The Character from "Things Fall Apart" Okonkwo - a Tragic Hero

When reading any novel of your interest, do you ever look at the deeper meaning of it or do you just reading for your entertainment? The novel Things Fall Apart has this one specific character that catches my eye and his name is Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a self-made, well-respected member of the Umuofia clan. Now Okonkwo isn’t this perfect guy and has some imperfections but as you read more you will understand the meaning of him and why he acts, do the things he does, and doesn’t make a lot of progress throughout the story. Throughout the novel, Okonkwo doesn’t get better it only gets worse as you read more. The character from “Things Fall Apart” Okonkwo - a tragic hero which does not show any type of growth, starts off very determined, then gets quick of anger and makes mistakes, lastly, he reflects everything onto his family and creates other problems.

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 village debts unsettled. He was all about business, and not letting his personal feelings get in the way of anything. Okonkwo adopts opposite ideals and becomes very productive. Okonkwo achieves great social and financial success by embracing these ideals. He marries three women and fathers several children. He was a very successful farmer of yams.

Throughout his life, he undertakes a never-ending battle of his life being dominated by the fear of weakness and failure. His tragic flaw, and the equation of manliness with anger, and violence, brings about his own destruction. Okonkwo is rough, at times, and usually unable to express his feelings. He is quick to anger, especially when dealing with men who are weak, lazy like his father. Even though the author lets it be known he feels inward affection at times, but he never portrays affection toward anyone. It will only get worse for Okonkwo.

Okonkwo demands that his family work long hours despite their age or limited physical stamina, and he nags and beats his wives and son, Nwoye, who Okonkwo believes is womanly like his father, Unoka. Okonkwo is impulsive; he acts before he thinks. Okonkwo was told not to participate in the murder of Ikefemuna, but then he actually kills Ikefemuna all because he is 'afraid of being thought weak.' When Okonkwo kills a messenger from the district office, his clansmen back away in fear, realizing that none of them support him. Everything that Okonkwo does and the ways he acts are all because he never wants to seem “soft” or never wants to seem like he is becoming like his father. Then to sum all of that up, it was all for nothing because he commits suicide, a shameful death like his father's.

Okonkwo was the main character in “Things Fall Apart”. Okonkwo was a great man for his village but not for families. He was a really tough man and didn’t show nor accept his real feelings. He let his biggest fear get to his head, which eventually led him to kill himself. Every move he makes is fear-driven, it’s always on the top of his mind, he is unable to express how he feels with words so he turns straight to violence. Unlike his father, Okonkwo was a very successful man, “the greatest wrestler in all of the nine villages’’, and a rich farmer. All in all, throughout the novel there were no signs of improvement to this character, everything was just going downhill for him and his family.