In Chinua Achebe’s critically acclaimed novel Things Fall Apart the theme of giving into fear and the darkening presence of fear are prevalent throughout his story. When the fearsome tribal warrior Okonkwo is first introduced, and the readers learn all about his impressive backstory of being a keen farmer and warrior, and learning that in his youth he toppled the Cat (whom had never been beaten in a wrestling match), the reader also begins to learn about his inner fears. Of course these fears are foreshadow the demise of one so seemingly legendary and almost fabled war hero, Okonkwo. His cowardice is the true root of all of his problems, his short-temper, bad parenting, resentment of anything he deemed non-masculine (resentment towards his
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The courageous can attempt to succeed with no fear and be respected, but it is the fearful who overcome their fears in order to succeed that are truly brave. Okonkwo was not capable of dealing with this tragic, fatal flaw. He hid away from his fears and emotions, instead of summoning the courage to at least acknowledge them. He instead of recognizing his own weakness and trying to fix his own problems, he used his son as an outlet to send all of his negative emotions toward just like a emotionally unstable child does to their parent. He payed the price for denying the love from his son, in favor of creating an unsolvable relationship. He denied the feeling personal content and satisfaction, instead opting for a unnatural ambition for power and respect. He denied the possibility to live a happier life, one full of compassion and emotional dependence on each other and connectivity by giving into his fears, pushing everyone away from his complex, and very damaged psyche. Throughout the events taken place in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart his protagonist, Okonkwo struggled to deal with emotional stability and his phobias due to being haunted by every being associated as someone weak, and unmanly, these personal flaws, led him to not only be a failure as both a father, and contributor to the Igbo society, but also allowed him to finally be exposed for what he truly is, a
The courageous can attempt to succeed with no fear and be respected, but it is the fearful who overcome their fears in order to succeed that are truly brave. Okonkwo was not capable of dealing with this tragic, fatal flaw. He hid away from his fears and emotions, instead of summoning the courage to at least acknowledge them. He instead of recognizing his own weakness and trying to fix his own problems, he used his son as an outlet to send all of his negative emotions toward just like a emotionally unstable child does to their parent. He payed the price for denying the love from his son, in favor of creating an unsolvable relationship. He denied the feeling personal content and satisfaction, instead opting for a unnatural ambition for power and respect. He denied the possibility to live a happier life, one full of compassion and emotional dependence on each other and connectivity by giving into his fears, pushing everyone away from his complex, and very damaged psyche. Throughout the events taken place in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart his protagonist, Okonkwo struggled to deal with emotional stability and his phobias due to being haunted by every being associated as someone weak, and unmanly, these personal flaws, led him to not only be a failure as both a father, and contributor to the Igbo society, but also allowed him to finally be exposed for what he truly is, a