Things Fall Apart Quote Analysis

In the novel known to many as Things Fall Apart, the author Chinua Achebe focuses on a village in Nigeria. Umuofia is a powerful clan, that of which is skilled in war and has its own traditions and social environments which they give a great deal about. Okonkwo is the clan leader if Umuofia. He had risen from nothing to a high position at the young age of 18 by fighting Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling contest. Okonkwo is one of the most insecure, fearful, self-conflicted men in Umuofia. On the outside, many others see him as destructive, impulsive, and impatient. Although this was true, these folks did not know the real reason as to why Okonkwo was like this was due to the shame of his father. This is because of Unoka who died with no title, was talked about behind his back, and never truly lived up to the Igbo cultures expectation of a “real man.”

Okonkwo is quite fearful. In Chapter 1, Okonkwo states that his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness. This keeps him from being the loving father that Unoka once was. He believed that the only way to achieve do the exact opposite of his father. Considering that Unoka could not stand the sight of blood, was forgiving, and …show more content…
Achebe's goal was to tell a true story of what it meant to be African and how they are not savage or ignorant individual and spending more time investing into this interesting book will explain that very thing. Okonkwo represents the very average type of person you may have met in the Igbo culture during the time this novel was set in. The tension between himself as an individual and a member as his larger tribe is expressed greatly throughout the book. He is a masculine hero, yet highly problematic in multiple ways. Although I believe Okonkwo was the protagonist in the novel, he isn't the perfect hero. His actions may often be reckless or unwise which causes most to believe that Okonkwo is not worthy of

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