Character Foils In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo, Unoka, Obierika, Nwoye, and Enzima are five characters that are brought to life by Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart, that show us more than just a story. They show us what it is like to live as part of the tribe and their daily activities. Through their daily activities in the story, Achebe shows us the similarities and differences in certain characters, creating character foils using a set of two characters. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s foils, Unoka and Obierika, and the Nwoye’s foil, Enzima, serve to highlight the similarities and differences in their characteristics and personalities; these characters represent the ideal roles that each gender plays in the Ibo society. Through these characters Achebe shows that …show more content…
Achebe's fundamental topic about the impact of society on a person is seen through the varying ways of life of Okonkwo and Unoka through their personalities, being that Okonkwo became a hard worker and Unoka became a person who took no responsibility, and different roles when they are grown up- Okonkwo being a man of high title and Unoka ends up not even being able to care for his family. They both have fears. ”He would remember his own childhood, how he had often wandered around looking for a kite sailing leisurely, as soon as he found one he would sing with his whole being, welcoming it back from its long, long journey”.(5) Unoka as a child never paid attention to his surroundings, like observing what other men did in his community; it is shown that he used to daydream by himself. As a child, he was full of emotions. He was more of a romantic type which can be seen through his love of singing and playing of his flute. “The grown up was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a