Summary Of Dialectical Journal For Things Fall Apart

Before Okonkwo and Walter arrive their unfortunate end of falling apart, both experienced pressure from outside environment. Okonkwo, as the child of an idle and improvident man, aspires to be unlike his father Unoka--

For many years, Okonkwo was trying to live a different life than his father’s. He didn’t imagine that he would do it at such an early age. Before even reaching his father’s age, he already owns a big successful farm, with three wives, and a big family. Also, he had established himself as an important figure in his community—he was acquainted with everyone. His best friend, Obierika, was his neighbor, and they were close. Then one day, Okonkwo accidently killed one of his clansman. It was a really hard situation because he had to leave for seven years. This made him live in a land that he wasn’t too familiar with, so he would often explore. Besides, exploring his landscape he explored his character a little more by reflecting on his life.

In order to not become like his father, Okonkwo consciously strives to be prosperous, violent, resourceful, unable to show “soft” emotion, and denies music orientation. “And no Okonkwo was ruled by one passion—to hate everything that his

8. “And so Okonkwo was ruled by one passion- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved.”

Okonkwo achieves respect and high social status through his own heroic efforts despite being left with nothing but the dishonorable reputation of his “lazy and improvident” father. Toiling in the fields, enduring droughts, exhibiting fearless on the battlefield, and fueled by a burning desire to succeed, Okonkwo becomes a hero in Umuofia. Okonkwo’s success stems from his hard-work and perseverance, which he achieves in spite of his father’s shortcomings. He “lay[s] the foundations of a prosperous future” by slowly and painfully working like “one possessed” in order to escape “his father’s contemptible life and shameful death.” Okonkwo, so “possessed” with escaping the lingering reputation of his father, does anything in his power to earn

            While Okonkwo, Nwoye, and Ikemefuna are feasting upon the locusts, a man named Ezeudu pays Okonkwo a visit. Achebe describes Ezeudu’s visit on page 50, writing, “He refused to join in the meal, and asked Okonkwo to have a word with him outside…When they were out of ear-shot, he said to Okonkwo: “That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death…Yes, Umuofia has decided to kill him.” Achebe implies that Ezeudu brings bad news by describing the caution Ezeudu takes to avoid being overheard and his decision to not partake in the meal.  Also, now Okonkwo is forced to decide what actions he is going to take and how far he should be involved in Ikemefuna’s death. Okonkwo’s fears result in his taking great effort in order to avoid appearing weak or feminine, yet the decision Okonkwo faces is whether or not he will allow his insecurities to take precedence over the advice that Ezeudu has given them. Achebe uses Okonkwo’s dilemma as a way to convey a sense of tension. The next day, Okonkwo tells Ikemefuna that he is returning to his own home. Achebe describes Ikemefuna’s reaction on page 51, writing, “He still missed his mother and his sister and would be very glad to see them. But somehow he knew he was not going to see

In the beginning, Okonkwo feared being like his father, he raised his family and built up his life by his self because he did not want to be like his father. “He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had had no patience with his father.” (pg. 1 TFA) the book said. He wasn’t very fond of his dad; his dad did not own much and had a lot of debt with everyone. Okonkwo did not want to grow up like his father; “In his

Okonkwo’s fear of unmanliness is kindled by his father, who was a lazy, unaccomplished man. Okonkwo strives to have a high status from a young age and eventually achieves it. He has a large family, many yams and is well known throughout the village for his valor. He

1. Although he is thankful for the welcoming of his mother’s kinsmen, Okonkwo regrets every day of his exile (Achebe 162).

Eventually though, Okonkwo realizes that the boy must die. Though it is obvious that he is disturbed by this, he does not show it, and even slays the boy himself, lest he should be thought weak.

Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak.” Okonkwo doesn’t see anything wrong with what he has done to his beloved friend. He feels guilt and remorse for what he has done, but he tries to justify what he has done by suggesting that the consequences of his action where Ikemefuna’s fault. “How can a man who has killed five me in battle fall to pieces because he has added a boy to their numbers?”

In the first portion of the book, it talks of Okonkwo and his father, Unoka. Okonkwo had hated his father for what he had put his family through. They had gone through debt and hunger, dealing with many hardships. Okonkwo decided that when he was able, he would make his family respectable again.

Okonkwo’s fear of being perceived as weak forbids him from showing emotion. In chapter 7, the Oracle of Umuofia had said that Ikemefuna, Okonkwo’s adopted son, was to be executed. The village elders had come to Okonkwo’s house and told him, “‘That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death.’” (Achebe

Okonkwo is known for being a hardworking man. Growing up, Okonkwo never looked up to his father like most men in the society did. His father, Unoka, was a failure. He was poor and a debtor, and he didn’t take the responsibilities that men were expected to take in his community. This is the reason why Okonkwo is afraid of failure and weakness,

Okonkwo is a man of high stature, he is beloved by his village has multiple wives and many children.He also believes in honor and tries his hardest to remain a noble man.However all was not perfect for Okonkwo, when he had to care for a child he grew attached to him and even considered him his son, but when the village leaders ordered this child's execution ,and when the execution was about to take place Okonkwo was so prideful of his role as a man he disobeyed the leader's orders and witnessed the execution but when the first blow was