Chinua Achebes new of existence in colonial-era Nigeria, Points Fall Apart, contains the character Okonkwo as the protagonist. Okonkwo represents the idea of a successful person, an respected hero possibly. Characteristics just like bravery, strength, and a desire to succeed are what everyone admires about Okonkwo. His anxiety about becoming just like his dad gave him this desire to succeed, and consistently encouraged him to advance through existence. However , Okonkwo personifies thinking about not just a main character, but a tragic main character.
Fear is usually Okonkwos primary motivation throughout the book. Achebe says, Having been possessed by the fear of his fathers contemptible life and shameful death (Things Fall Apart 18). He was motivated to work hard and succeed with this fear. Whilst a young son, Okonkwo started to work hard for farming because an attempt to get successful and earn respectability. Okonkwo says, I began to fend for myself in a age when most people still suck at their moms breasts. In case you give me some yam seeds I will not fail you. (Things Break apart 21). Okonkwos strong powerful tone offers readers the concept he began to work and persist from a young age.
His persistence is exemplified by the fact that the 1st year of cultivation was ruined by early arriving of rains. is one of the finest men of his time and place, this individual strives mightily and is ruined by situations beyond his control, says Dr . Diane Thompson (Thompson 25). Nevertheless , Okonkwos will allows him to survive the rains in his first season of fostering and continue and be successful. Okonkwo is a man held with the endless will to have success. Achebe wrote, Since We survived that year, this individual always explained, I shall survive anything. He said down to his inflexible will. (Things Break apart 24). The determination, perseverance, and labor paid off for Okonkwo in the end, as his rewards started to be a barn full of yams, three spouses and many children. All of Okonkwos actions begin in fear of his not being like his dad.
Okonkwos remarkable and heroic qualities were not limited to the particular strength of his is going to, but they also range from the physical abilities and emotional strengths. The physical power of Okonkwo is a reason for his achievement. Okonkwo was the best wrestler in the 9 villages rather than was beaten. Amalinze the Cat who, until the moments of Okonkwos victory, had hardly ever, in eight years, recently been beaten. (Okonkwo) was taller and huge, wonderful bushy eyebrows and wide nose provided him an extremely severe appear When he walked, his pumps hardly carressed the ground and he appeared to walk in springs, like he was likely to pounce about somebody (Things Fall Apart 3). Okonkwo will always use his fists to stay something, instead of try to say words and settle anything.
Okonkwos psychological strength is yet another quality which makes him more fitting inside the role of a hero. His bravery was one that may succeed and persist that help bring the courage of those about him larger. Okonkwo was unflinchingly ready to strike against the white males when everyone around him wished never to. He observed all the kinds who desired not to wage-war against the white-colored men since womanly.
Okonkwo says, The greatest obstacle in Umuofia is that coward, Egonwanne Tomorrow he will tell them which our fathers by no means fought a war of blame. In the event that they listen to him We shall keep and prepare my own revenge, about the town crier (Things Fall Apart 200). Okonkwos heated up and irritated words demonstrate his braveness did not come as the result of inspiration by individuals around him, but rather via his personal inner mental strength. Okonkwos heroic characteristics of strength in mind, physique, and will led him to success is obviously, and esteem.
Despite all the great and heroic attributes, Okonkwo has a tragic drawback. Okonkwos hamartia is his inability to take change. White-colored men moved into Umuofia and several Ibo towns cleverly and without causing physical violence. The change of Nwoye, Okonkwos boy, becoming a Christian affected Okonkwo to the point where this individual went on a rampage, and ended up selecting that his son was not worth struggling for. If perhaps such some thing were ever before to happen, this individual, Okonkwo, would wipe all of them off the encounter from the earth, publishes articles Achebe regarding any of Okonkwos offspring getting Christian and praying for the white men’s god (Things Fall Apart 153). White men, however , started to slowly gain control of increasingly more of Umuofia, and Okonkwo could not recognize this. What angered Okonkwo was not just the presence with the white guys, but the fact that he could not act and rid the village of the white colored mens existence himself.
Okonkwos tragic catch is the outcome of a number of factors. His rashness, anger, violence, and all sorts of his heroic characteristics come together to form his tragic downside of not being able to accept change. Achebe him self says, it truly is dignity that lots of African peoples all but lost in the impérialiste period (Achebe 20). The change of losing his dignity is what, in the end, prevails over all of Okonkwos positive talents and aspects and causes him to take his life.
Okonkwo is the persona that signifies the loss of pride, and the a result of the loss of dignity as well. Although is a remarkable character, his tragic flawthe equation of manliness with rashness, anger, and violencebrings about his own destruction, says Selena Ward (Ward Character Analysis 24). However , Wards realization of Okonkwos tragic hero-like qualities can be not enough. Okonkwos character turns into tied to the classical of the tragic hero as he can be described as hero who also, because of his own internal tragic drawback and external forces which will he are unable to control, eventually ends up losing.
