Okonkwo

strength is in the Ibo Tribe. Throughout the story we learn how Okonkwo has persevered from his father's misfortune and poverty, to becoming one of the tribes greatest war heroes. The strength he showed when “Throwing the cat,” and bringing the heads of his enemies back, made him powerful in different aspects. One being having several wives, which in his tribe alone made him both powerful and successful. In the beginning of chapter two Okonkwo claimed, “This meeting is for men” (Achebe 9). The…

novel’s protagonist, Okonkwo: “He was still young but he had won fame as the greatest wrestler in the nine villages.” (Achebe 8) From an early age, Okonkwo has been proficient in the art of wrestling, which is of great importance in the villages of Umuofia as it illustrates a man’s strength and capability. Okonkwo’s early success in the sport added to his extreme masculine traits, which lead to him being viewed as an ideal male within his society. As the novel progresses Okonkwo illustrates the…

the Igbo. The novel also speaks about the life of a man named Okonkwo. With the characteristics of a hardworking member of the Igbo community, he is a leader whose tragic flaw is his greatest fear of weakness and failure. His fear drives him to become famous and wealthy among the nine villages of Umuofia. On the other hand, it also causes damage in Okonkwo’s life and keeps him from being the person he had aspired to be. Because Okonkwo is afraid of being weak like his father, be behaves…

was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children he was not really a man”. There is a sharp contrast between femininity and masculinity – being, women are to be controlled or the followers where as the men were the controllers or leaders. Okonkwo, an admired and respected person in Umuofia, is the sketching of power and manliness. His father was considered an agbala with no accomplishments.…

change to fit the ideal image of a tribe member. Although Nwoye has made attempts to live up to his father’s wishes, Okonkwo can see right through the act. This is apparent when Okonkwo confesses to Obierika about the issue, saying, “I have done my best to make Nwoye grow into a man, but there is too much of his mother in him” (66). The fact that Nwoye is not the ideal child causes Okonkwo to resent his existence as a part of the family and see him as a disappointment. The contrast between…

After his exile, Okonkwo came back to Umuofia and saw how much his clan had changed. Together with some of his friends, which were important members of the clan as well, they started to revolt. First they were imprisoned, and when they were set free they wanted to take action again. The whole clan was thinking if they should join the revolt, but only a few really were confident to do this. Okonkwo asked himself “Why have they lost the power to fight”. Later, in an angry mood, Okonkwo killed one…

even if it wasn't caused by your doing. Afterwards you still need to keep your cool so that you don't say or doing anything stupid. In Things Fall Apart there are many, many conflicts. These conflicts mainly resort around the main character, Okonkwo. Okonkwo father was a failure and was in serious debt. He never wanted to be like his father, a failure, so he has strived all his life to be the complete opposite. Although, he has been very successful in his life he also has a very aggressive…

Achebe, takes place in Nigeria around the turn of the 19th century which, is extremely important; it means Okonkwo’s life is in both, the pre- and post-European era. This allows Achebe to give Okonkwo a more complex, old fashioned, and unique personality that the reader is typically not used to. Okonkwo has an excessive fear of being like his father, so as a result, he begins at an early age to prove to his tribe that he is strong and brave. This causes him to make many controversial, and in…

(Achebe, 1959, p.66) and that his sons do not resemble him as much as Ezinma does (Achebe, 1959). Okonkwo’s desire of wishing Ezinma was a boy depicts the inferiority of females in Umuofia. Okonkwo holds his daughter at a higher standard than her brothers in strength, mindset, and connection with the spirit world. Okonkwo is unable to or take Ezinma under his wing in becoming a person of many titles because she is not a male and cannot do what a he himself does, or what males do in a patriarchal…

Chinua Achebe ended Things Fall Apart is very interesting. Okonkwo commits suicide after killing a messenger from the white people. This was a very ironic end for the main character, who’s main goal was to be seen as a strong, manly figure. Throughout the story, all that is mentioned is Okonkwo’s thirst for glory. The most important goal in his life seemed to be receiving the highest title possible. In his seven years of exile, he dreamed of a glorious return to Umuofia, but that did not…