Things Fall Apart: Okonkow’s Final Tragedy
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart features a strong protagonist, Okonkwo, who is an important figure in the African village of Umuofia. The traditions of the village are upset by European colonizers, who bring government and religion to replace the culture of the native people. Okonkwo attempts to defend his clan’s way of life and stands up for his values by killing the colony’s District Commissioner’s messenger. Unfortunately, his clan does not stand behind him but instead questions his actions, and remains inactive when trouble comes to Umuofia. Abandoned by his people, Okonkwo chooses to hang himself rather than face the judgment of the colonial government. Okonkwo’s final tragedy is a direct result …show more content…
In the climax of the novel, Umuofia is meeting to discuss how they should handle the growing problem of the European culture. Okonkwo has lost his first born son to the Christian religion and understands first-hand the danger that the European culture represents to his clan’s way of life. He expresses his concern that the clan will not take action to throw out the Europeans and their native converts because outspoken members of the clan are “cowards.” When a messenger for the District Commissioner arrives to break up the meeting, Okonkwo takes matters into his own hands: “Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body… He knew that Umuofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messengers escape” (ch. 24). Okonkwo does not go along with the consensus of the rest of the villagers, but acts according to his standard of masculinity. Since the village does not support his action, he withdraws from the group and hangs himself. Okonkwo’s final tragedy is that he cannot survive in a world where his traditional values are not roundly accepted. When the village rejects his act of war, Okonkwo commits suicide rather than face the judgment of the colonial
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart features a strong protagonist, Okonkwo, who is an important figure in the African village of Umuofia. The traditions of the village are upset by European colonizers, who bring government and religion to replace the culture of the native people. Okonkwo attempts to defend his clan’s way of life and stands up for his values by killing the colony’s District Commissioner’s messenger. Unfortunately, his clan does not stand behind him but instead questions his actions, and remains inactive when trouble comes to Umuofia. Abandoned by his people, Okonkwo chooses to hang himself rather than face the judgment of the colonial government. Okonkwo’s final tragedy is a direct result …show more content…
In the climax of the novel, Umuofia is meeting to discuss how they should handle the growing problem of the European culture. Okonkwo has lost his first born son to the Christian religion and understands first-hand the danger that the European culture represents to his clan’s way of life. He expresses his concern that the clan will not take action to throw out the Europeans and their native converts because outspoken members of the clan are “cowards.” When a messenger for the District Commissioner arrives to break up the meeting, Okonkwo takes matters into his own hands: “Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body… He knew that Umuofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messengers escape” (ch. 24). Okonkwo does not go along with the consensus of the rest of the villagers, but acts according to his standard of masculinity. Since the village does not support his action, he withdraws from the group and hangs himself. Okonkwo’s final tragedy is that he cannot survive in a world where his traditional values are not roundly accepted. When the village rejects his act of war, Okonkwo commits suicide rather than face the judgment of the colonial