Okonkwo achieves the stature of a tragic hero he evokes pity and fear because of his fears of failure, his inflexibility in living traditional Ibo life and his in ability to adapt to new ideas. A major reason why Okonkwo has such issues with is manhood is because his father, Unoka was a bum. Unoka was constantly in debt and never paid anyone back what he owed. This debt embarrassed Okonkwo to become a very strong and prosperous man. When the missionaries come to Umuofia to spread Christianity he has a problem with them trying to change the tradition of the culture and traditional Nigerian cultures this influenced the way the people think. .
First, Okonkwo was a very strong man that would always strive for being the best as second place just wasnot good enough at everything. Okonkwo isn't lazy, he is always working on the farm to grow as many yams he can for his family. He is very cocky when it comes to his yams, three wives and his children. He wants to have the most yams because in Umuofian culture yams show a person's wealth. Also his three wives and many children prove that he is a wealthy and successful man because he can feed all of them so then he must have lots of yams to feed his family. The more children a man has the more pride is brought to the family, because the children have their own success. .
Okonkwo has personal achievements. First he beat Amalinze the cat, brought pride to his name, and later creates a new prosprous life in Mbanta, his mother's village. When Okonkwo fought Amalinze the cat he brought honor to his village, "Okonkwo threw in the fight in the fight which the old men agreed was the most fiercest battles since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights"(pg1). When he went to Mbanto in exile he created a new life just as successful, if not more than his one in Umuofia. Okonkwo brought pride to his name because before his family didn't have a good name, he worked hard creating a good and stable farm he brought pride and honor to his name.