Okonkwo Foils

Things Fall Apart: Foil A foil is a secondary character who shines light on the main character.The secondary characters in this novel are Ezeudu, Obierika, and Nwoye. Mail character is Okonkwo who shows many issues he has with the help from the secondary characters who highlights Okonkwo's wonderful and terrible qualities he has Achebe choose to have Okonkwo as a foil character to show the many different things that's he does wrong in this community. In this novel Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe includes foil characters in order to that Okonkwo does not represent the values of the Igbo culture. To begin with Okonkwo’s violent actions does not go with the others in this novel, since he shows hostile characteristics towards others. “And when she walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo’s return. And when she returned he beat her heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace”(Achebe 29). In this culture it is unacceptable to beat their wives especially during the Week of Peace however Okonkwo still beats his wife. “Where Okonkwo rules his house with a heavy hand, Obierika provides have family with a nourishing environment that inspires growth and cultures”(Shea 93). Okonkwo is more with a heavy hand where Obierika is with a light hearted feelings towards their …show more content…
“My father, they have killed me!” as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down (Achebe 44). This clearly proves that Okonkwo does not think about his actions. “When they were out of earshot, he said to Okonkwo: "That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death””(Achebe 41). Ezeudu thinks about the consequences before he takes part in the action. Okonkwo and Ezeudu are every much different one thinks before one acts while the other goes right into the situation without thinking about what is about to