on inheritance. In his culture, reputation is achieved through the amount of possessions owned. The number of wives and children, the size of farms and land, are all symbols of one’s wealth and eminence. War accomplishments as well as brute strength is also revered in his clan…

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Comparing Things Fall Apart 'And' Okonkwo's Othello

Things Fall Apart, is a novel of a strong leader named Okonkwo. He lives in an Ibo village in Nigeria called Umuofia. He is an Igbo warrior who has strong beliefs of the gods in his culture and who is wanting to expel the British empire before it takes control of his country. On the other hand, The Tragedy of Othello is a play written by William Shakespeare. The main character of Othello is Othello. Othello is a general leading the Venetian forces against the Turkish. His unending love for Desdemona…

Words 1212 - Pages 5