Okonkwo's Masculinity In Things Fall Apart Essay

Okonkwo’s masculinity was tested when he was informed that Ikemefuna was to be sacrificed. In those three years that Ikemefuna lived with Okonkwo’s family, he became the son Okonkwo never had, even more so then his birth son, Nwoye. Okonkwo respected Ikemefuna because he was talented, hard-working, and was a great hunter. He had a positive relationship and influence with Nwoye. Okonkwo even considered Ikemefuna to be a good role model for Nwoye because Ikemefuna taught him to be more like a man. But when Okonkwo was told by Ezeudu that Ikemefuna was to be sacrificed, and “that boy calls you father” (57) and that Okonkwo should not “bear a hand in his death,” (57) Okonkwo still participated even though he had the chance to opt out of sacrifice. …show more content…
This can be proven through the words of Okonkwo’s friend, Obierika. “But if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it.” (67) This just demonstrates that there is more to just what Okonkwo believes to be strength, the reader is given a different perspective to what strength is through Obierika. Strength is a facet of character that takes time to nurture and improve upon, true strength is more than a few shows of bravery and through the power of your actions. From Okonkwo’s action of participating in Ikemefuna’s sacrifice, he is haunted by his death, demonstrating that what Okonkwo had done was not truly