Father-Son Relationships In Things Fall Apart And Peter Weir's Dead Poets Society

In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society each work of literature display conflicts where fathers are controlling and predetermining their son’s future, which leads to a poor father-son relationship in each story. Okonkwo and Tom Perry have their own visions of Nwoye and Neil’s future. Okonkwo and Tom become too carried away from living vigorously through their son’s life, therefore it forces them to make decisions for their sons. The fathers and sons have different views on what they want, and what they value in life. Similarly, in each story each son responds to his father in a negative way to show their fathers what they are doing in their lives. Both relationships suffer in the end from the fathers controlling …show more content…
As seen throughout the movie Tom Perry values Neil’s education over everything. When Neil tries to explain to his father that acting makes him happy and it’s something he likes to do his father does not care. Tom Perry tells him to quit and he shall not continue with it anymore. His father says he needs to finish medical school first. Tom Perry does not care about Neil’s happiness or his emotional state of mind. In Things Fall Apart Okonkwo does everything he can to not show any sign of weakness. Okonkwo wants to constantly show his masculinity to the villagers and his family. Okonkwo was very fond of Ikemefuna, but he could not show any affection towards Ikemefuna because, “affection was a sign of weakness” (28). Okonkwo not showing any affection is another way to display his masculinity. The villagers take Ikemefuna out of the village to kill him. As Okonkwo is following the group Ikemefuna called out for Okonkwo and he, “drew his machete and cut him” (61). Even though Okonkwo feels a father-son relationship with Ikemefuna he could not risk the idea of being weak in front of other people. Neil Perry values acting throughout the movie. Neil says acting is his passion, and it is his everything. He wants to do what makes him happy. Neil going against his father displays how much acting means to him. Throughout the novel Nwoye always wants to do what is right, even if it goes …show more content…
Tom Perry plans out Neil’s entire future for him without asking what he wants in life. The night of the play Tom Perry makes the decision to enroll Neil in military school, and tells Neil he will attend Harvard to become a doctor. Neil tells his father that he never asks him what he wants in life. Tom Perry only does what he thinks is right for Neil. The same night Neil decides to take his own life, because what his father’s expectations are too much for him to handle. Neil decides the only way to stand up to his father is to take his own life. In Things Fall Apart Okonkwo disowns Nwoye and wants nothing to do with him. While Okonkwo is talking to his other sons he says, “Now he is no longer my son” (172). Okonkwo makes it clear that Nwoye is not part of their family anymore. As for Nwoye, he al distances himself from his family, especially his father. When Obierika asks Nwoye about his father Nwoye says, “He is not my father” (144). Nwoye also believes his father was too controlling in his life. Okonkwo wants Nwoye to be this strong, big, and masculine man that he does not want to be. Nwoye tries to be what his father wants, but he cannot do it. Okonkwo decides to take his own life like Neil. Okonkwo realizes his life is falling apart and he cannot do anything to fix it. The stress of Nwoye, losing his titles, and the village changing is too much for Okonkwo to handle. In the end, each father-son comes to a tragic end from