In the novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is a highly respected and successful member of the Igbo community in Nigeria. He is known for his strength, courage, and determination, as well as his success in farming and wrestling. However, Okonkwo's relationship with his father, Unoka, is complex and fraught with tension.
Unoka is a completely different person from Okonkwo. He is a gentle and kind man who is not interested in physical labor or accumulating wealth. He is content to spend his days playing his flute and engaging in creative pursuits. Unoka is also deeply in debt, as he has a tendency to borrow money and then be unable to pay it back. This has caused him to be ridiculed and ostracized by the community, and Okonkwo is embarrassed and ashamed of his father's lack of success.
Okonkwo's relationship with his father is further complicated by the fact that he has a deep-seated fear of becoming like him. Okonkwo is determined to prove that he is nothing like his father, and he works hard to become a successful and respected member of the community. He is ruthless and ambitious, and he will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.
Okonkwo's fear of becoming like his father is so strong that it even affects his relationships with his own children. He is extremely strict and demanding with them, and he is quick to punish them for any misbehavior. Okonkwo is also deeply disappointed when his son, Nwoye, does not seem to share his interests or ambitions. Nwoye is more like his grandfather, Unoka, and Okonkwo struggles to understand and accept this.
Despite their differences, Okonkwo does have some affection for his father. He is deeply saddened when Unoka dies, and he even pays off his father's debts in order to restore his reputation. This act shows that Okonkwo does have some level of respect and love for his father, despite his faults.
In conclusion, Okonkwo's relationship with his father is complex and difficult. He is ashamed of his father's lack of success and is determined to be nothing like him. However, he does eventually come to understand and accept his father's unique qualities, and even shows him some level of love and respect.