Okonkwo's Savagery

Improved Essays
Show More
Humans are fundamentally savage at some point in their life. It is a natural and subconscious part of human life, as they themselves are animals after all. Humans can be savage towards other humans seen in domestic abuse, or towards animals also seen in animal abuse. Savagery is best depicted in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The main protagonist Okonkwo, is introduced as a man full of glory, who regards masculinity above all, despising his father who was lazy. His life is turned upside down when is exiled from his village and with the arrival of the Christian missionaries, that starts to rip apart Okonkwo’s life in pieces, and eventually drives him to commit suicide. The story reflects through how emotions like fear can make a person …show more content…
The trepidation that Okonkwo felt caused him to kill Ikemefuna, as a way to to run away from his own fears, and his justification of being unmanly if he were to fail, presenting him as savage. Okonkwo partakes in the premeditated murder of Ikemefuna, as the village oracle commands it and Okonkwo’s conflicting dismay of losing his masculinity if he did not partake in it,”Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down”(61). This presents Okonkwo’s dread of disobeying someone with more authority, and a sense of femininity, causing him to kill Ikemefuna. Because of Okonkwo’s foreboding sense of something bad bestowing on him if he were to anger his goddess, he felt the need to partake in the murder of Ikemefuna, someone who regards him as a father figure. This displays how Okonkwo is inherently savage, because he rather sacrifice someone else, then face the punishments bestowed upon him, demonstrating his savage nature. He is also conflicted by thinking he may become soft if he did not partake in Ikemefuna’s murder, displaying his unease of losing his strong image and become like his father, who is the opposite of himself thus providing more reason to commit such savage act. Besides fear driving Okonkwo to commit savage acts and the display of his savage nature, anger is also a leading factor for …show more content…
The passionate anger he felt towards the commissioner caused him to kill one of the commissioner's messenger, out of fury and revenge for his humiliation in jail. Okonkwo himself, decides to kill the commissioner’s messenger, knowing the village will probably not resist the authority of the white men, but still commits the act because his logical reasoning had succumb to his rage, “Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniform”(209). This presents Okonkwo killed the man on a whim because he cannot contain the raging emotions that were caused by prior humiliation from the commissioner. Okonkwo’s rage and his desire for revenge managed to mute any logical reason, causing him to commit such savage acts, because Okonkwo himself felt provoked and ridiculed after submitting and feeling inferior against the commissioner. Out of his desire to harm the commissioner, Okonkwo had killed one of the commissioner's men. Other than anger, the need to possess something for oneself is a trigger for

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Okonkwo's Change In Things Fall Apart
    • 1244 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Essay On Okonkwo's Change In Things Fall Apart

    He teaches readers to stay true to oneself and to not let fear control actions. He is an example of what not to do. He gave into the fear of becoming his father and it makes him perform actions without thinking. Okonkwo shows the audience what not to do in one’s life and how his life was ruined with fears. In conclusion, Okonkwo’s society deems some savage actions acceptable, that may not be seen as right in modern times. He is able to do things to his family to assert his dominance, but it gets him into tricky situations. The fear of becoming his father drives him to commit crimes against the village, be malicious and violent to his family, and in the end, kill…

    • 1244 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Okonkwo Masculinity Quotes
    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Okonkwo Masculinity Quotes

    All of Okonkwo’s actions were aimed at appearing masculine and he always went to great lengths to prove how manly he was. Like a fire, he was too impulsive to stop and think about who he would be hurting in the process. This claim can be proved by a major event in chapter 7. As Ikemefuna was being killed, he cried to his father for help. However, “Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak”(7.28).…

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Okonkwo Gender Expectations Analysis
    • 1260 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Okonkwo Gender Expectations Analysis

    After killing Ikemefuna, Okonkwo begins to question his sensibility and immediately begins to feel guilt, but tries to suppress it. To be a man, to Okonkwo, there must not be any feelings or expressions involved because only women are allowed to feel such emotions. Because of Okonkwo’s continuous insecurity, he tries to avoid feeling repentant. The way Okonkwo feels about his emotions can be observed when he begins telling himself, “ “When did you become a shivering old woman. Okonkwo asked himself, “you , who are known in all the nine villages for your valor in war? How can a man who has killed five men in battle fall to pieces because he added a boy to their number? Okonkwo, you have become a woman” ” (Achebe 65). The remorse Okonkwo feels inside him can be clearly seen in the way he reacts to these uncommon feelings. Since Okonkwo begins to feel sadness and regret, he immediately calls himself a woman. In Okonkwo’s world, a woman is inferior to the man and she must always look after her husband.A woman to him is an overly emotional person and that makes the mere feel of anything that isn’t anger a weakness of a man. The gender expectations Okonkwo has learned as a child in his society has pushed him to kill for small motives. The murder of a man he considered a son was the consequence of the misinterpretation of gender…

    • 1260 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Why Is Okonkwo's Pride In Things Fall Apart
    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Why Is Okonkwo's Pride In Things Fall Apart

    Okonkwo’s most important treasure is his pride which drives him to make hasty and destructive decisions. His life decisions are based off internal influences such as pride, this creates a tunnelled vision for Okonkwo when looking at situations. Given a situation, Okonkwo looks at it with his pride in the back of his head, and what he will do to make himself look stronger. Knowing that his new son, Ikemefuna, is to be killed Okonkwo is told not to be part in his death. Okonkwo's stubborn and single-minded brain thought only about his pride and what he had to do to look strong. Okonkwo disobeyed his direction, and killed Ikemefuna with no second thought. “Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought of weak”(Achebe…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Okonkwo's Failure In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Okonkwo's Failure In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    The book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe focuses on the character Okonkwo, his family and the Ibo tribe. The book Things Fall Apart gives many examples of how Okonkwo has failures and consequences for his failures and then has to live with these consequences and their negative effects. Many examples of this show up throughout the novel such as him killing another tribesman by accidentally shooting off his defective old gun and this has him and his family getting banished from their tribe. Okonkwo is a well-decorated tribesman and warrior who has based his life off of not being a failure and considered weak as his father was before him. Many times in life, as well as literature, people make choices and must live with the consequences…

    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Okonkwo In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
    • 1003 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Okonkwo In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    Okonkwo’s flaw is his impulsiveness, especially in times of rage, without thinking of repercussions. For instance, when his second wife makes a comment on his marksmanship, “Unfortunately for her, Okonkwo heard it and ran madly into his room for the loaded gun, ran out again and aimed at her as she clambered over the dwarf wall of the barn. He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and children.” (39) Okonkwo is consumed by his rage in this moment and does not think of the consequences that would come with shooting his wife, and his spontaneity will ultimately be his downfall. His impulsive behavior creates many issues not only in his home life, but also with his reputation in the clan. The problems caused by his reckless actions can be exemplified by his reaction to the realization that Umuofia will not go to war: “In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete…. Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body.” (204) In contrast to his previous outbursts, Okonkwo is very sure and conscious of himself before, during, and after this act of murder; he understands the consequences of his actions, and continues to commit this crime regardless. This act further displays Okonkwo’s destructive nature, and his disregard for the effects that are a result of his actions. Okonkwo and his careless behavior cause many problems throughout the story of his life, and contribute to his…

    • 1003 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
    • 1868 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    Things Fall Apart is a post-colonial novel written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe in 1958. The fictional novel of Things Fall Apart refers to the protagonist Okonkwo and how the Igbo culture collapsed. The novel paints a poignant portrait of a wellfunctioning African society that undergoes tremendous change (Hartman) Okonkwo is a respected and motivational leader within the Igbo community of Umuofia located in Eastern Nigeria. He earns fame, power, and respect when he defeats Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling contest. This particular Cat was the most feared man in the village he was undefeated in wrestling for seven years. Once Okonkwo defeated Amalinze, his entire mentality changed. Okonkwo is determine to gain the title for himself and become…

    • 1868 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Universal Archetype Of The Tragic Hero
    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Universal Archetype Of The Tragic Hero

    Frankly, this is one of the lowest parts of the novel for the protagonist. He is forced to face his crimes and to recognize his downfall in the ranks of his clan, which is something that truly tests his limits because of his own fears. But when Okonkwo and his family finally return, they find that their clan was subject to find a lot of changes while they were gone. During their absence, Nigeria was going through a time of colonization by Great Britain to westernize certain parts of Africa and the clan, Umuofia, was included. So, when the family returned, they were forced to assimilate to this new culture invading their home. Okonkwo, however, saw this as a sign of weakness and he denied this change for he saw it as a cowardly thing. So, his pride got the better of him and he decided that the only way to achieve his goal was to kill one of the colonists in cold-blood and thus restore order back to his people; he wished to assert his power to the white men. Unfortunately, the Umuofia people were too far gone and when Okonkwo murdered the man, he realized that there was no hope in changing them. Seeing that his entire clan had fallen to shame, and his pride diminished, he killed himself, rather than learning to face the…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Violence And Violence In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
    • 1185 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Violence And Violence In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    There cannot be change without someone fighting to keep things the same. In 1890’s Nigeria some members of the Ibo clan embrace this new change, while others, like the protagonist Okonkwo, sternly believe in the old ways of the clan. This is the setting for Chinua Achebe’s greatest novel, Things Fall Apart. One theme of this book is violence. Violence is shown to prove Okonkwo’s strength and dominance of the Ibo clan, but Okonkwo cannot defeat fate. Okonkwo has an excessive fear of being like his father,Unoka, so as a result, he begins at an early age to prove to his tribe that he is strong and brave. As a result, he becomes an aggressive, angry, violent man in trying to distance himself from his father. Okonkwo’s anger and violence…

    • 1185 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Okonkwo's Fear In Things Fall Apart
    • 950 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Okonkwo's Fear In Things Fall Apart

    In “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is dominated by his fear of weakness and failure. In the tribe where Okonkwo and his family live, Umuofia, the amount of honor and respect depends on your strength. Since early childhood, Okonkwo’s embarrassment about his lazy, poor and neglectful father, Unoka, has led to his tragic flaw; being terrified of looking weak like his father. As a result, he behaves rashly, bringing a great deal of trouble and sorrow upon himself and his family. Okonkwo’s fear of weakness and failure, which stemmed from his father, leads to the horrid and unmerited treatment he gives to those around him and eventually prompted his downfall.…

    • 950 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Comparison Of Masculinity In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Comparison Of Masculinity In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    For this reason he is seen beating his wives and children frequently and even threatening to kill them. He almost kills his youngest wife Ojiugo with his hunting gun during the sacred week when she left the house without cooking to make her hair and Okonkwo complained she made fun about him not being a good hunter “Unfortunately Okonkwo heard it...he ran out again and aimed at her as she clambered over the dwarf wall of the barn. He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report… ” (Achebe p.25). While overseeing all Okonkwo’s actions one can notice that he does not think beforehand and just acts on impulse not to appear weak and show to his masculinity. The embarrassment of Unoka his lazy father drove him to success but in doing so Okonkwo becomes an extremist and this leads to his flaws and led to him being forced to exile after killing Obierika’s son during Maduka’s burial which was a crime but was considered a female crime “The drums and dancing began again and reached fever-heat…Guns fired the last salute and the cannon rent the sky…All was silent. In the center of the crowd a boy lay in the pool of blood…. Okonkwo’s gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy’s heart.” He was exiled for 7 years because it was a female crime he had committed accidentally but if he had done it on purpose the people of Umuofia would have killed him no matter his social…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Theme Of Violence In Things Fall Apart
    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Theme Of Violence In Things Fall Apart

    Violence is the aggressive behaviour showcased by an individual. In general, being violent will always create more problems hence, lead to self-destruction. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the European especially the British were at peak of its power. They were controlling half of the world. By that time Africa was one of the major continents that was colonized by the Europeans. However, there were people who was very upset with the practice of colonization, which they reacted to with violence. Throughout the novel Things Fall Apart Achebe uses characterization and conflict to portray the theme of violence. In Things Fall Apart Okonkwo the main character of the novel was portrayed as an aggressive guy who was very violent in every move…

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Okonkwo Tragic Flaw Analysis
    • 846 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Okonkwo Tragic Flaw Analysis

    Chinua Achebe's “Things Fall Apart” is a historical fiction novel that is set in the early 1900’s. This novel is about the tragic downfall of the main character Okonkwo, a well respected leader within his clan in Umuofia, who is also a tragic hero because of several flaws. Okonkwo’s most noticeable flaw is that he fears weakness and failure.…

    • 846 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Okonkwo's Psychological Analysis
    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Okonkwo's Psychological Analysis

    In all that we see in Okonkwo, we realize that, both the life and death instincts are basically enlarged by fear: The fear of failure and weakness (as of his father), as well as the fear that his reputation and wealth would go into the hands of a bootless and worthless son, Nwoye, one whom he sees as a prototype of his loathed father. In fact, this instinctual drive (of fear) becomes more evident through his aggressive energy when, he beats Ojuigo and desecrates the week of peace, shoots at his second wife and narrowly misses committing his first murder. He also draws his machete and cuts down Ikemefuna because he is afraid of being thought weak. In addition, he murders Ezeudu’s 16yrs old son, a crime, resulting to his banishment, the destruction of everything he has…

    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Relationship Between Ikemefuna And Okonkwo
    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Relationship Between Ikemefuna And Okonkwo

    Okonkwo had always developed a hate for tribes other than his own. Although, he began to value and raise Ikemefuna as if he was the biological father. Ikemefuna was the brave and manly son that Okonkwo had always wanted Nwoye to become. Ikemefuna lost respect for his true father when he was sent away without a fight. His emotions are described, “Ikemefuna had begun to feel like a member of Okonkwo’s family. He still thought about his mother and three-year-old sister, and he had moments of sadness and depression,” (pg.34). The teenage boy respected and looked up to Okonkwo because he had taken him in with love and care. Due to this respect, Ikemefuna could be seen shadowing the personality of Okonkwo either by disrespecting women or making his toughness evident. Like a first grader in elementary school imitating his favorite superhero, Ikemefuna was anxious to become like the man he…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2023 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings