Because Okonkwo did not want to follow in his father’s footsteps as a lazy, gentle, and poor man, he decided to create his own legacy. Some may consider this honorable although, as Okonkwo’s character evolves, it becomes evident that he remains crippled by his own desire to escape his father’s shadow. He envisioned his father as weak, yet his own …show more content…
His deepest thoughts spewed hatred for Unoka that drove him to be the exact opposite. Unoka was a gentle man who loved conversation. Okonkwo became an awfully violent man who refused to show emotion even to his loved ones. “Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his entire life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness; it was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father.” (pg10). Okonkwo began to work tirelessly to provide for his family in order to make up for his father’s failures. His father left nothing in inheritance for him so he was forced to start his own barn. “It was slow and painful. But he threw himself into it like one possessed. And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father’s contemptible life and shameful death.” (pg13). Therefore, he continued in this path, opposing his father’s footsteps in every way …show more content…
For the first time, Okonkwo felt like his father who did not fit in the society he was a part of. However, Okonkwo was a fighter; he fought against the church and the government. Tension rose in the village between the clan and the government. Okonkwo’s anger was at an all time high to the point that he desired to kill the head white man. The ministry of the church and has divided the clan by making converts. The Umuofia clan had a meeting because they were greatly troubled by everything that was happening. A few messengers from the government were ordered to confront the clan. Again in his anger, Okonkwo killed one of the men. Despite the uproar of the meeting and the plan of action, the clan failed to support him. Okonkwo heard the whispers, “why did he do it?” Once again he felt alone. In his despair, Okonkwo felt he had no other choice then to kill himself. Therefore, he hung himself on a tree which was considered an abomination. His body could not be touched by any of the Umuofia men and must be taken down by strangers. He must be buried outside Umuofia similar to his