Who Is Okonkwo In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

The novel begins by introducing a young Okonkwo and his triumph over “Amalinze the Cat” in a fight, immediately identifying his strength and respect in the Ibo community. The narrator then delves into the topic of Okonkwo’s lazy and cowardly father, Unoka, whom Okonkwo wants to be the complete opposite of. Okonkwo’s fame, respect among the community, and hard work granted him a successful farm, three wives, and multiple children. Though with this greatness came the responsibility of looking after Ikemefuna, the boy who was a sacrifice to maintain peace between Umuofia and Mbaino. For three years, Ikemefuna made himself a part of Okonkwo’s family. Okonkwo had taken a special liking to Ikemefuna, he began to see him as a son more so than his own blood son. It is true that, “Ruled
Shortly after this, locusts swarmed Umuofia. The people of the Ibo community were very excited by this because it was a source of food for them. Okonkwo has a talk with Ogbuefi Ezeudu, the oldest man in the Ibo community, in which Ezeudu warns Okonkwo of the repercussions of taking part in the killing of Ikemefuna. Though when the time comes, Okonkwo ignores the advice in order to maintain his masculine image. Three days after Ikemefuna’s death, Ezinma has been struck ill. Okonkwo gathers medicine for her and she is restored to normal. At the funeral of Ezeudu, Okonkwo’s gun explodes, accidentally killing Exeudu’s sixteen year old son. For this, Okonkwo is exiled to his “motherland” of Mbanta for seven years, in which he lives with his uncle, Uchendu. In Okonkwo’s absence, Obierika watches over his yams and sells them when they are finished growing, and brings the product of these yams to Okonkwo. While Okonkwo is in exile, many changes occur in Umuofia. White missionaries have come to Umuofia, setting up churches and converting