Three central conflicts
Okonkwo vs. Himself
A major conflict in this novel is Okonkwo’s constant fight with himself to achieve both internal and external greatness- to overcome the fear of being like his father. It is a back and forth struggle between impulse mistakes and hidden feelings, which eventually leads to Okonkwo committing suicide.
The human is a dependent and struggling being. People are way too hard on themselves to live up to something so huge, but are too stuck to adapt to change or the allowance of it. Through conformity and blaming everyone else, you can be your ultimate downfall.
Ibo vs. Europeans
The most obvious conflict in this novel is the Colonial, Christian Europeans invading the Ibo’s land and traditions, inserting …show more content…
Okonkwo is a well respected man in Umuofia who built a life for himself, and mainly for himself. Psychologically, Okonkwo is driven by the fear of becoming the disgraceful weak man his father was, and not leaving behind a strong son and reputation. He is unable to outwardly show any emotion to those he loves in angst that he will be marked as cowardly; he would rather be seen as self-reliant than have the ones he thoroughly loves. “Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger. To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength” (Pg 28). And in order to prove this, Okonkwo will accomplish or end anything. Deep down he knows that he feels the emotion and affection, and it is with that that he shows so much anger. His cold hearted outrage is simply a display to fool himself and everyone else in that he is nothing but capable, and his impulsivity is a response to that. In showing that he is the commander of his family, Okonkwo loses his head and disrupts the week of peace in shooting at his wife, and even upon realizing it he continues. This is showing that Okonkwo is a selfish man, and he carries on with whatever action will gratify his ego. In attempt to please the Gods and to be sovereign, Okonkwo executes the son that is closest to him, ignoring his authentic feelings and emotion. Okonkwo rathered to murder family, the son he was most proud of, and to not eat or sleep for days, than to appear even slightly effeminate. Throughout his entire life, Okonkwo’s only goal is to make something of himself, and the only thing on his mind is self gratification. Even after unintentionally killing Ezeudo’s son, Okonkwo does not show remorse for his death. Instead, he is grieving for the time he has lost to maneuver his way up in the clan and earn titles. To the world around him, Okonkwo shuns out all
Okonkwo vs. Himself
A major conflict in this novel is Okonkwo’s constant fight with himself to achieve both internal and external greatness- to overcome the fear of being like his father. It is a back and forth struggle between impulse mistakes and hidden feelings, which eventually leads to Okonkwo committing suicide.
The human is a dependent and struggling being. People are way too hard on themselves to live up to something so huge, but are too stuck to adapt to change or the allowance of it. Through conformity and blaming everyone else, you can be your ultimate downfall.
Ibo vs. Europeans
The most obvious conflict in this novel is the Colonial, Christian Europeans invading the Ibo’s land and traditions, inserting …show more content…
Okonkwo is a well respected man in Umuofia who built a life for himself, and mainly for himself. Psychologically, Okonkwo is driven by the fear of becoming the disgraceful weak man his father was, and not leaving behind a strong son and reputation. He is unable to outwardly show any emotion to those he loves in angst that he will be marked as cowardly; he would rather be seen as self-reliant than have the ones he thoroughly loves. “Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger. To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength” (Pg 28). And in order to prove this, Okonkwo will accomplish or end anything. Deep down he knows that he feels the emotion and affection, and it is with that that he shows so much anger. His cold hearted outrage is simply a display to fool himself and everyone else in that he is nothing but capable, and his impulsivity is a response to that. In showing that he is the commander of his family, Okonkwo loses his head and disrupts the week of peace in shooting at his wife, and even upon realizing it he continues. This is showing that Okonkwo is a selfish man, and he carries on with whatever action will gratify his ego. In attempt to please the Gods and to be sovereign, Okonkwo executes the son that is closest to him, ignoring his authentic feelings and emotion. Okonkwo rathered to murder family, the son he was most proud of, and to not eat or sleep for days, than to appear even slightly effeminate. Throughout his entire life, Okonkwo’s only goal is to make something of himself, and the only thing on his mind is self gratification. Even after unintentionally killing Ezeudo’s son, Okonkwo does not show remorse for his death. Instead, he is grieving for the time he has lost to maneuver his way up in the clan and earn titles. To the world around him, Okonkwo shuns out all