Who Is Responsible For Okonkwo's Downfall
Darius Davis
January 15, 2008
World Literature-3rd
Instructor-Fitzgerald
Things Fall Apart
In society, many people, if not all, have had their share in downfall. Accomplishments have to be made first in order to fall. An individual can accomplish so much, and then lose it all in a heartbeat. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, there is a character by the name of Okonkwo who had accomplished many things in his life. What happens when things turn bad? Does an individual contribute to things going wrong?
As mentioned, Okonkwo has many accomplishments. He is considered a hero in his village, Umuofia. “Umuofia was feared by all its neighbors. It was powerful in war and in magic. Its priest and medicine men were feared by all its surrounding countries” (11). Umuofia is the village that Okonkwo lives in. Umuofia is really powerful and is feared by all its neighbors. Okonkwo is considered a hero because of his qualities and skills. “Let us not be cowards. If a man comes into my hut, and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick, and I break his head. That’s what a man does.”(158-159) okonkwo shows the qualities of a leader. The quote tells how he takes action when he is …show more content…
As shown, Okonkwo has a downfall, and he is a hero. So therefore, can he be considered as a tragic hero? Especially, when the tragedy was accidental? “The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill clans’ men, and the man who committed it, must flee from the land. The crime was of to kinds, male and female. Okonkwo committed the female, because the crime was inadvertent. He could return to the clan in seven years” (124). All the things that he accomplished were gone. At first he is seen as a great man, but now he is seen as a murderer. All his good deeds are now being overlooked. Suddenly, all his accomplishments are
January 15, 2008
World Literature-3rd
Instructor-Fitzgerald
Things Fall Apart
In society, many people, if not all, have had their share in downfall. Accomplishments have to be made first in order to fall. An individual can accomplish so much, and then lose it all in a heartbeat. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, there is a character by the name of Okonkwo who had accomplished many things in his life. What happens when things turn bad? Does an individual contribute to things going wrong?
As mentioned, Okonkwo has many accomplishments. He is considered a hero in his village, Umuofia. “Umuofia was feared by all its neighbors. It was powerful in war and in magic. Its priest and medicine men were feared by all its surrounding countries” (11). Umuofia is the village that Okonkwo lives in. Umuofia is really powerful and is feared by all its neighbors. Okonkwo is considered a hero because of his qualities and skills. “Let us not be cowards. If a man comes into my hut, and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick, and I break his head. That’s what a man does.”(158-159) okonkwo shows the qualities of a leader. The quote tells how he takes action when he is …show more content…
As shown, Okonkwo has a downfall, and he is a hero. So therefore, can he be considered as a tragic hero? Especially, when the tragedy was accidental? “The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill clans’ men, and the man who committed it, must flee from the land. The crime was of to kinds, male and female. Okonkwo committed the female, because the crime was inadvertent. He could return to the clan in seven years” (124). All the things that he accomplished were gone. At first he is seen as a great man, but now he is seen as a murderer. All his good deeds are now being overlooked. Suddenly, all his accomplishments are