Reasonable Discipline: A Literary Examination

The protagonist, Okonkwo demonstrates his sympathetic character solely to himself, personally, and infrequently not in the eyes of others. During the plotting of Ilemefuna’s death, Okonkwo was hesitant to make the boy aware of his fate and also hesitant to take part in his death. “‘I cannot understand why you refused to come with us to kill that boy,’ he

The two days after Ikemafuna’s death Okonkwo did not eat or sleep, “he was so weak his legs could hardly carry him” (63). For the first time Okonkwo showed great remorse for his actions. Okonkwo even called for the company of his biological son, Nwoye. But despite his son’s company and attention of his wives, Okonkwo thought constantly about Ikemafuna’s death. The effects this event had on Okonkwo contradict any of his previous emotions. Before, the only emotion he had outwardly shown was anger. This was the first time Okonkwo showed any form of guilt or sadness, indicating how much he valued Ikemafuna. Despite Okonkwo being extremely tough and strong, Ikemafuna’s death was still able to change him. Okonkwo’s change in behavior characterizes him in a new unseen way and allows the reader to see him in a light other than the one that casts him as purely evil and

The breakdown of Okonkwo’s relationship with his son is evident throughout this novel. The reason for this tumultuous relationship is, Okonkwo is too engrossed in maintaining his status quo, and his relationship was governed by his own beliefs, principles and his own “right way to do right things”. He treated his family very strictly as he believed that showing affection revealed a sign of social weakness; thus the disheartening lack of respect and love was a mal nourishing factor with in the family.

One key point in this novel was when Nwoye converted to the missionaries. Okonkwo was devastated and it was clearly shown by his actions. “Why, he cried in his heart, should he, Okonkwo, of all people, be cursed with such a son. He saw clearly in it the finger of his personal god or chi. For how else could he explain his great misfortune and exile and now his despicable son’s behavior? Now that he had time to think of it, his son’s crime stood out in its stark enormity. To abandon the gods of one’s father and go about with a lot of effeminate men clucking like old hens was the very depth of abomination. Suppose when he died all his male children decided to follow Nwoye’s steps and abandon their ancestors? Okonkwo felt a cold shudder run through him at the terrible prospect, like the prospect of annihilation.” Okonkwo and his son Nwoye also symbolize tradition and change, respectively. Okonkwo's character represents tradition, since he holds conventional ideas of rank, reputation, and masculinity in high esteem. As the book progresses, however, Okonkwo begins to fall out of favor with the clans, and his descent signals the crumbling of traditional Umuofia society. His adherence to tradition also drives him to kill his own surrogate son, Ikemefuna, driving away Nwoye in the process. Seeing his own son switch and disobey the tradition, hurt Okonkwo. It stripped a piece away from him

After Ikemefuna’s murder ”My father, they have killed me!” …” Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down.” (61). Okonkwo was scared to be weak, it seems like he associates weakness with felinity. Nwoye becomes closed and understands that he is forever changed. When the missionaries arrive Nwoye joins their side and converts into Christianity. Okonkwo hates that he has a rather feminine son and disowns him. Finally in the end Nwoye gains peace and forgets about his father’s terrible and violent atmosphere.

Okonkwo has a more positive relationship with his adopted son, Ikemefuna, who is basically a hostage from another tribe. No matter how hateful he was towards gentleness, Ikemefuna managed to be into the likings of Okonkwo because “he was by nature a very lively boy and he gradually became popular in Okonkwo’s household, especially with the children” (p. 28 “[He] himself became very fond of [Ikemefuna]…Sometimes when [Okonkwo] went to big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts, he allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him, like a son, carrying his stool and his goatskin bag. And indeed, Ikemefuna called him father” (p. 28). This shows a father and son relationship because all though Ikemefuma is not his son he is treated like one, Okonkwo begins to feel an emotional fatherly affection to his adoptive son Ikemefuna. All though he is very stubborn and does not like showing his emotions deep down he cares for his children including Ikemefuma. Eventually Okonkwo's tribe decides to kill Ikemefuna Okonkwo is only told not to participate, because Ikemefuna calls him father, and he is like a father to the boy. As the boy's back is turned, one of the men strikes the first blow with his

Okonkwo used brutality and force throughout Nwoye’s childhood, causing him to drift away from his family. As a small child Nwoye was the constant object of Okonkwo’s criticism. When Ikemefuna, Nwoye’s adopted brother, moved into his home, Ikemefuna filled the role of the father, the brother, and the best friend. They were inseparable from the beginning and their relationship grew stronger as time passed. When Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna it destroys Nwoye. “...Nwoye knew that Ikemefuna had been killed, and something seemed to give way inside him, like the snapping of a tightened bow. He did not cry. He just hung limp.” (44). Nwoye found comfort in the arms of the Christian religion. He saw the Christian religion as a more forgiving and loving community, compared to Igbo

Okonkwo’s belief regarding how men must behave, overemphasizes Okonkwo’s masculinity, and does not allow for any self-reflection or change for himself. It is the fear of looking weak, or feminine, that causes his own destruction after his return to Umuofia. Okonkwo is upset by the changes in the village by the white people while he was exiled from Umuofia. Achebe describes his feelings as, “he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia who had so unaccountably become soft like women” (183). The ideal of extreme masculinity makes Okonkwo upset about the changes in behavior of men and his village while he was gone.

When challenged with a tribal dispute that would require him to murder his own adopted son whom he loved and cared for, “Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak” (61). Later in the novel, he is confronted by an insolent village messenger, who he views as an enemy to both him and the village. Without thinking, “Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body” (204). The actions of the man are fully motivated by the pride he has for his social standing.

In Okonkwo’s eyes, he has made his life everything he wanted to. One day, a woman from Okonkwo’s village is murdered by a member of another tribe. In order to preserve peace, the opposing tribe sends a young girl and boy to Iguedo, Okonkwo’s tribe, as a peace offering. The boy, whose name is Ikemefuna, is put in Okonkwo’s care. Okonkwo begins raising him as a son and teaching him the ways of men in the tribe.

Although a parent’s goal in using corporal punishment is to teach a child morals, that is not what actually happens. When a child’s only consequence for doing

Okonkwo, pleased by his sons development, invites Ikemefuna and Nwoye to sit with him, and tells them “masculine stories of violence and bloodshed” (Achebe 53). Nwoye has always loved and prefered the childish folktales told by his mother over his father’s violent war stories, but knows that in the Igbo’s culture, folktales “were for foolish women and children , and [that] his father [wants] him to be a man” (Achebe 54). Subsequently, Nwoye finds himself feigning his distaste for the charming folktales, and “[feigning] annoyance and [grumbling] aloud about women and their troubles”, in order to please his father (Achebe

Okonkwo fears for his disturbingly weak son, Nyowe, and teaches him with his stories- "masculine stories of violence and bloodshed." (p. 53) But Nyowe prefers the stories of his mother- stories which teach wisdom rather than action. Nyowe knows that it pleases his father to listen to his stories, but it is apparent that Nyowe is a thinking person. As Nyowe absorbs the shock of Ikemefuna's death, we feel the first break in the solidarity of the clan. ."Nyowe knew that Ikemefuna had been killed, and something seemed to give way inside him, like the snapping of a tightened bow." (p. 61) Nyowe is forming his own impressions of the rituals of his society.

Children are like flowers, if well taken care of they will bloom. If ignored or tortured, they will wither and die. Child discipline is one of the most important elements of successful parenting. Today, many people have this notion that physical abuse is in no way a solution to helping children discern between right and wrong. Since generations children have been taught the art of discipline through physical punishment. Often this approach to disciplining has resulted in two outcomes, one is where the child becomes more tolerant and is willing to adhere to what he/she has been told, or the other which more often results in children developing a sense of anguish and desire to revolt.

One day, the clan settles an argument with a nearby village on the sacrificing of a 15-year-old boy named Ikemefuna, who lives with Okonkwo’s family for three years. During the time that Ikemefuna lived with Okonkwo’s family, Okonkwo eventually begins to treat Ikemefuna respectfully, and Ikemefuna soon begins to call Okonkwo ‘’father.’’ After the three years pass, an elder from the tribe, Ezeudu, tells Okonkwo that Ikemefuna had to be killed, and suggested to not be a part of his sacrifice since Ikemefuna was so fond of him. Okonkwo decides to disregard this advice however,