Things Fall Apart Okonkwo's Identity

Through the character of Okonkwo, Achebe illustrates the dangers of being selfish. Although successful, Okonkwo is one of the most aggressively selfish men among the Igbo people based on his self-centered needs and desires. This characteristic is prevalent throughout the entirety of the novel, and there are always consequences to his actions. For example, Okonkwo is fond of calling men “women” to make himself look more masculine. He does this to Osugo in front of a group of men in a meeting. “Okonkwo knew how to kill a man’s spirit. Everybody at the kindred meeting took sides with Osugo when Okonkwo called him a woman” (Achebe 26). Since the other men sided with Osugo, Okonkwo’s punishment for this narcissistic outburst is embarrassment. Continuing,

9. “Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye, was then twelve years old but was already causing his father great anxiety for his incipient laziness. At any rate, that was how it looked to his father, and he sought to correct him by constant nagging and beating. And so Nwoye was developing into a sad-faced youth.”

Journal #2 Character: In all English literature their are elements for example, Conflict, Theme, Dynamic Character, Static Character, Climax and the list goes on. At the beginning of the story Okonkwo was a strong brave warrior who feared no one. However when the story gets into more depth and the characters faces struggles Okonkwo tend to change in the story. From one strong warrior to someone who killed a child. From someone who never used to listen or respect his wife to a husband who shows a little change in him.

     Just as Okonkwo did not want to be like his father, Nwoye did not want to be like Okonkwo. Nwoye possessed traits that Okonkwo did not such as gentleness, forgiveness, and acceptance. Okonkwo saw these as signs of weakness. "Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger. To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength" (Achebe 28). Okonkwo considered Nwoye to be lazy and wanted him to be a success like himself. "Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man. . . . I will not have a son who cannot hold up his head in the gathering of the clan. I would sooner strangle him with my own hands" (Achebe 33). This is an example of the difference in personal beliefs among family.

Why are culture collisions so hurtful? Nwoye’s sense of identity was challenged with the introduction of Western ideas into the Ibo culture. Nwoye started out in the novel as lazy boy, but the cultural collision of the British colonists and Ibo people affected Nwoye to the point of him abandoning his birth culture and to run away to be a missionary. The reasons for Nwoye’s change in their sense of identity included Nwoye’s struggle with identity leads him to embrace the new culture, which ultimately saves him, and illustrates the positive effects colonialism can have on individuals.Ultimately his reaction to the western ideas shaped the work as a whole because of what he did influenced many other people to do many different things.

Following Nwoye’s departure from Okonkwo’s Mbanta compound to become a Christian, Okonkwo sits in his hut and ponders the state of himself and the state of his son, where he has a temporary reminiscence of an old powerful nickname. Achebe tells us,

In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe it is demonstrated how the Ibo culture slowly deteriorated from their own culture. The Western ideas influenced a different impact on certain characters, this also included characters like Okonwo and his son Nwoye. Many from the Ibo culture were confused by the merge of the European people slowly but subtly trying to enforce and covert their religion upon them. The books ending explained why the book was written in the first place, which was to “break the silence” that existed from the unheard side of the colonized people. The novel explained the impact Nwoye encountered with Western ideas was a clear and positive one. Nwoye felt like he resonated, was wanted, and more suited in the new culture

Nwoye Struggles with his identity and it has led him to embrace a new culture, which has Basically saved him, and shows the good effects colonialism can have on people. Nwoye doesn’t think that violence and taking control of others is manliness. Nwoye’s father is disappointed in him and regretful

The relationship between Okonkwo and Nwoye is very stressful and bitter as Okonkwo has very high expectation for his eldest son. Hence Okonkwo always “sought to correct him by constant nagging and beating” when he was irritated

12 AP English Burnett Things Fall Apart Socratic Seminar Points of Discussion 1. Achebe begins the novel with an elaborate description of the central character Okonkwo. What do

Okonkwo feels as though his seven year exile was a waste of time, so he plans on

Fear is a powerful tool that if used incorrectly, can control how one lives. Okonkwo’s life is one that is dominated by fear. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart follows the Ibo people, set during the time of the colonization of West Africa, in the town of Umoufia. The protagonist, Okonkwo, is a strong follower of his culture’s rigid expectations and practices. While Okonkwo’s steadfast adherence earns the respect of the townsmen, many detest the cultural expectations and practices they are forced to follow. When Christian missionaries introduce Christianity to Umoufia, many of the Ibo people are quick to convert, including Okonkwo’s own son. This new religion slowly undermines the Ibo culture and religion Okonkwo firmly believes in, leading to his downfall. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s fear of weakness along with the arrival of Christianity causes Okonkwo’s downfall.

Everyone in the book Things Fall Apart must make decisions throughout the book, some of these decisions are minor, while others are major. Characters also make decisions that can be good or bad, some of the decisions affected just that person, and while others affected the people they love and know. In the book, every action has a consequence, some of these make the characters’ lives better while others turn their worlds upside down. In this essay, I’m going to talk about the decision that Okonkwo made when he was younger.

“I shall give you twice four hundred yams. Go ahead prepare your farm,” (achebe, 20). Okonkwo shared his farm and his growth with the people who gave him seeds, he grow his respect and grow his wealth. Okonkwo wanted his children to be “A great farm and a great man.”(achebe, 29), like he was. As all men Okonkwo made mistakes that are harmful, deadly, and rude to not only his kind but the reader as well. “Everybody at the kindred meeting took sides with Osugo when Okonkwo called him a

In the trials of time, people have lost their sense of identity and lost their place in society. There are always struggles within the community, but very few times is it enough to drive someone to feel like they didn’t have a home with their family. Although, throughout the majority of the book, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Nwoye didn’t have a sense of identity. But, this changed with the collision of the Ibo tribe and Europeans. Once this mash up occurred, he found himself and who he was supposed to be, he found purpose in life, he found a new family.