The growth and decline in the power and status of Okonkwo in the book Things Fall Apart
By Kaine Sponcey
Okonkwo is a well-respected member of the Umuofia clan. Though stern, much of his life is dictated by his own fear. His greatest worry is that he will become like his father; a lazy and cowardly shell of a man. Okonkwo recognizes many of his father’s traits to be feminine. This means that Okonkwo tries to work hard, provide for his family, be brave, and be manly in every possible way. As a result, Okonkwo became successful in many ways. He became very wealthy, holds an important position in the community, has three wives, and is known for his skill as a warrior. But his fear motivates him to take actions which are often unnecessary and ultimately destructive. His fear of being like his father leads him to assist in the murder of Ikemefuna, to beat his wives, be distant from his children, and to disown one of his sons, until that fear drives him to suicide.
Okonkwo grows up resenting his father’s laziness and devotes all his time to proving his own respectability and masculinity. At age 18, Okonkwo beats a champion wrestler named the Cat to show off his strength to the clan. Okonkwo goes to Nwakibie to borrow seed yams and start his own farm and vows to give him back the seeds in time. That year is a series of natural disasters but Okonkwo …show more content…
His three wives are only there as a tool to serve him his food and raise his children. By seeing his family as his subjects and himself as a king, Okonkwo can justify his brutality against them. He can severely beat his wives without guilt and he can threaten Ekwefi with a gun. This sense of ownership is shown when Okonkwo takes Ikemefuna’s life. Though he does have guilt over killing Ikemefuna, it is not guilt about whether or not he had the right to do it. Okonkwo thinks he has complete ownership over his
By Kaine Sponcey
Okonkwo is a well-respected member of the Umuofia clan. Though stern, much of his life is dictated by his own fear. His greatest worry is that he will become like his father; a lazy and cowardly shell of a man. Okonkwo recognizes many of his father’s traits to be feminine. This means that Okonkwo tries to work hard, provide for his family, be brave, and be manly in every possible way. As a result, Okonkwo became successful in many ways. He became very wealthy, holds an important position in the community, has three wives, and is known for his skill as a warrior. But his fear motivates him to take actions which are often unnecessary and ultimately destructive. His fear of being like his father leads him to assist in the murder of Ikemefuna, to beat his wives, be distant from his children, and to disown one of his sons, until that fear drives him to suicide.
Okonkwo grows up resenting his father’s laziness and devotes all his time to proving his own respectability and masculinity. At age 18, Okonkwo beats a champion wrestler named the Cat to show off his strength to the clan. Okonkwo goes to Nwakibie to borrow seed yams and start his own farm and vows to give him back the seeds in time. That year is a series of natural disasters but Okonkwo …show more content…
His three wives are only there as a tool to serve him his food and raise his children. By seeing his family as his subjects and himself as a king, Okonkwo can justify his brutality against them. He can severely beat his wives without guilt and he can threaten Ekwefi with a gun. This sense of ownership is shown when Okonkwo takes Ikemefuna’s life. Though he does have guilt over killing Ikemefuna, it is not guilt about whether or not he had the right to do it. Okonkwo thinks he has complete ownership over his