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Okonkwo, the protagonist in the novel, Things Fall Apart, is driven by fear, a fear of change, of losing his self-worth, and of the villagers turning into Christians. He needed the village of Umuofia, his home, to remain untouched by time and progress because its system and structure were the measures by which he assigned worth and meaning in his own life. Okonkwo’s identity was shaped by how others saw him and how he viewed himself. However, because of his fear he made caused his identity as a positive and strong man to change to one of a coward.
Okonkwo was living in Umuofia and there he was well respected and also feared. Achebe writes,“Okonkwo’s fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan and wide nose gave him a severe look” (3-4).
In the context , the word “Bush-fire” is and adjective which describes the fear of fire towards people and no one could dare to go beyond it.
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“ Amazing as always, gave her a week to finish a big assignment and came through way ahead of time. ”
In the beginning he was the most respected person in the clan because he destroyed Amalinze, the greatest wrestler in the nine villages.“Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children”(achebe 13). He also scared his family which indeed was forced to respect him otherwise the results would be death or worst. Okonkwo’s fear of being like his father, Unoka , motivated him to become the greatest wrestler but because of the external conflict in the society of Umuofia and Mbanta he was misguided.
He had a conflict of watching his own people became followers of the Missionaries. Then Achebe describes, “He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women”(183).
In the context Okonkwo’s entire character change and heart change is shown. Okonkwo is losing his pride of being the greatest wrestler only because of the external conflict he faced; such as, 7 years penalty, intro of missionaries in the village, losing his son Nwoye and losing Ikemefuna, the person more than son,his own blood. So it is proved that there is a greater impact of surrounding on anyone’s character.As the story passes, Okonkwo’s viewpoint on the surrounding changes too. For instance, 'Can I bring your chair for you?' 'No, that is a boy's job'(Achebe 44 ). “That is very true. Do you hear that, Ezinma? You are older than Obiageli but she has more sense. He uncovered his second wife's dish and began to eat from it. ” (achebe 45).
Okonkwo slowly loses his anger because of external conflicts. After losing Ikemefuna, Okonkwo’s thinking on Mens greater the Women's is unstabilized; furthermore Nwoye makes it even worse by proving that his son could not be like him at any point. In contrast now okonkwo is not alike at all. He loses his fame, loses his respect in the society, and finally loses his attitude of being strict and manly because he suicided.All Okonkwo’s life, he didn’t want to die without honor like his father, Unoka. Although Okonkwo was not lazy but in fact he died a dishonorably death by committing suicide. He lost courage because as he starts understanding the situation he lacks courage to react tough against it. In the beginning of the book he is an active person but by the end he is dormanted.
Justice in Things Fall Apart. (2022, Feb 10). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/justice-in-things-fall-apart-essay
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