Okonkwo Tragic Hero
When Things Really Fall Apart: Okonkwo as a Tragic Hero
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Okonkwo meets all of the required criteria of a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s definition. A tragic hero must have a flaw or error of judgment, reversal of fortune, recognition that the reversal was the result of his own actions, excessive pride, and fate greater than deserved. Okonkwo is a hard working leader and committed member of the Ibo community whose tragic flaw is his great fear of weakness and failure. Being stripped from his high status and falling from his grace in the community, makes Okonkwo a perfect fit for a tragic hero. Okonkwo is a noble, self-made, and well respected member of the Umuofia clan. Achebe describes him as “well known throughout the nine villages and beyond. His fame rested on …show more content…
Okonkwo beats his oldest son Nyowe, to force him to become more masculine. He thought that by doing this, he might beat sense into Nyowe and make him more of a man but, only causes his son to run away and join Christianity, as a revolt against his father. Okonkwo “had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists.” (8). Okonkwo’s flaw leads him to act harshly towards his family and community. He feels as though everyone should listen to and obey him, and acts as though he rules the the clan and his own family. Okonkwo certainly shows signs of this when he beats his wife during the Week of Peace. “Okonkwo knew she was not speaking the truth.… And when she returned he beat her heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace.” (31). Okonkwo acts before he ever thinks. Okonkwo never shows his emotions to his community. He does not like the idea of change and is unwilling to adapt to the changes occurring in the tribe which was letting the white men
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Okonkwo meets all of the required criteria of a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s definition. A tragic hero must have a flaw or error of judgment, reversal of fortune, recognition that the reversal was the result of his own actions, excessive pride, and fate greater than deserved. Okonkwo is a hard working leader and committed member of the Ibo community whose tragic flaw is his great fear of weakness and failure. Being stripped from his high status and falling from his grace in the community, makes Okonkwo a perfect fit for a tragic hero. Okonkwo is a noble, self-made, and well respected member of the Umuofia clan. Achebe describes him as “well known throughout the nine villages and beyond. His fame rested on …show more content…
Okonkwo beats his oldest son Nyowe, to force him to become more masculine. He thought that by doing this, he might beat sense into Nyowe and make him more of a man but, only causes his son to run away and join Christianity, as a revolt against his father. Okonkwo “had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists.” (8). Okonkwo’s flaw leads him to act harshly towards his family and community. He feels as though everyone should listen to and obey him, and acts as though he rules the the clan and his own family. Okonkwo certainly shows signs of this when he beats his wife during the Week of Peace. “Okonkwo knew she was not speaking the truth.… And when she returned he beat her heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace.” (31). Okonkwo acts before he ever thinks. Okonkwo never shows his emotions to his community. He does not like the idea of change and is unwilling to adapt to the changes occurring in the tribe which was letting the white men