Okonkwo Tragic Hero
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart the protagonist Okonkwo can be compared to a Greek tragic hero. Throughout the novel we see many heroic qualities as well as a tragic flaw that allows Okonkwo to be associated with a Greek tragic hero. There are many positive attributes given and attributed to Okonkwo, but it is that tragic flaw that humanizes him and allows us to decipher his growth and how he personally changes.
From the very beginning of the novel Okonkwo is described as very strong, agile, and “as slippery as a fish in water” (Achebe 1). These qualities are what made him well known and respected because at the age of eighteen they provided him him with the ability to throw Amalinze the Cat “who for seven years was unbeaten” (Achebe …show more content…
1). These physical qualities along with the resiliency that Okonkwo possesses until the end of the novel are what really define him throughout the majority of the novel. Okonkwo first demonstrates his resiliency dealing with the poor relationship he has with his father Unoka who is described as “lazy and improvident and quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow” (Achebe 2). Okonkwo not only despises these qualities but makes it a point to hate them. Okonkwo shows the pliancy he possesses by refraining from any activities or qualities related to his father. This choice made by Okonkwo leads to his rise in power from a lowly clansman in the village of Umuofia to a powerful, well respected , wealthy yam farmer in the village.
Another important heroic trait possessed by Okonkwo is one that until Achebe changed the ideas about indigenous tribes and their culture was not thought possible. Throughout the Spanish Inquisition indigenous tribes were looked at as if they were barn animals. Achebe changes this and shows us that African tribes “Had a philosophy of great depth and value and beauty, that had poetry and above all they had dignity”(Rhoads 1).
Okonkwo shows the dignity possessed by indigenous tribes as he takes on many trials and challenges throughout the course of the novel. Okonkwo is able to face each challenge whether it dealt will his exile from his village of Umuofia or the involvement of the white men in his culture. From these situations he is able to build himself back up . “Village discipline was stern, even harsh, but it's very inescapability makes nonsense of some of the early descriptions of these villages by explorers and missionaries” (Mackay 243). Okonkwo is exiled from the village of Umuofia for accidentally killing a clansman. Even though the act of murder was unintentional Okonkwo still is responsible to pay the price and be disciplined for his actions which leaves him with next to nothing. While he is in exile Okonkwo moves his family to the village of Mbanta where he is allowed the chance to regain his dignity that he had as a wealthy powerful yam farmer which was lost as he was exiled. “Like Odysseus or King Creon he is a dominate male in a male dominated culture who suffers from the sins of his lineage only to overcome them and achieve great prosperity” (McFeaters 1). Just as previously Okonkwo overcame the sins or misdeeds of his father, now in the village of Mbanta he overcame his own sins and was able to regain his dignity and even attain additional notoriety because of his daughter Ezinma who “Grew up in her father's exile and became one of the most Beautiful girls in Mbanta” (Achebe 148). Her beauty made her more wanted and in turn her father as well. Another factor to Okonkwo’s heroic like personality was the desire and passion that fueled him through the trials he faced during his years in exile. Okonkwo makes it a point to become the most well respected and powerful villager in Mbanta so that when he was able to return he would not come back empty handed and look like the person he most feared to be.
The same attribute that drives Okonkwo to not become like his father and that motivates him through his trials throughout his exile is also his fatal flaw: fear.The resiliency he shows by rejecting everything that his father was and did was not only the beginning for Okonkwo’s rise to power and fortune but also brought upon the reason for his fall.
Okonkwo is not only described as fearful, but “possessed by the fear of his father’s contemptible life and shameful death” (Achebe 15). The use of the word possessed shows how completely controlled Okonkwo is by fear, and because of the total control fear has over him “It is fear that becomes his tragic flaw” (McFeaters 2). The feelings that Okonkwo has towards Unoka affects the relationships Okonkwo shares with the people all around him. Most noticeably the relationship between Okonkwo and his eldest son Nwoye. Nwoye’s interests and actions can be better compared to his grandfather, Unoka, than his father Okonkwo. “Okonkwo’s character is made even more complex and more contemporary when we realize that the true nature of his fear is not in the past but the future” (Mcfeaters 2).The increasing similarities between grandfather and grandson made Okonkwo more fearful, and just as Okonkwo hated his father he also came to despise his son. As the focus of Okonkwo's fear switches from father to son there is a brief period where Nwoye is able to receive the approval of his father with the arrival of Ikemefuna whose brother-like characteristics teach Nwoye to be more masculine. With the death of Ikemefuna, Nwoye once again questions his ideals, making Okonkwo once again angry and
fearful.
Just as the focus of anger and fear changes from Unoka to Nwoye, the reasons behind the fear that controls our hero also shifts. Instead of worrying about slothfulness and failure about himself or his family, Okonkwo grows increasingly afraid of change. Once again, Nwoye who was previously questioned his values had “decided to go to Umuofia where the white missionaries had set up a school to teach young Christians to read and write” (Achebe 132). This decision to deviate from tradition infuriates Okonkwo and his fear that traditions will be changed or forgotten. This proves to an extent how inflexible Okonkwo is, just as he described himself.
Even though Okonkwo is seen as inflexible, there are many instances where he does allow, and even invite change. Ezinma can be seen as an exception to Okonkwo’s extreme dislike for obvious change. “She also redefines gender roles in that she is both the son that Okonkwo always wanted”(McFeaters 3). Just as the contribution to the restoration of Okonkwo’s place within the tribe of Umuofia she continues to bring joy to him by understanding him just like a son-like figure Okonkwo always aspired to have. Okonkwo experiences more change before the final fall in his life. With the Spanish Inquisition and the conversion of many natives,a realization is made by the leaders of Umuofia that it would now be impossible to drive the white men out of the village, and they feared that their acceptance of them would lead to the fall of all tradition and what was referred to as “The grand old way” (Achebe 146). The once warlike tribe of Umuofia that had turned peaceful with the help of Okonkwo resorted back to their traditional ways before it was too late. “Difference can be necessary to national self confidence, but, on the other [hand], it can stir destructive tribal or national pride” (Rhoads 62). Okonkwo and a group of kinsmen gathered and armed themselves to confront the white men. Unrealized at first, but a permanent change to the actions of the tribe, including Okonkwo because instead of fully preparing for ay chance of conflict like the original version of Umuofia they were “armed with their machetes. They did not carry guns, for that would be unseemly”(Achebe 166). The new, relaxed point of view toward war and conflict held by Okonkwo and the village of Umuofia continued as they laid down their weapons during the confrontation of the District Commissioner which led to much pain and suffering as they were imprisoned and tortured. Okonkwo gets out after being whipped and treated as an animal, this act of belittlement reminds Okonkwo of the fear that controlled him to stay away from change. As he resorted to his original values he is controlled by his fear which leads him to take the life of not only a white man but in the aftermath take his own life. This act not only ended his life in a manner just as lowly as his father, but showed how much Okonkwo was truly held prisoner by fear.
From the very beginning of the novel Okonkwo is described as very strong, agile, and “as slippery as a fish in water” (Achebe 1). These qualities are what made him well known and respected because at the age of eighteen they provided him him with the ability to throw Amalinze the Cat “who for seven years was unbeaten” (Achebe …show more content…
1). These physical qualities along with the resiliency that Okonkwo possesses until the end of the novel are what really define him throughout the majority of the novel. Okonkwo first demonstrates his resiliency dealing with the poor relationship he has with his father Unoka who is described as “lazy and improvident and quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow” (Achebe 2). Okonkwo not only despises these qualities but makes it a point to hate them. Okonkwo shows the pliancy he possesses by refraining from any activities or qualities related to his father. This choice made by Okonkwo leads to his rise in power from a lowly clansman in the village of Umuofia to a powerful, well respected , wealthy yam farmer in the village.
Another important heroic trait possessed by Okonkwo is one that until Achebe changed the ideas about indigenous tribes and their culture was not thought possible. Throughout the Spanish Inquisition indigenous tribes were looked at as if they were barn animals. Achebe changes this and shows us that African tribes “Had a philosophy of great depth and value and beauty, that had poetry and above all they had dignity”(Rhoads 1).
Okonkwo shows the dignity possessed by indigenous tribes as he takes on many trials and challenges throughout the course of the novel. Okonkwo is able to face each challenge whether it dealt will his exile from his village of Umuofia or the involvement of the white men in his culture. From these situations he is able to build himself back up . “Village discipline was stern, even harsh, but it's very inescapability makes nonsense of some of the early descriptions of these villages by explorers and missionaries” (Mackay 243). Okonkwo is exiled from the village of Umuofia for accidentally killing a clansman. Even though the act of murder was unintentional Okonkwo still is responsible to pay the price and be disciplined for his actions which leaves him with next to nothing. While he is in exile Okonkwo moves his family to the village of Mbanta where he is allowed the chance to regain his dignity that he had as a wealthy powerful yam farmer which was lost as he was exiled. “Like Odysseus or King Creon he is a dominate male in a male dominated culture who suffers from the sins of his lineage only to overcome them and achieve great prosperity” (McFeaters 1). Just as previously Okonkwo overcame the sins or misdeeds of his father, now in the village of Mbanta he overcame his own sins and was able to regain his dignity and even attain additional notoriety because of his daughter Ezinma who “Grew up in her father's exile and became one of the most Beautiful girls in Mbanta” (Achebe 148). Her beauty made her more wanted and in turn her father as well. Another factor to Okonkwo’s heroic like personality was the desire and passion that fueled him through the trials he faced during his years in exile. Okonkwo makes it a point to become the most well respected and powerful villager in Mbanta so that when he was able to return he would not come back empty handed and look like the person he most feared to be.
The same attribute that drives Okonkwo to not become like his father and that motivates him through his trials throughout his exile is also his fatal flaw: fear.The resiliency he shows by rejecting everything that his father was and did was not only the beginning for Okonkwo’s rise to power and fortune but also brought upon the reason for his fall.
Okonkwo is not only described as fearful, but “possessed by the fear of his father’s contemptible life and shameful death” (Achebe 15). The use of the word possessed shows how completely controlled Okonkwo is by fear, and because of the total control fear has over him “It is fear that becomes his tragic flaw” (McFeaters 2). The feelings that Okonkwo has towards Unoka affects the relationships Okonkwo shares with the people all around him. Most noticeably the relationship between Okonkwo and his eldest son Nwoye. Nwoye’s interests and actions can be better compared to his grandfather, Unoka, than his father Okonkwo. “Okonkwo’s character is made even more complex and more contemporary when we realize that the true nature of his fear is not in the past but the future” (Mcfeaters 2).The increasing similarities between grandfather and grandson made Okonkwo more fearful, and just as Okonkwo hated his father he also came to despise his son. As the focus of Okonkwo's fear switches from father to son there is a brief period where Nwoye is able to receive the approval of his father with the arrival of Ikemefuna whose brother-like characteristics teach Nwoye to be more masculine. With the death of Ikemefuna, Nwoye once again questions his ideals, making Okonkwo once again angry and
fearful.
Just as the focus of anger and fear changes from Unoka to Nwoye, the reasons behind the fear that controls our hero also shifts. Instead of worrying about slothfulness and failure about himself or his family, Okonkwo grows increasingly afraid of change. Once again, Nwoye who was previously questioned his values had “decided to go to Umuofia where the white missionaries had set up a school to teach young Christians to read and write” (Achebe 132). This decision to deviate from tradition infuriates Okonkwo and his fear that traditions will be changed or forgotten. This proves to an extent how inflexible Okonkwo is, just as he described himself.
Even though Okonkwo is seen as inflexible, there are many instances where he does allow, and even invite change. Ezinma can be seen as an exception to Okonkwo’s extreme dislike for obvious change. “She also redefines gender roles in that she is both the son that Okonkwo always wanted”(McFeaters 3). Just as the contribution to the restoration of Okonkwo’s place within the tribe of Umuofia she continues to bring joy to him by understanding him just like a son-like figure Okonkwo always aspired to have. Okonkwo experiences more change before the final fall in his life. With the Spanish Inquisition and the conversion of many natives,a realization is made by the leaders of Umuofia that it would now be impossible to drive the white men out of the village, and they feared that their acceptance of them would lead to the fall of all tradition and what was referred to as “The grand old way” (Achebe 146). The once warlike tribe of Umuofia that had turned peaceful with the help of Okonkwo resorted back to their traditional ways before it was too late. “Difference can be necessary to national self confidence, but, on the other [hand], it can stir destructive tribal or national pride” (Rhoads 62). Okonkwo and a group of kinsmen gathered and armed themselves to confront the white men. Unrealized at first, but a permanent change to the actions of the tribe, including Okonkwo because instead of fully preparing for ay chance of conflict like the original version of Umuofia they were “armed with their machetes. They did not carry guns, for that would be unseemly”(Achebe 166). The new, relaxed point of view toward war and conflict held by Okonkwo and the village of Umuofia continued as they laid down their weapons during the confrontation of the District Commissioner which led to much pain and suffering as they were imprisoned and tortured. Okonkwo gets out after being whipped and treated as an animal, this act of belittlement reminds Okonkwo of the fear that controlled him to stay away from change. As he resorted to his original values he is controlled by his fear which leads him to take the life of not only a white man but in the aftermath take his own life. This act not only ended his life in a manner just as lowly as his father, but showed how much Okonkwo was truly held prisoner by fear.