In his novel "Things Fall Apart," Chinua Achebe gives his readers an.
exclusive insight to the unique characteristics of the African people before.
and after the white mans intrusion of their culture. .
One of the most dynamic characters in the story was a man by the.
name of Okonkwo. He is described as being "well known throughout the.
nine villages and beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievement".
(3). This suggest that power, fame, and respect relied on the ability of a.
man to prove his strength in their society. Something that could possibly.
take a lifetime to acquire. .
Okonkwo was a man who was determined not to become the man.
his father was. His father was described as "lazy and improvident and quit.
incapable of thinking about tomorrow" (4). Nothing about his father was.
portrayed in Okonkwo. To him the definition of a "good man" was.
something totally opposite of his father.
Fear, the fuel most often used by Okonkwo was perhaps his.
strongest flaw. Yet, it made him a strong and respected figure among his.
people. "It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble.
his father" (13). His desire to prosper regardless of his past with a father.
of whom he had no respect made him a strong and respected man. .
"Okonkwo was ruled by one passion---to hate everything that his father.
Unoka loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was.
idleness" (13). .
Okonkwo's character presumed the role of a protagonist and yet he.
often portrayed the role of an antagonist as well. His strength and hard.
work paid off. He was very prosperous in his culture by providing a large.
home and plenty of food for himself and his family. He was respected by.
men whom he respected as well. This meant everything to Okonkwo. He.
could never let this image be lost for he longed to be amongst the highest.
of the tribe. In other words, he would do anything .
His loyalty to his beliefs could never allow him to reveal that he had.
