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Okonkwo's Fatal Flaw

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Okonkwo's Fatal Flaw
In the beginning, Okonkwo is a great warrior who takes pride in the “masculinity” and power that war brings to him. His conclusion as a tragic hero can be seen through his fatal flaw, pride, which is shown right before he kills himself: “Okonkwo stood looking at the dead man. He knew Umoufia would not go to war…. He discerned fright in that tumult” (Achebe 205). In this passage, Okonkwo has just killed one of the district commissioner’s messengers and is overcome with hopelessness, knowing his people won’t fight back and he is going to die. Anything outside of his culture, he believes, is feminine and weak, showing the contrast of Okonkwo’s character over time. Okonkwo’s great sense of pride conquers his mind, showing he would rather kill himself
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