Chinua Achebes novel of life Essay Example For Students

Chinua Achebes novel of life Essay Chinua Achebes novel of life in colonial-era Nigeria, Things Fall Apart, contains the character Okonkwo as the protagonist. Okonkwo represents the idea of a successful person; an admired hero even. Characteristics such as bravery, strength, and a desire to succeed are what everyone admires about Okonkwo. His fear of becoming like his father gave him this desire to succeed, and consistently motivated him to progress through life. However, Okonkwo personifies the idea of not just a hero, but a tragic hero. Fear is Okonkwos main motivation throughout the book. Achebe says, He was possessed by the fear of his fathers contemptible life and shameful death (Things Fall Apart 18). He was motivated to work hard and succeed by this fear. Even as a young boy, Okonkwo began to work hard at farming as an attempt to become successful and earn respectability. Okonkwo says, I began to fend for myself at an age when most people still suck at their mothers breasts. If you give me some yam seeds I shall not fail you. (Things Fall Apart 21). Okonkwos strong successful tone gives readers the idea that he began to work and persist at an early age. We will write a custom essay on Chinua Achebes novel of life specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now His persistence is exemplified by the fact that the first year of cultivation was ruined by early coming of rains. is one of the best men of his time and place; he strives mightily and is destroyed by events beyond his control, says Dr. Diane Thompson (Thompson 25). However, Okonkwos will allows him to survive the rains in his first year of cultivation and continue and succeed. Okonkwo is a man possessed with the endless will to succeed. Achebe wrote, Since I survived that year, he always said, I shall survive anything. He put it down to his inflexible will. (Things Fall Apart 24). The determination, persistence, and labor paid off for Okonkwo in the end, as his rewards became a barn full of yams, three wives and many children. All of Okonkwos actions begin in fear of his not being like his father. Okonkwos admirable and heroic qualities were not limited to only the strength of his will, but they also include the physical abilities and emotional strengths. The physical strength of Okonkwo is a reason for his success. Okonkwo was the best wrestler in the nine villages and never was beaten. Amalinze the Cat who, until the time of Okonkwos victory, had never, in seven years, been beaten. (Okonkwo) was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look When he walked, his heels hardly touched the ground and he seemed to walk on springs, as if he was going to pounce on somebody (Things Fall Apart 3). Okonkwo would always use his fists to settle something, rather than try to utter words and settle something. Okonkwos emotional strength is another quality which makes him more fitting in the role of a hero. His bravery was one that could succeed and persist and help bring the courage of those around him higher. Okonkwo was unflinchingly ready to strike against the white men when everyone around him wished not to. He saw all the ones who wished not to wage war against the white men as womanly. Okonkwo says, The greatest obstacle in Umuofia is that coward, Egonwanne Tomorrow he will tell them that our fathers never fought a war of blame. If they listen to him I shall leave and plan my own revenge, about the town crier (Things Fall Apart 200). Okonkwos heated and inflamed words show his bravery did not come as the result of inspiration by those around him, but rather from his own inner emotional strength. Okonkwos heroic qualities of strength in mind, body, and will led him to success in life, and respect. .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 , .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .postImageUrl , .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 , .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9:hover , .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9:visited , .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9:active { border:0!important; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9:active , .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9 .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u39542b38043cd26d694bfcf68ad6a3d9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Critique of Moulin Rouge and Romeo +Juliet   EssayDespite all the great and heroic characteristics, Okonkwo has a tragic flaw. Okonkwos hamartia is his inability to accept change. White men entered Umuofia and many Ibo villages cleverly and without causing violence. The change of Nwoye, Okonkwos son, becoming a Christian affected Okonkwo to the point where he went on a rampage, and ended up deciding that his son was not worth fighting for. If such a thing were ever to happen, he, Okonkwo, would wipe them off the face of the earth, writes Achebe about any of Okonkwos offspring becoming Christian and praying to the white mens god (Things Fall Apart 153). White men, howev er, began to slowly gain control of more and more of Umuofia, and Okonkwo could not accept this. What angered Okonkwo was not just the presence of the white men, but the fact that he could not act and rid the village of the white mens presence himself. Okonkwos tragic flaw is the end result of a number of factors. His rashness, anger, violence, and all of his heroic characteristics come together to form his tragic flaw of not being able to accept change. Achebe himself says, it is dignity that many African peoples all but lost in the colonial period (Achebe 20). The change of losing his dignity is what, in the end, overcomes all of Okonkwos positive strengths and aspects and causes him to take his life. Okonkwo is the character that represents the loss of dignity, and the effect of the loss of dignity as well. Although is a superior 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 conclusion of Okonkwos tragic hero-like qualities is not enough. Okonkwos character becomes tied to the classical of a tragic hero as he is a hero who, because of his own internal tragic flaw and external forces which he cannot control, ends up losing.