- Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
- Literature Notes
- Book Summary
- About Things Fall Apart
- Character List
- Summary and Analysis
- Part 1: Chapter 1
- Part 1: Chapter 2
- Part 1: Chapter 3
- Part 1: Chapter 4
- Part 1: Chapter 5
- Part 1: Chapter 6
- Part 1: Chapter 7
- Part 1: Chapter 8
- Part 1: Chapter 9
- Part 1: Chapter 10
- Part 1: Chapter 11
- Part 1: Chapter 12
- Part 1: Chapter 13
- Part 2: Chapter 14
- Part 2: Chapter 15
- Part 2: Chapter 16
- Part 2: Chapter 17
- Part 2: Chapter 18
- Part 2: Chapter 19
- Part 3: Chapter 20
- Part 3: Chapter 21
- Part 3: Chapter 22
- Part 3: Chapter 23
- Part 3: Chapter 24
- Part 3: Chapter 25
- Character Analysis
- Reverend James Smith
- Character Map
- Chinua Achebe Biography
- Critical Essays
- Major Themes in Things Fall Apart
- Use of Language in Things Fall Apart
- Full Glossary for Things Fall Apart
- Essay Questions
- Cite this Literature Note
Character Analysis Okonkwo
The protagonist of Things Fall Apart , Okonkwo is also considered a tragic hero. A tragic hero holds a position of power and prestige, chooses his course of action, possesses a tragic flaw, and gains awareness of circumstances that lead to his fall. Okonkwo's tragic flaw is his fear of weakness and failure.
In his thirties, Okonkwo is a leader of the Igbo community of Umuofia. Achebe describes him as "tall and huge" with "bushy eyebrows and [a] wide nose [that gives] him a very severe look." When Okonkwo walks, his heels barely touch the ground, like he walks on springs, "as if he [is] going to pounce on somebody." Okonkwo "stammers slightly" and his breathing is heavy.
Okonkwo is renowned as a wrestler, a fierce warrior, and a successful farmer of yams (a "manly" crop). He has three wives and many children who live in huts on his compound. Throughout his life, he wages a never ending battle for status; his life is dominated by the fear of weakness and failure. He is quick to anger, especially when dealing with men who are weak, lazy debtors like his father. However, Okonkwo overcompensates for his father's womanly (weak) ways, of which he is ashamed, because he does not tolerate idleness or gentleness. Even though he feels inward affection at times, he never portrays affection toward anyone. Instead, he isolates himself by exhibiting anger through violent, stubborn, irrational behavior. Okonkwo demands that his family work long hours despite their age or limited physical stamina, and he nags and beats his wives and son, Nwoye, who Okonkwo believes is womanly like his father, Unoka.
Okonkwo is impulsive; he acts before he thinks. Consequently, Okonkwo offends the Igbo people and their traditions as well as the gods of his clan. Okonkwo is advised not to participate in the murder of Ikefemuna, but he actually kills Ikefemuna because he is "afraid of being thought weak." When the white man brings Christianity to Umuofia, Okonkwo is opposed to the new ways. He feels that the changes are destroying the Igbo culture, changes that require compromise and accommodation — two qualities that Okonkwo finds intolerable. Too proud and inflexible, he clings to traditional beliefs and mourns the loss of the past.
When Okonkwa rashly kills a messenger from the British district office, his clansmen back away in fear; he realizes that none of them support him and that he can't save his village from the British colonists. Okonkwo is defeated. He commits suicide, a shameful and disgraceful death like his father's.
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Things Fall Apart: Okonkwo as a Tragic Hero
Alternate question: Okonkwo as a Tragic Hero in Things Fall Apart.
Okonkwo, the protagonist of Chinua Achebe ‘s novel Things Fall Apart , was tall and stout with bushy eyebrows and a wide nose on his face. He looked strict, severe and harsh. While sleeping he snored and breathed heavily. He walked on his toes, raising his heels. It looked as if he would pounce upon someone. He lacked patience, whenever he was angry, he didn’t use words rather used his fists.
Okonkwo was self made. He was wealthy and well-known throughout the nine nearby villages. His fame was by his hard work and personal achievements. His father, Unoka was a drunkard and heavily in debt, he could not provide the member of his family enough to eat. Okonkwo was in contrast to his father. Unoka was a coward, poor, idle, gentle and interested in music and wine only. Whereas, Okonkwo was brave, wealthy, violent and adamantly against music and emotions. But he often drank palm wine on auspicious occasions.
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Literary English
Character Analysis of Okonkwo | Things Fall Apart
Okonkwo is the protagonist of the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. He was a man of iron-will and moulded his fate with his own efforts and constant hard work. Okonkwo was a man of mixed traits: He was brave, hardworking, ambitious, but on the other hand, he also had traits like short-temperament, rashness, anger and zero tolerance.
Physical appearance of Okonkwo:
As described by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is a tall and a stout man. His eyebrows are bushy. His wide nose on his face makes his more aggressive. He looks strict, severe, and harsh by body language and behavior. He walks on his toes, raising his heals. He is a short-tempered man and cannot control his anger. He makes no delay in taking any action that is against him. He speaks loudly and in anger; he uses his fist to beat his family members.
Achievements of Okonkwo as a man of action:
Okonkwo was hardworking and determined in his goals. He was famous among all nearby villages due to his achievements. He was a good wrestler who knew only how to win. He had won many titles that he won in inter-tribal wars. His fame was only because of his hard work and personal achievements. He was a bold person and never feared of bloodshed in wars. He was the first man in his family who brought a head of a man during a war and it was the fifth head brought in Umofia. Okonkwo was wealthy, brave, violent and firmly adhered to family traditions.
He was a good and hardworking farmer. He had two barns full of yams. Although his starting career as a farmer was very bad because that year turned to be the worst year for farmers due to excessive rains. One of the farmer of Umofia hanged himself due to despair but Okonkwo remained determined and said: “Since I survived that year, I shall survive anything”.
Fears of failure hovering over Okonkwo
Okonkwo’s father Unoka was a lazy man who had no value in his tribe. Due to his laziness, he fell in the practice of taking debt from other people. He died with heavy debt. On the other hand, his son Okonkwo was a hardworking man who earned fame by his struggles. Now Okonkwo feared to lose his fame like his father if he followed footstep of his father. This was the reason that make him strict in family matters and do not like his children to be like his own father Unoka.
He was not cruel by heart but he was a responsible man of his family and he showed love also towards his children as in the case of Ezinma. He had a great influence of his daughter Ezinma on him. When Okonkwo returned after killing Ikemefuna, he did not eat for three days. It was only Ezinma, who can understand her father, and she prepared food for her father. Okonkwo loved Ezinma with a wish that she were a boy.
Tragic flaws of Okonkwo:
Fear of weakness and failure is the main cause of Okonkwo’ tragic flaw. He killed Ikemefuna not for taking revenge from nearby village but because he only feared that if he did not participate in killing, people will think him coward like his father Unoka. Though he was happy to have Ikemefuna in his home but he could not love him openly because according to Okonkwo, loving openly a child is a sign of weakness and this fear made him short temper and rude towards his children.
A sad accident contributed in tragic fall of Okonkwo. During funeral of Ezeudu, Okonkwo’s gun exploded and killed 16-year-old son of Ezeudu. To kill a person was a crime against the goddess of earth. Consequently, Okonkwo was exiled for seven years and he spent those seven years in him mother village Mbanta.
Okonkwo after exile of 7 years:
Okonkwo was hopeful that after exile of 7 years, he would gain same honor and status in Umofia. However, when Okonkwo returned Umofia, he found missionaries campaign at climax. He was the man who cannot bear change in custom, tradition religion and in all other social factors. He had to face the changes but he was not ready to accept it. Although people of Umofia were not willing to oppose changes and only one man was not able to preserve old Umofia. Because of fear of failure and weakness against white missionaries, he hanged himself at the end.
Okonkwo ended his life like a true tragic hero. He stood with his ancestral culture, custom, and traditions. He was a man of strong will. He fought many wars and made victories. Despite his many heroic qualities, he failed due to his short sightedness, rashness, anger and violence. He failed to change himself according to the changing environment in Umofia. This was the only reason that pushed him to his downfall.
Things Fall Apart
- List Of Main Characters
- Brief Story By Chinua Achebe
- Long Summary By Chinua Achebe
- Character Analysis Of Okonkwo
- Main Themes | Chinua Achebe
Home — Q&A — Literature — Things Fall Apart — In “Things Fall Apart” why is Okonkwo a tragic hero?
In “Things Fall Apart” why is Okonkwo a tragic hero?
In "Things Fall Apart," Okonkwo is considered a tragic hero because his downfall is the result of his own character flaws and his inability to adapt to changing circumstances. Okonkwo is a complex character, who is both admirable and flawed. He is a successful farmer and warrior, and he has risen to a position of great influence and respect in his community. However, he is also stubborn, proud, and quick-tempered, and these qualities ultimately lead to his tragic downfall.
One of Okonkwo's fatal flaws is his inflexibility and inability to adapt to change. He believes that the traditional Igbo way of life is the only way, and he is resistant to the changes brought by colonialism. This leads to his isolation from his community and his inability to unite them against the colonial threat. As the novel progresses, Okonkwo becomes increasingly desperate to maintain his power and status, and his actions become increasingly rash and impulsive. He accidentally kills a clansman during a funeral ceremony, and he later kills a messenger from the colonial government in a fit of rage. These actions not only seal his fate but also further isolate him from his community.
Despite his flaws and mistakes, Okonkwo's tragic end evokes a sense of pity and empathy from readers. Achebe presents Okonkwo as a complex and flawed character, but he also highlights his humanity and his struggles. Okonkwo's downfall is a reminder that even the strongest and most successful among us are not immune to tragedy and that our own flaws and failures can lead to our undoing.
- Interpretation of Igbo’s Culture in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- The Role of Women in Things Fall Apart
- Okonkwo's Relationship With His Father: A Complex Analysis
- Strength and Weakness of Okonkwo in "Things Fall Apart"
- Okonkwo: A Tragic Hero in Chinua Achebe’s "Things Fall Apart"
- Okonkwo: A Tragic Hero in Achebe's "Things Fall Apart"
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Essay Question. Is Okonkwo a tragic hero? To answer this question, one must first know the definition of the tragic hero. A tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle is a character who is noble in nature, has a tragic flaw and discovers his fate by his own actions. In Things Fall Apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo can be considered a tragic ...
The protagonist of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is also considered a tragic hero. A tragic hero holds a position of power and prestige, chooses his course of action, possesses a tragic flaw, and gains awareness of circumstances that lead to his fall. Okonkwo's tragic flaw is his fear of weakness and failure. In his thirties, Okonkwo is a leader ...
Through an in-depth character analysis, we can explore how Okonkwo embodies the traits of a tragic hero, marked by his strengths, flaws, and ultimate downfall. This essay examines Okonkwo's character, his motivations, and his tragic trajectory, offering insights into how Achebe uses him to represent broader themes within the novel.
Aristotle's criteria of a tragic hero require the person to be virtuous and flawed, suffer a reversal of fortune, and to be a nobleman of high status. Evidence & citing: In this regard, as described by Achebe, "Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements."
Through his life and ultimate downfall, Achebe intricately crafts Okonkwo as a tragic hero. This essay explores Okonkwo's tragic heroism by examining the classical attributes of a tragic hero, the cultural and personal forces driving his actions, and the consequences of his rigid adherence to tradition.
Okonkwo wished to be a hero and a great man of his clan. However, his death is not only tragic, but also highlights the tragedy of the end of a pre-colonized Africa and the beginning of a ...
Okonkwo commits suicide because he loses his place as a man in his culture, a place now filled by the Church and Christian values. From the beginning of the story, he worries about his manhood ...
120. A tragic hero is someone of superior qualities and status, who suffers a reversal of fortune due to major character flaws. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, Achebe portrays his own characterization of a tragic hero through Okonkwo, the main character. Like typical tragic heroes in other literature, he suffers a terrible death in the end.
Okonkwo's story is one of loss and heartbreak, one of high hopes and tragedy, one of success and failure. One of the most memorable tragic heroes of all time is a character known simply as Macbeth. Macbeth gains and loses everything over his greed and lust for more and more power in a world which is already complacent with its leaders.
Quick answer: Okonkwo is a tragic hero in Things Fall Apart because his tragic flaw, that of excessive pride, almost totally undermines his good character and leads him to his tragic downfall ...
Okonkwo, the protagonist in Chinua Achebe's 1958 masterpiece, Things Fall Apart, is the epitome of the tragic hero. Okonkwo's hamartia, or fatal flaw, is his masculine power, which cancels out all ...
Okonkwo's fall in Things Fall Apart is a multifaceted tragedy rooted in his fear of weakness, his rigid adherence to tradition, and his inability to adapt to changing circumstances. Through poignant quotes that reveal his internal struggles and external conflicts, Achebe paints a vivid portrait of a man caught between the forces of personal honor and communal loyalty, tradition and change.
Alternate question: Okonkwo as a Tragic Hero in Things Fall Apart.. Okonkwo, the protagonist of Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart, was tall and stout with bushy eyebrows and a wide nose on his face.He looked strict, severe and harsh. While sleeping he snored and breathed heavily. He walked on his toes, raising his heels.
A tragic hero is a term that describes a character who displays certain characteristics which affect their future significantly. In Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo's fate as a tragic hero to an extent is greatly true as he portrays hamartia, a fatal flaw, and hubris, excessive pride. Even though the author describes Okonkwo as a ...
A sad accident contributed in tragic fall of Okonkwo. During funeral of Ezeudu, Okonkwo's gun exploded and killed 16-year-old son of Ezeudu. To kill a person was a crime against the goddess of earth. Consequently, Okonkwo was exiled for seven years and he spent those seven years in him mother village Mbanta. Okonkwo after exile of 7 years:
Okonkwo is a tragic hero because he exhibits all the qualities that a tragic hero should have, a rise to fame and a tragic flaw in the character that leads to their demise. It can be directly related that the flaw in Okonkwo, his in ability to control is emotions intertwined with anger management issues, caused his downfall.
Published: Mar 14, 2024. In Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart," the character of Okonkwo stands as a complex and compelling figure whose journey embodies the themes of masculinity, tradition, and change within Igbo society. From the very beginning, Okonkwo's fierce determination and rigid adherence to traditional values make him a ...
Share Cite. Just as the title of this novel suggests, Okonkwo's downfall is caused by his inability to follow the mores of his culture and to adapt to colonization. His pride aids him breaking the ...
Okonkwo is a tragic hero because he allows fatal errors in judgement and inner forces to contribute to his downfall. Okonkwo allows fatal errors to get the best of him and it leads to his downfall. After the end of his exile "Okonkwo's compound was like a deserted homestead. It was as if cold water had poured on it" (196).
In the book Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is our tragic hero. Okonkwo is considered a tragic hero due to his leadership and eventual nobility, his big reverse as a character, and his tragic flaws that lead to his downfall. First of all, Okonkwo starts off as a poor child, as shown when the book states, "Okonkwo did not have the start in life ...
Answer: Okonkwo, the protagonist of Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart," is considered a tragic hero because his downfall is caused by his own character flaws. He is a successful and respected leader in his community, but he is also stubborn, inflexible, and quick-tempered. These qualities lead him to commit a series of tragic mistakes ...
Okonkwo is the protagonist of Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe 's 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart. The question is often asked if Okonkwo, a member of the Igbo tribe, is a tragic hero, and there are ...
Therefore, Okonkwo is a tragic hero. In conclusion, Okonkwo exemplifies Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero. His character has many tragic flaws, including, fear of weakness, hubris, and his work ethic, which in the end lead to his death. His life and death provoke pity and fear for the audience. Okonkwo becomes noble and is a great leader ...