Every one fears something; tangible or none tangible matter. It can be wild beasts, fire, deep night dark, or something like death, uncertain future, and reputation. And there is no one who is perfect although the definition of perfect is not easy to claim or probably it varies form one culture to another. Okonkwo in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, who fears to be feminine in any way, and owning to it, is not perfect in any sense. Okonkwo is a tragic hero with his flaws preventing him from becoming a supper hero, but he is nonetheless subject of social control in his tribal society. When the control no longer exists in traditional way, he falls behind and is rejected from the society. .
The first example the social control to which Okonkwo submits and by which things are still held is when he beats his third wife breaking the Week of Peace, because of his temper and his self-perception of masculinity. His fear toward appearing less manly makes him act violently and physically abuse his wife. The society somewhat accepts that. However not during the week of peace. The week is sacred and violation is called nso-ani. As Okonkwo discover one of his wife has left her hut to have her hair braided without making dinner, he beats her in spite of the week of peace. For his nso-ani, he has to pay a nanny goat, a hen, fine cloth and one hundred cowries. Okonkwo knows that he has to redeem his sin, so he pays the price for his action. .
The second example of social control to which Okonkwo submits and by which still things are being held is when he joins a man slaying Ikemafuna because of his self fear of being feminine. Oracle announces that Ikemafuna, who is the hostage from other village but now a part of Okonkwos family, has to be killed. But Okonkwo should not take part in Ikemafunas death for he is already almost his family. Killing own family member is taboo exception to this would giving up one of twin babies in the Evil Forest.