Okonkwo is a tragic hero in the novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe. A tragic hero is a literary character who makes an error in judgment or has a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to their own downfall. Okonkwo fits this definition perfectly, as his tragic flaw is his overwhelming fear of being seen as weak or effeminate, which leads him to make several mistakes that ultimately result in his downfall.
One example of Okonkwo's tragic flaw is his inability to show emotion or weakness. He is fiercely independent and proud, and refuses to show any sign of weakness or emotion, even when it would be appropriate to do so. This is seen in his relationship with his son, Nwoye, who he constantly belittles and berates for showing any sign of weakness or emotion. Okonkwo's refusal to show emotion ultimately leads to a rift between him and his son, which contributes to Nwoye's decision to convert to Christianity and reject his father's traditional values.
Another example of Okonkwo's tragic flaw is his quick temper and tendency to resort to violence. He is known for his physical strength and bravery, but his hot-headedness often leads him to make rash decisions that ultimately have disastrous consequences. This is seen when he kills Ikemefuna, a boy who has been living with his family for several years and whom he has grown to love. Okonkwo's decision to kill Ikemefuna, which is motivated by a desire to prove his own strength and bravery, ultimately leads to his own downfall, as it causes a rift between him and the other members of his community and ultimately leads to his exile.
Okonkwo's tragic flaw ultimately leads to his downfall and the destruction of his community. His refusal to show emotion and tendency to resort to violence causes him to make several mistakes that contribute to the destruction of the traditional Igbo way of life. Despite this, Okonkwo remains a tragic hero, as he is ultimately a victim of his own flaws and the circumstances in which he finds himself. His tragic story serves as a cautionary tale, reminding readers of the dangers of pride and the importance of humility and understanding.
Analysis Of Okonkwo As A Tragic Hero: [Essay Example], 696 words GradesFixer
A tragic hero is a person who is destined for great success; however, their personal flaw tragically demolishes their heroic destiny. When they return, European colonization has changed Umofia. He is good at heart though he cannot express or show his feeling as he think it is a traits of female. Okonkwo wants to lead a rebellion but the men do not join him. Obviously, Okonkwo was greatly depressed at the loss of his clan because their old traditions were slowly coming to an end with the arrival of the colonizers with their new religion and missionaries trying to convert people. After the death of his carefree and indolent father, who left him with undue debt he took …show more content… And, indeed, Ikemefuna called him father.
Okonkwo and Hamlet: A Free Tragic Hero Analysis Example
The novel is set in the 1890s, when European imperialism was reaching its peak worldwide. He cannot abandon his masculine ideals, even though they no longer have any place in the changed Umofia. The priest of the earth goddess, Ezeani, explains to Okonkwo the evil he had committed and explains the effects it will have on him and the clan. Okonkwo, on the other hand, is a respected warrior who believes that rebellion is the only way the African man was taught by nature. However, after his arrival, he realizes that Umuofia is much changed and he is not as important and famous as he used to be before his exile.
Examples Of Okonkwo A Tragic Hero In Things Fall Apart
. A few time later, because of a turn of events, he got a very obedient 16 year old boy, Ikemefuna, who he got very intimate with. In Things Fall apart, Okonkwo and his village has been infested with unwelcome white missionaries, who are trying to force their religion into them. When he was younger, he beat the cat, a warrior that remained undefeated for seven years, increasing his reputation very fast. The post colonial novel, "Things fall apart" by Chinua Achebe depicts its protagonist Okonkwo as great person who falls into the world of chaos to find his own place through his strength and achievements.
Okonkwo: A Tragic Hero In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe: Free Essay Example, 1206 words
Okonkwo was also hospitable to many, for it was shown when he gave shelter to Ikemefuna and treated him like his very own son with fatherly love. Okonkwo has many of these characteristics. Ezeuda dies and the village gathers for his funeral. Aristotle, who was a great philosopher of Ancient Greece, had a lot to say about and had a certain perspective of a tragic hero. He rises from nothingness to glory, from which he starts to fall and finally ends up in sheer destruction.
As you can see, this hero is called a tragic hero because of the flaws that they portray. Okonkwo strives to be the manliest man of the Igbo village of Umofia. He takes extreme pride in his masculinity to the point where if anyone questions it, even his family, it could result to death. From his hard work, Okonkwo has 3 wives with many children, a large compound with obi for each of his wives and a large stock of yams. They are considered admirable at first, especially in the eyes of the other characters, however by the end of both stories, they are considered outcasts.
Okonkwo learns that an Oracle, a messenger of the gods, has determined that Ikemefuna must be killed. Okonkwo would eventually hang himself, for he thought there was no other way to live under this pressure because all was vanity for him. He had lost his position on the village judge bench. He vowed to never be womanly and disgraceful like his father, and he worked hard toward and achieved his goal of being on the greatest men in Umuofia. One of the most fundamental criteria of qualifying a character as a tragic hero is nobility or high status. Okonkwo called him weak, because he interpreted that as a failure. Aristotle names some characteristics of a Tragic Hero such as, one that is of noble birth, one that is doomed from the start that bears no responsibility for possessing his flaw, but bears responsibility for his actions, one that has discovered fate by his own actions and not by things happening to him, he is a king, a leader of men, and his downfall is usually due to excessive pride.
The ministry of the church and has divided the clan by making converts. Okonkwo feared failure, because of his father, who was untitled, and made his wife and child pass through starving situations because of lack of money. This trait of quickness to resort to violence and his obsession with manliness and his pride eventually bring about his downfall and suicide. So the village sends Okonkwo and his family into exile for seven years, a way of appeasing the goddess and cleansing the village of Okonkwo's sins. When he was only 18 years of age, he brought honor to Umuofia by throwing the Amalinze the Cat, a wrestler who has gone undefeated for seven years.
Okonkwo as a Tragic Hero in Things Fall Apart Essay Example
His rise to fame started humbly, with little to no inheritance at all, but he works hard and shapes his journey to stardom through persistence and resilience. The novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, provides a great example of a tragic hero. A tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle is a character who is noble in nature, has a tragic flaw and discovers his fate by his own actions. The stories also show the difference in temperament for the cultures concerning how the men treated and reacted towards certain things. Those qualities according to Aristotle suggest that a hero must evoke in the audience a sense of pity or fear Butcher, 46. This soon leads Okonkwo to the discovery to the discovery of his own tragic fate. But Okonkwo dealt with all of this pain in very different ways, he used all of that to become a strong man, with almost no emotions being shown.
