Theme Of Sympathy In Things Fall Apart

A man who beats others to make them see their mistakes, is he a man? Does he deserve sympathy? If “his whole life was dominated by fear, fear of failure and of weakness”, does he deserve sympathy? In this case it is okonkwo, the main character of Things fall apart. I see his point of view and I for one sympathise him. He is a good man person but his methods of correcting others is rather extreme. I will explain by using two of his children. First, Ezinma the daughter of his second wife. “ Sit like a woman! Okonkwo shouted at her… Okonkwo was specially fond of her.” He doesn’t hit her, he warns her and points out her mistakes. Trying to make her a great lady so she can marry a great man in the future and raise a family. Second is not technically his son. But he raises Ikemefuna as his own. “ Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy… He allowed him to accompany him, like a son… Ikemefuna called him father.” Thought okonkwo did hit him at times he treated him like a son. Feed and taught him how to plant yams and one day have his own family.
He cares for them both, he wants them to be someone in life, successful not like his father. He is “very fond of ezinma” and “ very fond of the boy.” Teaching them how to be great and be strong enough to raise a family when they grow older and be independent. The only difference aside from gender roles is he corrects Ikemefuna by hitting him at times, to Ezinma he screams and nag at her pointing out their mistakes. “ When okonkwo heard that he would not eat...” ( Ikemefuna) “ He came into the hut with a big stick in his hand and stood over him while he swallowed his yams,