What Is Okonkwo

Things Fall Apart, and So Does He
Although Okonkwo was a fierce individual who brought honor to his village, rose from nothing, and worked hard to achieve what he accomplished, his struggles with internal and external forces ultimately lead to the loss of everything that he created for himself including his own life.
Unoka, Okonkwo’s father, was known for his indolent behavior and laziness, which Okonkwo views as effeminate. Okonkwo is driven to success by his desire to be nothing like his father. As a result, Okonkwo develops an obsession with masculinity and a fear of being seen as weak. When Okonkwo's adopted son, Ikemefuna, was set to be killed, Okonkwo volunteered to join the group going to his execution. After Ikemefuna had been struck
To illustrate, he develops a fear of cultural change caused by his fear of losing his high status. Okonkwo opposes the orders of the church because he feels that not being in control will weaken his masculinity and wonders why his fellow Umuofians do not use violence to get rid of the church and oppressive government. Another key indicator of his fear of judgment is the fact that he never openly shows any type of emotion unless it is anger. According to the Igbo culture, “To show affection was a sign of weakness”(28). In Okonkwo’s mind, being seen as weak is not an option. So, the only emotion worth showing is strength. Furthermore, titles are very important in the Igbo culture. Okonkwo is driven to success by not wanting to be considered agbala, a word used for women or men without titles. "There was a wealthy man in Okonkwo's village who had three huge barns, nine wives, and thirty children. His name was Nwakibie and he had taken the highest but one title which a man could take in the clan"(18-19). That stress that drove him to success also puts lots of pressure on him and brings immense amounts of stress that ultimately pushes him to the edge. In summary, Okonkwo’s sense of dignity completely relies upon the traditional standards that the Igbo society judges him for which pushes him towards his
For example, Okonkwo is exiled for 7 years for the accidental killing of the son of Ezeudu, the oldest man in the village. He is forced to shift from living in a village where he was considered a hero, to living in his old village, where he is not well liked by locals. Being driven out of his home and into an unfamiliar village damages his resilience and makes him come to realizations about himself. What could be considered more important, the white man appears to be a large contributing factor in Okonkwo’s external problems that threaten his power. Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, leaves behind all of the traditions and religious beliefs that his father praises when he leaves his family to join the missionaries. Okonkwo does not approve of the Christians. So, as a result of Nwoye joining them, Okonkwo feels that he no longer has control over his children and family. Similarly, as time passes, the church grows in popularity. This causes many to convert to Christianity, sending the whole village and all of their prior beliefs into a completely different direction. Okonkwo has no power over the church once they have grown in popularity. Being completely out of control is a foreign struggle that Okonkwo does not know how to face which damages his character. All of these occurrences factor into Okonkwo’s fall in the fact that they weaken his character, dignity, and