Fear is the shadow that lurks behind us, casting out a thick fog that shields our mind making it hard to reveal our true self. The concept of fear is a reoccurring theme that arises throughout Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo, the main character of the novel, struggles with his fear of failure and weakness and tries to cover it up by appearing to others as a strong and masculine individual. However, Okonkwo’s mistaken outlook on masculinity causes him to commit belligerent and thoughtless acts against the individuals that surround him. Okonkwo’s fear of becoming weak consumes his life by corrupting his ability to control his actions highlighting his impulsivity which becomes a fatal flaw leading to his downfall and his suicide.
The foundation of Okonkwo’s fear of failure and weakness stems from the qualities possessed by Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, and his inability to succeed. As a young boy, Okonkwo had always known and resented that his father was essentially the definition of a failure. Throughout Okonkwo’s childhood, he was constantly reminded of the fact that his father was unsuccessful: “... even now he still remembered how he …show more content…
It lurks behind him impacting all of his decisions and all of the choices he makes. Rather than facing his fears, Okonkwo hides in the shadows and suppresses all of his emotions in order to ensure his manliness. Throughout Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe focuses on the fact that Okonkwo’s suicide was avoidable only if he had stopped for a moment to think. He had family and friends that greatly appreciated him, but since Okonkwo was so focused on being strong and powerful, he could not see all of the things that he had right in front of him. By portraying Okonkwo’s story, Achebe teaches the readers that no matter how hard things get in life, you will always have family and friends to be with you every step of the
The foundation of Okonkwo’s fear of failure and weakness stems from the qualities possessed by Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, and his inability to succeed. As a young boy, Okonkwo had always known and resented that his father was essentially the definition of a failure. Throughout Okonkwo’s childhood, he was constantly reminded of the fact that his father was unsuccessful: “... even now he still remembered how he …show more content…
It lurks behind him impacting all of his decisions and all of the choices he makes. Rather than facing his fears, Okonkwo hides in the shadows and suppresses all of his emotions in order to ensure his manliness. Throughout Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe focuses on the fact that Okonkwo’s suicide was avoidable only if he had stopped for a moment to think. He had family and friends that greatly appreciated him, but since Okonkwo was so focused on being strong and powerful, he could not see all of the things that he had right in front of him. By portraying Okonkwo’s story, Achebe teaches the readers that no matter how hard things get in life, you will always have family and friends to be with you every step of the