Things Fall Apart

3 Pages 857 Words

In his novel “Things Fall Apart,” Chinua Achebe gives his readers an
exclusive insight to the unique characteristics of the African people before
and after the white mans intrusion of their culture.
One of the most dynamic characters in the story was a man by the
name of Okonkwo. He is described as being “well known throughout the
nine villages and beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievement”
(3). This suggest that power, fame, and respect relied on the ability of a
man to prove his strength in their society. Something that could possibly
take a lifetime to acquire.
Okonkwo was a man who was determined not to become the man
his father was. His father was described as “lazy and improvident and quit
incapable of thinking about tomorrow” (4). Nothing about his father was
portrayed in Okonkwo. To him the definition of a “good man” was
something totally opposite of his father.
Fear, the fuel most often used by Okonkwo was perhaps his
strongest flaw. Yet, it made him a strong and respected figure among his
people. “It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble
his father” (13). His desire to prosper regardless of his past with a father
of whom he had no respect made him a strong and respected man.
“Okonkwo was ruled by one passion---to hate everything that his father
Unoka loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was
idleness” (13).
Okonkwo’s character presumed the role of a protagonist and yet he
often portrayed the role of an antagonist as well. His strength and hard
work paid off. He was very prosperous in his culture by providing a large
home and plenty of food for himself and his family. He was respected by
men whom he respected as well. This meant everything to Okonkwo. He
could never let this image be lost for he longed to be amongst the highest
of the tribe. In other words, he would do anything
His loyalty to his b...