Destiny, passion, tragedy- these are themes that are cruel, but unfold in such a horrifyingly beautiful way in the world of literature. The idea of “the tragic hero” is, for many, a familiar one, romanticised in world-famous literary pieces and plays, including many of Shakespeare’s most popular works. Though commonly used, this concept- if done well- is nothing short of intriguing, and investigating its progression can be fascinating. While not presented in the romantic yet macabre fashion of works such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, Things Fall Apart proves to be a very interesting instance of this theme. In fact, one of the most prominent and underlying themes in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is the theme of the tragic hero:
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This is demonstrated through several events in the novel, including Okonkwo’s passionate acts of violence, many of the coincidences that hint that destiny is underway, and Okonkwo’s demise at his own hands. Additionally, many parallels can be drawn between the progression of Okonkwo’s fate and the fate of other tragic hero characters, specifically those featured in Shakespearean tragedies.
Okonkwo’s tragic, and arguably inevitable, end is the tragic hero’s solemn curse: he fell at the hands of his own stubbornness and passion, a fatal chink in his metaphorical armour that led him straight to his doom. His passion for what he considers manliness, and his unwavering negative attitude towards change and potentially less violent resolutions to situations, is demonstrated throughout the novel, right up until his death. “Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. It was deeper and more intimate that the fear of evil and …show more content…
Glimpses of cruel destiny hide in every page, alerting us to the possibility that perhaps our hero’s fate has been written in the stars. However, it is also hinted at that perhaps Okonkwo himself is responsible for his bitter end, and his progression throughout the novel is marked with instances where he does indeed lead himself towards this tragic fate. We can gather that both free will and fate play a role in the novel’s finale, but what exactly is that role? To begin, it is crucial to discuss the element of destiny in the novel, a theme that is both alluded to in certain events, as well as directly addressed. Throughout the novel, we see the idea of chi, or one’s personal god, discussed: “A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi. The saying of the elders was not true—that if a man said yea his chi also affirmed. Here was a man whose chi said nay despite his own affirmation”. As we can see in this quote, it is suggested that one cannot surpass the destiny of their chi; Okonkwo wants so desperately to succeed and take action, to prove that he is not like his father, and yet everything goes wrong for him. Indeed, some of these things that go wrong appear too random and too coincidental to be mere accidents. A very prominent example of this is the
This is demonstrated through several events in the novel, including Okonkwo’s passionate acts of violence, many of the coincidences that hint that destiny is underway, and Okonkwo’s demise at his own hands. Additionally, many parallels can be drawn between the progression of Okonkwo’s fate and the fate of other tragic hero characters, specifically those featured in Shakespearean tragedies.
Okonkwo’s tragic, and arguably inevitable, end is the tragic hero’s solemn curse: he fell at the hands of his own stubbornness and passion, a fatal chink in his metaphorical armour that led him straight to his doom. His passion for what he considers manliness, and his unwavering negative attitude towards change and potentially less violent resolutions to situations, is demonstrated throughout the novel, right up until his death. “Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. It was deeper and more intimate that the fear of evil and …show more content…
Glimpses of cruel destiny hide in every page, alerting us to the possibility that perhaps our hero’s fate has been written in the stars. However, it is also hinted at that perhaps Okonkwo himself is responsible for his bitter end, and his progression throughout the novel is marked with instances where he does indeed lead himself towards this tragic fate. We can gather that both free will and fate play a role in the novel’s finale, but what exactly is that role? To begin, it is crucial to discuss the element of destiny in the novel, a theme that is both alluded to in certain events, as well as directly addressed. Throughout the novel, we see the idea of chi, or one’s personal god, discussed: “A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi. The saying of the elders was not true—that if a man said yea his chi also affirmed. Here was a man whose chi said nay despite his own affirmation”. As we can see in this quote, it is suggested that one cannot surpass the destiny of their chi; Okonkwo wants so desperately to succeed and take action, to prove that he is not like his father, and yet everything goes wrong for him. Indeed, some of these things that go wrong appear too random and too coincidental to be mere accidents. A very prominent example of this is the