In Chinua Achebe's, "Things Fall Apart," we learn that the protagonist of the novel, Okonkwo, is a tragic hero, possessing a fatal flaw which results in the destruction of his life's work as well as his untimely death.
In his early thirties, Okonkwo was already a key figure in his community. Renowned for his wrestling victories, he has built a vast network of success for himself by harvesting yams, a "manly crop." A self made man and a prominent leader, Okonkwo's tragic flaw is his fear of being a weak or a womanly man like his father. Fleeing from any activities that are considered feminine such as conversation, Okonkwo's forceful persona and personal drive for success lands him a primary role in the community. The son of Unoka, a man with no title and no known accomplishments. Okonkwo strives to be stronger and manlier than his father. Unoka was a simple man whom had no desire to equate to a "man's" standard of living. He was considered to be poor, weak, and unaccomplished by his community. .
Fueled by his disappointment of his father's laziness, Okonkwo equates manliness with violence and anger. He is described as being a tall man with bushy eyebrows and prominent facial features, an appearance which links a rugged exterior with an equally rugged interior. Though he strives to be unlike his father, he finds himself unable to deal with the evolving world around him. Incapable of living unified with the missionaries, Oknokwo discovers that the mechanisms that have gotten him thus far in his life are now futile.
Because Okonkwo is a rash man, he often acts impulsively. This brings about sorrow upon he, his family, and the Ibo people. He frequently beats his son Nwoye for acting too feminine as he believes he sees a correlation of weakness between his boy and Unoka. Okonkwo hopes that Nwoye will one day grow out of his femininity and act as a man should, a hope that is received by a short victory when Ikemefuna assimilates into the family.
