Things Fall Apart Irony
IB English
15 December 2013
Perfection Destroys The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, originally written in his native language Ibo, tells the tragic tale of an African pre-Christian tribe seen through the eyes of Okonkwo. Okonkwo became a very successful clan leader in his village, by working hard and refusing to be lazy like his father Unoka. Achebe uses irony to encourage character development, drive the contrast between Okonkwo’s dreams and his reality as others see him, and explain the culture’s beliefs in the way they treat women vs. the way women are revered.
Throughout the novel, irony is used to initiative character development, especially Okonkwo’s. Okonkwo grew up with an extremely lazy father that never went anywhere in his life. Unoka never claimed any titles and was constantly in debt to his neighbors until the day he died (Achebe 3.12). Okonkwo tries so hard in his lifetime to prove to himself, the town, and his father that he can make something of himself despite his upbringing. Okonkwo desperately attempts to not mirror his father and sometimes in doing so, he actually hurts the people around him. When Okonkwo sees any weakness in his son, “He would stamp out the disquieting signs of laziness which he thought he already saw in him” (Achebe 4.32). By trying so hard to be better than his father, Okonkwo unwisely leaves all of the good traits his father had like gentleness and kindness. Achebe uses irony to enforce the foolishness of Okonkwo’s disregard of any emotions that make him look “weak”. Achebe writes, “He walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo’s return. And when she returned he beat her very heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace” (Achebe 4.17). Okonkwo’s pride is so important to him, that even when he knows he is at fault, he will not own up to wrongdoings. He strives to be a perfect person yet he ironically views beating his wives and making them submit as very masculine.
Okonkwo prides
15 December 2013
Perfection Destroys The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, originally written in his native language Ibo, tells the tragic tale of an African pre-Christian tribe seen through the eyes of Okonkwo. Okonkwo became a very successful clan leader in his village, by working hard and refusing to be lazy like his father Unoka. Achebe uses irony to encourage character development, drive the contrast between Okonkwo’s dreams and his reality as others see him, and explain the culture’s beliefs in the way they treat women vs. the way women are revered.
Throughout the novel, irony is used to initiative character development, especially Okonkwo’s. Okonkwo grew up with an extremely lazy father that never went anywhere in his life. Unoka never claimed any titles and was constantly in debt to his neighbors until the day he died (Achebe 3.12). Okonkwo tries so hard in his lifetime to prove to himself, the town, and his father that he can make something of himself despite his upbringing. Okonkwo desperately attempts to not mirror his father and sometimes in doing so, he actually hurts the people around him. When Okonkwo sees any weakness in his son, “He would stamp out the disquieting signs of laziness which he thought he already saw in him” (Achebe 4.32). By trying so hard to be better than his father, Okonkwo unwisely leaves all of the good traits his father had like gentleness and kindness. Achebe uses irony to enforce the foolishness of Okonkwo’s disregard of any emotions that make him look “weak”. Achebe writes, “He walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo’s return. And when she returned he beat her very heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace” (Achebe 4.17). Okonkwo’s pride is so important to him, that even when he knows he is at fault, he will not own up to wrongdoings. He strives to be a perfect person yet he ironically views beating his wives and making them submit as very masculine.
Okonkwo prides