Things Fall Apart: Victim Or Tragic Hero

Rylie Talmadge
Crawford
English Honors B
8 March 2017
Things Fall Apart: Villain, Victim or Tragic Hero
In Things Fall Apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe, the main character Okonkwo and the rest of his tribe, experience colonialism and the forceful change that is brought with it. This change affects each of the characters in his own way, as they either learn to adapt and accept the white men and their new traditions, or their rebellious actions are met with consequences. This change shapes each character but most prominently, Okonkwo. It is through his response to change that Okonkwo could be considered a tragic hero as he meets all of Aristotle's principles. A tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle, is a character who is honorable in nature, has
While that fear may drive Okonkwo’s work ethic, it also causes him many problems, ultimately leading to his downfall. His obsession with strength and his fear of failure and weakness leads him to act violently and impulsively toward others. Okonkwo’s acts of violence are out of that fear, hatred, and his own ignorance to change. Moreover, Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna, who asks for Okonkwo's help as he is hit, but Okonkwo responds by stabbing Ikemefuna because "He was afraid of being thought weak" (Achebe, 43). By attempting to act as an invincible power, “the Roaring Flame”, by his killing, beating, and abusing, Okonkwo not only weakens his family relationships, but also himself and the community (Achebe 153). Most importantly, his impulsive and furious characteristics lead him to behead the court messenger, which leads to Okonkwo’s discovery of his own tragic
Okonkwo's self-realization starts when he comes back to Umuofia after his exile. Upon his arrival, he realizes that Umuofia has changed greatly against his likening, and he is not as important as he was before, as he attracts little attention. Things fall apart not only because of the outside pressure of colonialism, but also because of the interior pressures of Okonkwo. Okonkwo discovers how deep the white mans’ roots have settled, from which many conflicts have stemmed. However, despite these clashes, it is not until Okonkwo beheads one of the court marshals, that he learns of his tragic fate. When Okonkwo sees that none of his clan members go after the escaping white men, "He knew that Umuofia would not go to war" (Achebe, 144). It was the clan’s desire to keep the community intact that ultimately prohibited them from following him. He comes to the understanding that he alone, will never be able to drive the white men out. Realizing his defeat, Okonkwo commits suicide, considered an abomination in his culture. Throughout the novel he has plenty of opportunities to change his ways, see the light, open his eyes, yet his stubbornness and unwillingness to change refuses to allow the adapt to survive instinct, resulting in his lost cause and suicide.
Okonkwo's character fits the definition of the tragic hero, as well as villain, and victim. He rises from nothing