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  • Essay / The character of "Things Fall Apart" Okonkwo - a tragic hero

    When you read a novel that interests you, do you sometimes look at the deeper meaning of it or do you just read it for entertainment? The novel Things Fall Apart has this specific character that catches my attention and his name is Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a self-taught and highly respected member of the Umuofia clan. Now Okonkwo is not a perfect guy and has some imperfections but as you read on you will understand the meaning of him and why he acts, does the things he does and doesn't do much progress throughout history. Throughout the novel Okonkwo doesn't get better, he only gets worse as you read more. "Things Fall Apart" character Okonkwo - a tragic hero who doesn't show any type of growth, starts off very determined, then quickly gets angry and makes mistakes, finally he reflects everything on his family and creates other problems . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Okonkwo is a wealthy and respected warrior of the Umuofia clan. He is traumatized by the actions of Unoka, his cowardly and irresponsible father, who died, leaving many of the village's debts unresolved. He was all about business and didn't let his personal feelings stop him from doing anything. Okonkwo adopts opposing ideals and becomes very productive. Okonkwo achieves great social and financial success by adopting these ideals. He married three wives and was the father of several children. He was a very successful yam grower. Throughout his life, he undertakes an endless battle, dominated by the fear of weakness and failure. His tragic flaw and the equation between virility, anger and violence leads to his own destruction. Okonkwo is sometimes harsh and generally unable to express his feelings. He is quick to anger, especially when dealing with weak, lazy men like his father. Although the author lets it be known that he sometimes feels inner affection, he never shows affection towards anyone. The situation will only get worse for Okonkwo. Okonkwo demands that his family work long hours despite their age or limited physical stamina, and he harasses and beats his wives and his son, Nwoye, who Okonkwo says is feminine like his father, Unoka. Okonkwo is impulsive; he acts before thinking. Okonkwo was told not to participate in the murder of Ikefemuna, but then kills Ikefemuna because he is "afraid of being seen as weak." When Okonkwo kills a messenger from the district office, his clan members back away in fear, realizing that none of them support him. Everything Okonkwo does and the way he acts is because he never wants to appear "soft" or never wants to seem like he's becoming like his father. Then, to sum it all up, it was all for nothing because he committed suicide, a shameful death like his father's. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Okonkwo was the main character of “Things Fall Apart”. Okonkwo was a great man for his village but not for the families. He was a very harsh man and he would not show or accept his true feelings. He let his greatest fear go to his head, which ultimately led him to take his own life. Every move he makes is driven by fear, it is always at the forefront of his mind, he is unable to express what he feels in words, so he turns straight to violence. Unlike his father, Okonkwo was a very successful man, "the greatest wrestler in the nine villages" and a wealthy man...