From the very title on this historical hype novel, Items Fall Apart, constructed by Chinua Achebe, that foreshadows the tragedy which is triggered by tragic leading man. Defined simply by Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, a tragic hero is actually a character that is of noble stature and greatness who posses a hamartia, a tragic flaw that leads to the characters downfall. Subsequently, the tragic leading man undergoes peripeteia, the unexpected reversal of fortune just for this character which results in catastrophe. Ultimately the character appreciates their condition, known as anagnorisis.
In Things Break apart, Okonkwo, the central character, is considered to be the tragic main character. He changes from becoming an admired leader and good warrior with the lower Nigerian tribe, Umuofia, to carrying out in an take action based on his hamartia that influences catastrophe. Okonkwo’s actions resulted in others suffering which include himself. The anguish others experienced as a result of Okonkwo’s indecent choices plays a part in the general view of Okonkwo’s journey as the tragic main character. The first requirement for a character to be regarded a tragic hero would be that the persona must be of high status. As stated by Achebe in the novel, “Okonkwo was well known through the entire nine towns and even past. His fame rested about solid personal achievements”(3).
Okonkwo started from scratch, without having inheritance via his dad, Okonkwo was able to work strenuously to become a solid warrior and a wealthy, respected guy. Okonkwo gained many games though his labour and dedication to not become a failure that his father was, Unoka. Unoka had obtained an immense amount of money from his friends and neighbors to buy game titles he wanted. He was a guy known to be in financial trouble. Okonkwo’s fear that he would become as his father did, he made the decision to hate almost everything his father ever liked. Okonkwo’s toil resulted in him having a huge compound which has a hut for every of his 3 wives or girlfriends with and several children. Okonkwo also possessing a large share of yams, earned many of the respect coming from others pertaining to yams are valued in the Ibo Morals. Okonkwo also earned esteem for him self when he was 18, if he bought exclusive chance to his town simply by defeating Amalinze the Kitten, a previously undefeated wrestler for six years.
Okonkwo is a respected judge in the neighborhood, for he is one of the nine Egwugwu. This implies he is assumed to be a heart of an ancestral. Additionally , he can also a associated with his village to talk with all the Mbaino village about the killer with the girl of Umuofia. Noticeably, Okonkwo is of noble prominence, despite of how he began. Likewise other tragic heroes, Okonkwo owns a tragic catch, his hamartia. For his father, an inability, Okonkwo possess fear of some weakness and failure. Although these types of aspects forced him to success, popularity, and his successes, it also brings about him causing many issues. Since Okonkwos has a anxiety about failure and weakness, this kind of leads him to act impulsively and violently Con 3toward others. This possibly includes his family members through which he is usually violent and harsh towards. This is for his purpose of not being seen as fragile person. Okonkwo’s extreme attitude of applying strength and violence never to be seen since weak, eventually causing problems with his family members which cause his ultimate downfall. As an example, Okonkwo cracks a group law and beats the youngest of his wives or girlfriends during the week of tranquility. Also as well he comes close to shooting his second wife. Okonkwo eliminates his boy Nwoye’s close 15 year old friend who had been given up to Umuofia as a sacrifice intended for killing among the women in Umuofia.
Ikemefuna, call him by his name was, who also lived with Okonkwo’s relatives for three years before the elders ordered him to be slain. Okonkwo is definitely told not to take part in Ikemefuna’s sacrifice as they is basically the person who elevated him for three years and Ikemefuna phone calls Okonkwo “father. ” Okonkwo’s fear of getting seen as fragile, makes him react violently and he Kills Ikemefuna despite the caution given to him. Ikemefuna requests Okonkwo’s help because “He was afraid of being believed weak”(43). Simply by trying to be a powerful person and deciding to kill Ikemefuna and beats his wives through the week of peace reveals Okonkwo vulnerable his romantic relationship with Nwoye and his wives or girlfriends. His chaotic and energetic qualities as well hurts him self mentally which in turn lead him to eliminate a court messenger from your British during the clan conference which soon after leads Okonkwo to the breakthrough discovery of his own tragic fate. The last requirement for a character being a tragic hero needs that the character must recognize his individual fate and situation, anagnorisis. Okonkwo experiences anagnorisis when he returns home to Umuofia after his seven numerous years of exile together with his great plan. Upon his arrival, Okonkwo realizes that a lot has changed in Umuofia and that now he can not thought about as Swindle 4important or perhaps famous ever again as he accustomed to be ahead of his exile. When his arrival will not attract all the attention as he hoped, he loses his place in the Egwugwu. He also understands the white-colored men have resolved in the community, trying to get the Ibo individuals to convert to Christianity. He recognizes that in the view the Christian believers are assaulting Igbo traditions and faith. Okonkwo was unhappy with this through his outburst, he persuades his tribe to use physical violence to drive the white males out of the town.
Issues between the Ibo and the Christian believers included the unmasking of Egwugwu, the burning up of the house of worship and the deceptive meeting placed by the white-colored men resulting in the record and humiliation of the five clan members, including Okonkwo. Okonkwo then simply kills one of the five British court users, which is when he finds out his tragic fate. When Okonkwo beheads the messenger during the family meeting and sees that non-e of his family members go after the escaping white men, He recognized that Umuofia would not go to war (144). He knows that he can never be able get rid of the white-colored men in Umuofia because his clan will not fight with him. He realizes that he is defeated and are not able to save his village through the white guys influences. Okonkwo decides to hold himself, which is contributes to this is of an ex�cration in Igbo culture. Okonkwo’s character suits Aristotles meaning of a tragic hero. Okonkwo rises to be the honorable and successful leader of Umuofia. He also has a tragic flaw of the fear of weakness and failing that leads to his drop ultimately. Finally, he finds out his individual tragic fate and scenario of his harsh mood by of killing the court English messenger. If it weren’t pertaining to the battling of others in the novel due to Okonkwo, a tragic leading man, then the tragic hero eyesight of Okonkwo would not be whole.
