The two main characters in the book Things Fall Apart and Julius Caesar share some common aspects in their lives, but are also extremely different from each other. Chinua Achebe and William Shakespeare both portray the characters, Okonkwo and Caesar, as strong leaders in the two individual books. Okonkwo and Caesar share characteristics in their culture, personal weaknesses, and family, but they also convey their differences from each other that are expressed throughout each novel. The characters Caesar and Okonkwo experienced different cultures, resulting in differences and similarities throughout their communities. Caesar lived in Rome from 100BC to 44BC. Okonkwo was born in Nigeria and was known as a respected warrior in the Umuofia clan.
…show more content…
Not only did Okonkwo and Caesar live in different periods of time, but also in different geographical locations. Okonkwo lived in Africa, and Caesar lived in Italy. The Igbo culture was an important aspect for the people living in the Umuofia Clan, similarly to the Roman culture that Caesar grew up in. In Rome, there government system was a republic with an emperor and senates, where as in Umuofia, they had well respected warriors and chiefs. Caesar lived in Rome, which had an empire life; in contrast, Okonkwo did not live in a city, but in a village with more of an agricultural way of living. All of the men, and some women, worked the land in Okonkwo’s village. The food they ate was either from a market, or they grew it themselves. Umuofia and the Igbo culture was strongly based on agriculture, on the other hand, the Roman culture was built on a political system, with a government and leaders. Similarly, both Okonkwo and Caesar were highly ranked in social status in their communities. Religion and rituals were a major aspect in the Igbo culture. Okonkwo had shrines and prayed to their many gods. Also, the Egwugwu ceremony was an important ritual in the culture. This was a …show more content…
Okonkwo grew up with a fear of becoming like is father. His father was not a respected warrior, in fact, he had not earned any titles during his life. “But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness” (2.12 Achebe). This fear would sometimes take over his mind and would control his actions. An example of this is when he killed his stepson, Ikemefuna. He began to care and love Ikemefuna, but pushed aside those feelings in fear of becoming too emotional like his father. This resulted in Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna. Similarly, Caesar believed fear was nonexistence in himself. On the day of the Ides of March, Calpurnia begged Caesar to stay home that day and not go to the senate due to a dream she had. “The gods do this in shame of cowardice. Caesar should be a beast without a heart. If he should stay at home today for fear. No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well” (2.2.41-44 Shakespeare). Caesar disregarded his wife’s concerns because Decius, a member of the Conspirators, shared with Caesar how people could potentially view Caesar as fearful because he did not go to the senate, and he wanted to prove and show his bravery. For this reason, Caesar was killed that day on his way to the senate. Okonkwo always wanted to protect his clan, and even when he was exiled, his friends stood by him and helped him through the difficult time. Another weakness
Not only did Okonkwo and Caesar live in different periods of time, but also in different geographical locations. Okonkwo lived in Africa, and Caesar lived in Italy. The Igbo culture was an important aspect for the people living in the Umuofia Clan, similarly to the Roman culture that Caesar grew up in. In Rome, there government system was a republic with an emperor and senates, where as in Umuofia, they had well respected warriors and chiefs. Caesar lived in Rome, which had an empire life; in contrast, Okonkwo did not live in a city, but in a village with more of an agricultural way of living. All of the men, and some women, worked the land in Okonkwo’s village. The food they ate was either from a market, or they grew it themselves. Umuofia and the Igbo culture was strongly based on agriculture, on the other hand, the Roman culture was built on a political system, with a government and leaders. Similarly, both Okonkwo and Caesar were highly ranked in social status in their communities. Religion and rituals were a major aspect in the Igbo culture. Okonkwo had shrines and prayed to their many gods. Also, the Egwugwu ceremony was an important ritual in the culture. This was a …show more content…
Okonkwo grew up with a fear of becoming like is father. His father was not a respected warrior, in fact, he had not earned any titles during his life. “But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness” (2.12 Achebe). This fear would sometimes take over his mind and would control his actions. An example of this is when he killed his stepson, Ikemefuna. He began to care and love Ikemefuna, but pushed aside those feelings in fear of becoming too emotional like his father. This resulted in Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna. Similarly, Caesar believed fear was nonexistence in himself. On the day of the Ides of March, Calpurnia begged Caesar to stay home that day and not go to the senate due to a dream she had. “The gods do this in shame of cowardice. Caesar should be a beast without a heart. If he should stay at home today for fear. No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well” (2.2.41-44 Shakespeare). Caesar disregarded his wife’s concerns because Decius, a member of the Conspirators, shared with Caesar how people could potentially view Caesar as fearful because he did not go to the senate, and he wanted to prove and show his bravery. For this reason, Caesar was killed that day on his way to the senate. Okonkwo always wanted to protect his clan, and even when he was exiled, his friends stood by him and helped him through the difficult time. Another weakness