Okonkwo's fear Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a story of a man whose life is dominated by his fears. There are many subtle themes throughout this book. One theme that cries out over the rest is Okonkwo's, the main character, fear of weakness as seen through his childhood, his oldest son, and eventually his death. Since his childhood, Okonkwo was ashamed of his father, "In his day he (Unoka) was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow"(p.4). By the standard of his clan, Unoka was a coward and squanderer. When he was a child, a boy called Okonkwo's father an agbala. This word means "woman" as well as a man who has no title. His carelessness left numerous debts unpaid at his death. Ashamed of his father, Okonkwo worked hard and fought well to gain a reputation of high status and influence in his clan. He acquired three wives, one whom gave him his first son. Okonkwo's first wife, whose name is never mentioned, gave birth to his first son, Nwoye. Okonkwo saw Nwoye weak and lazy from an early age. For this, Nwoye was beaten constantly. Okonkwo was highly demanding of his family because of his obsession not to be like his father. He mistook this behavior as masculinity. He wished his son were a promising, manly son like his friend Obierika's son, Maduka, who was also a great fighter. One night the town of Umuofia was told that someone in Mbaino had killed one of their "daughters". The woman was Ugbeufi Udo's wife. The blood price for the murder was a virgin and young man to Umuofia. The virgin was given to Ugbeufi Udo as his wife. They did not know what to do with the young boy, Ikemefuna. Okonkwo was asked on behalf of the clan to take care of the boy. Secretly, Okonkwo grew fond of Ikemefuna, "Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy-inwardly of course. Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger"(p.28). Ikemefuna lived with Okonkwo and his family for three years until the time came when the Oracle said that Ikemefuna had to be killed.
Okonkwo had become a wealthy and respectable man. Okonkwo gained all his success on his own. Still, he feared that all would fall apart if he were to allow any slight deviation to occur. ... He treated his sons with a "heavy hand", several times Ikemefuna, his adopted son, tries to run away because of the fear of his father. ... Okonkwo's biggest fear in life is weakness, because he his afraid of being like his father. ...
Okonkwo Okonkwo is the central character in the novel. ... Okonkwo is a masculine man that has an ill-temper and gets violent at times. ... His worst fear is to be known as being feminine. ... Okonkwo got violent with his family on several occasions. ... Okonkwo had no choice but to flee from clan for seven years. ...
In his tribe, he is both feared and honored. ... Okonkwo's first major flaw is his fear of becoming a failure. His father, Unoka, mostly influences it, but Okonkwo takes his fear to the extreme. ... Because of his fear of being seen as weak, Okonkwo even strikes down a child that calls him father: " as the machete came down Okonkwo looked away. ... Because of Okonkwo's flaws of uncontrolled anger and fear of failure, he is unable to cope with the changes in his society and culture. ...
Chinua Achebe demonstrates the idea that failure does not always correlate with weakness, which is portrayed throughout the novel through diction and irony by the character of Okonkwo, predominantly in the quote, But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness (13). As Umuofias leader, Okonkwo is portrayed as a hard working and successful man from the perspective of the clan; however, Achebes use of language shows the reader Okonkwos tragic flaw, which is the fear of failure and looking weak like his father, Unoka. ... Okonkwos fear is reflected through his tempe...
Throughout the entire story, Okonkwo is driven by the fear of being weak. ... "Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. ... "(61) The very reason Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna, is because he is driven by this fear. It is the same fear that drives Okonkwo to kill himself. ... "(13) This displays not only Okonkwo's fear of failure and weakness, but also a more intimate fear of being like his father. ...
Okonkwo's tragic flaws of fear and pride contribute greatly to the tragic vision of the novel. ... Okonkwo's fear of weakness ultimately results in his aiding in the death of Ikemefuna and his son Nwoye's repulsion of Okonkwo and his violent nature. ... Okonkwo typifies the tragic hero. ... Failing to heed anyone's advice but his own, Okonkwo concedes to his personal fear and completely disregards the ramifications of the harm he brings to others. ... Okonkwo realizes that "things had fallen apart."...
However, as we read the book, it becomes remarkably clear that Okonkwo's strength is driven by fear and as a result is not the hero we suspect. ... Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. ... To not only commit a murder but to murder your own beloved child out of fear is the greatest show of cowardice Okonkwo portrays. ... It is a drastic truth of human nature to fear the unknown. ... In today's world, we can relate to the fear of being seen as weak. ...
Throughout history, men and women of all races, creeds, and time periods have lived in fear of becoming something that they are inevitably fated to become. ... Okonkwo, then, becomes violent, courageous, and very wealthy. ... Okonkwo soon hangs himself to death. ... This is similar to Okonkwo's life. ... Okonkwo's fate was inevitable. ...
Fear can challenge people, it can inspire them, fear can be source of brilliant ideas and solutions. ... Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart," protagonist Okonkwo is an example of how can fear suppress any other emotion in one's life, dominate him and completely drives his actions. ... Responsible, hardworking, successful, dedicated to tribe and its rules, feared wrestler and warrior, trusted and respected member of society Okonkwo is exact opposite of his father. ... But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness." The fear of resembling of his fa...
