Okonkwo Tragic Hero Analysis
Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, narrates the destruction of a tribal civilization and a tribal religion through Imperialism. In this story, the main character, Okonkwo, surfaces as a tragic hero. A tragic hero can fall under many categories. For example, he or she can be an Aristotelian tragic hero or Arthur Miller’s depiction of a tragic hero. A tragic hero must have certain qualities in order to be considered an Aristotelian tragic hero. Because Okonkwo follows the patterns that Aristotle has set for tragic heroes, he is an Aristotelian tragic hero. Okonkwo is “a man of action, a man of war” (Achebe 7) and a man of prosperity. From a young age Okonkwo “brought honor to his village” (1) when he defeated, the unconquerable, Amalinze
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From page one of Things Fall Apart the readers are introduced to Okonkwo’s tragic flaw. His tragic flaw is his fear of failure, and this fear is the result of his father’s unproductive life and disgraceful death. When Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was alive, he was known as a lazy person, a debtor, and a failure throughout the village of Umuofia. Okonkwo states that his father was “poor and his [Unoka’s] wife and children had just barely enough to eat.” (5). Observing his father’s failures, Okonkwo decided that he would never be like his father. However, Okonkwo’s goal to be the polar opposite of his father leads Okonkwo to fear failure which in turn leads to his …show more content…
Okonkwo’s judgement error is when he kills the court messenger (which is also his downfall). Aristotle said that tragic heroes make a judgement error which is the result of their tragic flaw, and that is what happened with Okonkwo. As the white missionaries have a bigger influence on the Ibo people, the Ibo people lose their traditions and customs. Okonkwo’s fear of failure results from Unoka’s failure and title less death, so in order to prove to be the polar opposite of his father, Okonkwo takes many titles and holds a prestigious position in society. Now that the Ibo people are straying from their roots, Okonkwo’s past status and titles mean nothing; therefore, he is similar to his father. Okonkwo cannot bare his similarity that he shares with his father, so kills the court messenger out of rage (that results from his tragic
From page one of Things Fall Apart the readers are introduced to Okonkwo’s tragic flaw. His tragic flaw is his fear of failure, and this fear is the result of his father’s unproductive life and disgraceful death. When Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was alive, he was known as a lazy person, a debtor, and a failure throughout the village of Umuofia. Okonkwo states that his father was “poor and his [Unoka’s] wife and children had just barely enough to eat.” (5). Observing his father’s failures, Okonkwo decided that he would never be like his father. However, Okonkwo’s goal to be the polar opposite of his father leads Okonkwo to fear failure which in turn leads to his …show more content…
Okonkwo’s judgement error is when he kills the court messenger (which is also his downfall). Aristotle said that tragic heroes make a judgement error which is the result of their tragic flaw, and that is what happened with Okonkwo. As the white missionaries have a bigger influence on the Ibo people, the Ibo people lose their traditions and customs. Okonkwo’s fear of failure results from Unoka’s failure and title less death, so in order to prove to be the polar opposite of his father, Okonkwo takes many titles and holds a prestigious position in society. Now that the Ibo people are straying from their roots, Okonkwo’s past status and titles mean nothing; therefore, he is similar to his father. Okonkwo cannot bare his similarity that he shares with his father, so kills the court messenger out of rage (that results from his tragic