Preview

Okonkwo's Pride In Things Fall Apart

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
480 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Okonkwo's Pride In Things Fall Apart
Okonkwo’s overbearing pride in himself results in unforeseen consequences for his family and others which come in contact with him throughout the book. Case in point, when Okonkwo was told by an elder of the Umuofia not be getting involved with the killing of Ikemefuna because as he was told “that boy calls you father.” Prompting, Okonkwo to be exiled and sent to live with his mother for 7 years. Which resulted from the unfortunate killing of Ezeudu's son from the misfiring of a bullet. Rather than just listening Okonkwo’s pride slapped him in the face and being looked upon as weak was no option. How could the man who took down Amalinze the Cat as a teen and was a about to take the Idemili title, which was the third highest in the land show signs of weakness over a boy that had only stayed with him and his family for a couple of months. Having Okonkwo to be looked upon as a tragic hero has been …show more content…
Growing up less fortunate than the others in his community influenced his eventual success. He had 3 wives and a barnyard full of yams to exhibit his prosperity every year. Additionally, he was a very loyal member and fierce warrior of Umuofia who will stop at nothing to defend his country from foreign invaders. “An Umuofia man does not refuse a call,” he said.(Ch.23)” “He may refuse to do what he is asked; he does not refuse to be asked.(Ch.23) ” Withal the success obtained Okonkwo left a path of destruction for anyone in his path. A perfect example is Okonkwo's son Nwoye who causes Okonkwo “great anxiety for his incipient laziness.(p.13)” So, instead of finding something for him to do the only option was to constantly beat some sense into him. Unfortunately, Nwoye to start, “developing into a sad faced youth”. Which’s brought upon Okonkwo irritability and violence towards his family , because of his non-affection and low-tolerance for “weak” people in Okonkwo’s
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Okonkwo In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Okonkwo In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    His father fears raising a son like his own lazy father. As Nwoye grows up, Okonkwo tries to suppress any possible sign of this by “constant nagging and beating” (Achebe 14). From a young age, Nwoye internalizes that he is worthless. He only receives praise from his mother, who, as a woman, is supposedly insignificant. His greatest role model is constantly and violently ashamed of him. Nwoye feels like an outsider. He feels “a snapping inside him” after Okonkwo’s abuses. (Achebe 61). When the missionaries arrive, Nwoye visits the church out of curiosity and returns home to a harsh beating. As soon as Okonkwo lets him go, Nwoye “walk[s] away and never return[s],” leaving for a Christian school in another village (Achebe 152). To save himself, Nwoye has to escape his situation, but that means escaping everything. He cannot pick and choose and in the end has to leave everything that has made him who he is for a chance at…

    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Okonkwo The Hero In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
    • 1342 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Okonkwo The Hero In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    One of the main reasons supporting this statement is because Okonkwo was always a coward. Everything he acted on was driven by a fear of appearing weak. What he did not understand was that this mindset automatically makes him weak. A stereotypical hero is brave and overcomes his fears. In the end of the novel, Okonkwo tries to run from his phobia one last time by killing himself and leaving his clan to the colonizing dogs. By doing so, he did not leave a significant impact on his people. Although he attempted to gather them together to fight back against the colonists, he failed and let his anger get the best of him. All he did was intensify the fight by killing the messenger, and killing himself when the white men demanded to see him. Before returning to Umuofia, Okonkwo also did not pay any respects to his people. He tried to keep his friends close but completely disregarded his family in light of his malevolence. Eventually, he killed his own “son” and his own clansman. Did he save anyone in the process? No, he did not; he lost the respect he gained from others towards the beginning of the book, and ultimately gave…

    • 1342 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Things Fall Apart Observation of Okonkwo
    • 548 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Things Fall Apart Observation of Okonkwo

    Prior to the Christians coming to the Ibo society, Okonkwo was very much loved and well respected “Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered” (Achebe, pg 8). He was a self-righteous man who was very stubborn and felt he had no one to answer to but himself. When he was eighteen years of age, Okonkwo gained honor to his village by throwing Amalizine the Cat, a great wrestler who was unbeaten for seven years, from Umofia to Mbaino (1). After this battle, Okonkwo always felt the need to prove his bravery. Okonkwo was exiled from his village because of a gun accident during a funeral service for a well-respected man of the Ibo community. When he returned from exile, he found Christians in his home spreading their religion and converting many of his people. He finds that his people, who at one time were very powerful and strong, are now too afraid to fight off the white Christian men, “he mourned for the warlike men of Umofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women” (1).…

    • 548 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Is Okonkwo Selfish
    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Is Okonkwo Selfish

    From the way Okonkwo is with his family and others in the community, he is a self-made, well-respected member of the village, but also a ruthless person. For instance, “Okonkwo’s prosperity was visible in his household. He had a large compound enclosed... He worshipped them with sacrifices of kola nut, food and palm-wine, and offered prayers to them on behalf of himself, his three wives and eight children.” (14) From this quote, it is easy to see that Okonkwo is self-made person, and that’s probably the reason why he is well-respected in the village. Whereas, his father is such a lazy person. It actually talks about how others treat his father: “Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness, and even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father was agbala. That was how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could also mean a man who had taken no title.”(13) He is probably shamed by what his father had done, that’s why he tried so hard to be rich. Moreover, there are a lot of examples that show Okonkwo is quite a ruthless person, but one of the best quotes is, “He walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo’s return. And when she returned he beat her very heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week Of Peace. ”(29) Okonkwo treats very strict to his family, he even beat his wife during the Week of Peace without…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Things Fall Apart- Explain how Okonkwos actions are motivated by fear in Things Fall Apart
    • 726 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Things Fall Apart- Explain how Okonkwos actions are motivated by fear in Things Fall Apart

    Throughout Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo's actions take place because he is afraid of becoming "A Woman" like his father. Not only does he act masculine to appear manly to the villagers, he does it to satisfy his own conscious. Okonkwo portrays a short temper in this book. Small things such as his supper being late and remarks about his hunting anger him, and lead to his beating of his wives and his son Nwoya. His desire to appear manly often fogged his judgment. When the time came to kill Ikemefuna, the boy who called him father, he was told by his best friend that he should not take part in this because the boy looked up to him. Okonkwo knew his friend was right. When he, Ikemefuna and other leaders of the tribe went to the woods to carry out the task, Okonkwo did not want the other men to think that he was weak so he cut down his own son. Okonkwo's actions were also motivated by the fear that his whole village would become weak. After returning from his exile in Mbanta, Okonkwo realized that the Christians were taking over. Unlike the rest of his tribe he wanted to go to war with them and drive them out. Soon he realized that during his seven years in exile Umuofia had changed and no longer was feared tribe it used to be. Okonkwo continued to fight the inevitable. His actions were never able to help his village; his worst fear had come true, they had become weak.…

    • 726 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Okonkwo And Unoka Research Paper
    • 156 Words
    • 1 Page

    Okonkwo And Unoka Research Paper

    Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was extremely lazy and sickly, while Okonkwo was constantly active and seen with respect throughout the tribe. Unoka had one wife and no title, which showed his lowly importance in the tribe. Unoka was weak and couldn’t support his family, which causes Okonkwo to start working at a young age, so he could take care his family. “Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat.” Okonkwo lived in constant fear of failure. Okonkwo didn’t like showing emotions, unless it was anger. He ruled his household with a heavy hand and with constant threats to his many wives. “His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children.…

    • 156 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Okonkwo Research Paper
    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Okonkwo Research Paper

    Okonkwo is a well-respected man and warrior of Umuofia who rose from poverty and descended to destitution. As a boy Okonkwo was able to work hard and gain status, at his height he was progressively disgraced by a series of his own actions and banished from the tribe for several years. After returning Okonkwo gained some traction in his village but was imprisoned and died disgracefully through suicide. The most harmful event in his personal tragedy is the accidental murder of a clansman which led to his exile.…

    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Okonkwo's Flaws In Things Fall Apart
    • 184 Words
    • 1 Page

    Okonkwo's Flaws In Things Fall Apart

    In the novel Things Fall Apart Okonkwo was a terribly flawed man. He was a terribly flawed man becauses he beat his wife. Some people might think that he was a good man but because of his fiery temper he could hurt someone like when he was mad at his wife for leaving and not feeding him and he beat her. Like when the book says “And when she returned he beat her very heavily.” on (29). He is also a very terribly flawed man in the way that he doesn't like when people think of him as week. Like how in the book it says “Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak.” on (61). Another way that he is terribly flawed is when he almost shout his wife with a gun as we see in the book “He pressed the trigger and there…

    • 184 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Things Fall Apart
    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Things Fall Apart

    First, one of Okonkwo’s major weak points was his family. He tried not to let it show, but he cared deeply for his family. For example, when Ikemefuna was introduced into Okonkwo’s life, Okonkwo immediately grew a stronger bond with Ikemefuna than he had with his real children. After raising Ikemefuna for three years, Okonkwo was told Ikemefuna must be killed. Not only did he agree to it but he took part in the brutal murder. On page 61, Achebe writes, “Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak.” Although he loved Ikemefuna like his own son, he killed Ikemefuna to avoid being thought of as weak by his fellow clansmen. Another example of Okonkwo’s weakness when it came to his family was when he followed Ekwefi, Enzima and Chielo to the shrine. He wanted to ensure his daughter and wife’s safety. On page 112, Achebe says, “He allowed what he regarded as a reasonable and manly interval to pass and then gone with his machete to the shrine.”…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Things Fall Apart 6
    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Things Fall Apart 6

    In another part of the story, Okonkwo is banished from his fatherland. This incident is the first where he is punished greatly for his actions. It marks a turning point in Okonkwo’s downfall, and therefore the downfall of the traditional culture that he stands for. His hopes and aspirations are almost forgotten while he is away from Umuofia, and he desperately tries to regain his status when he returns. During this period of time, Okonkwo also discovers that his son has converted to his enemy’s ways and beliefs. He abandons his son, and doesn’t want to be his father any longer. This shows that his relationships with family and…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Norman Mailer Quotes
    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Norman Mailer Quotes

    He was masculine, hardworking, reputable, and wealthy. He didn't want to be like his father, a failure. Okonkwo believed his father was a failure because the man was very lazy, disgraceful, and poor. Over the years in his village it was said by the elders, “...if a child washed his hands...and so he ate with the kings.” This quote indirectly characterizes Okonkwo, displaying how he knew what he had to do if he wanted to be a great hero, furthermore developing his character as a young man. Towards the end of the novel one can imagine Okonkwo as a tragic hero because, like other tragic heroes, he has one major flaw. His main flaw develops from his fear of being like father, whom he dispised. He as well can't display his emotions because he doesn't want to look weak or sissyish, and when he does show any emotion, it is an uncontrollable rage. As a result of his flaws, Okonkwo has suffered countless tragedies, which ultimately leads to his ironic death. Okonkwo's tragedy was due to many things that happened in Umuofia, but the main reason was the arrival of the white missionaries, “Does the white man understand our custom about land?” (chpt. 20). Okonkwo says this, due to his…

    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Okonkwo Have Good Intentions In Things Fall Apart
    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Does Okonkwo Have Good Intentions In Things Fall Apart

    Okonkwo’s father caused him to have a strong fear of becoming like his father.“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 not external but lay deep within himself. It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father.” This shows that his aggression towards his wives and children is influenced by him not wanting to be soft. His father caused him to become a workaholic who doesn’t show any emotion.…

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Regarding Like Water For Chocolate
    • 831 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Regarding Like Water For Chocolate

    A firm belief in his way of life forced Okonkwo into his success at the beginning of Things Fall Apart. As it is noted in chapters one to three, Okonkwo’s birth had left him much to be desired. “Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men usually had (Achebe 16).” Indeed, with a father like Unoka, a “lazy and improvident” man, it is hard to imagine how Okonkwo left his circumstances when his father was one that “was poor” and left “his (Unoka’s) wife and children had barely enough to eat” (Achebe 04 & Achebe 05). Yet these experiences forced Okonkwo toughen up early in life. Okonkwo’s “whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness” (Achebe 13). After considering how Okonkwo’s spent his entire childhood under the shameful shadow of his father, it makes sense that “even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father was agbala” (Achebe 13).…

    • 831 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Okonkwo's Masculinity
    • 1385 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Okonkwo's Masculinity

    Okonkwo's self-destruction was caused by his drive for masculinity . Okonkwo's fear of being a failure caused Okonkwo to hide behind a veneer of anger and aggression. Okonkwo's masculinity was all he had and was the factor that controlled his behavior. He was often consumed in his actions of masculinity that seemed to know no limits. Also, a crucial flaw was his inability to accept change in tradition. He was not able to change with the values of both societies and the changing ways around him. He could not accept the fact that in a colonized society he would be an average person, rather than a distinguished and powerful male.…

    • 1385 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Unrealistic Expectations Lead to a Downfall
    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Unrealistic Expectations Lead to a Downfall

    Okonkwo never understood the concept of going with the flow or adjusting to circumstances. It started in his childhood. His father, Unoka, “had taken no title at all and he was heavily in debt” (Achebe 8). He was a poor farmer and a coward in war. The people of Umuofia called him an agbala, which means woman. Okonkwo was immensely ashamed by him, and his life was definitely affected because of him. “Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men usually had. He did not inherit a barn from his father. There was no barn to inherit,” (Achebe 16). In a perfect world, his father would have been a bloodthirsty warrior, with many wives and children, and a number of cowries. Okonkwo was narrow-minded, and this quality backfired in the form of shame and discontent. “He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father,” (Achebe 2). Unoka never had the money to support his family, and this disgraced Okonkwo. Okonkwo was never able to understand his father and his different ways. Since Unoka was his father, he couldn’t say anything to him, but in his heart and mind, he meant nothing to Okonkwo.…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics