And so Okonkwo was ruled by one passion – to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness (Chapter 2 Pg 3).” This quote shows the truth of how Oknonkwo was not really this cruel, tyrannical man. He lives his life in constant fear of being a failure the same as his dad. Who was very weak and considered lazy by his tribe. Even his father’s death has brought shame to Okonkwo.
Lakota education was seemingly unconventional but affective and Lakota society, full of sacred traditions and morally conscientious values. * An assumption often made about the children of aboriginal people is that they had no systemic, formal education. As Charles Eastman reaffirms numerously throughout “Indian Boyhood”, this could not be further from the truth (Eastman 1902: 49.) Eastman does a particular good job of refuting the assumption by describing how pregnant women in Lakota society begin seeking education for their children while still in the womb. The mothers-to-be would designate a brave or impressive relative to be a sort of role model for the child.
He is afraid to show affection, as seen with Ezinma and Ikemefuna. In fact, he is so “possessed by the fear of his father’s contemptible life” (Achebe 18), that he does not heed Ezeudu’s advice regarding the death of Ikemefuna. Okonkwo is afraid of looking weak, so he kills Ikemefuna himself. His deep seated fear of resembling his father is stronger than even love for his adopted son. Okonkwo’s “whole life was dominated by […] fear of failure and of weakness” (Achebe 13), and while this initially aids him in his success, it is also the precise reason for all his immoral actions.
His fickle favor toward his servants, and not to mention his family, proves his inconsistency and instability. Although appointed by the gods, his reign has exposed the abused and misused privilege of representing the gods in his earthly position. King Creon’s irrational edict stated that any man who dares to bury Polyneices would suffer death by stoning. Is it a mere human’s prerogative to determine another man’s eternal fate? Because Antigone had nothing left to live for, while knowing the sentence of stoning, Antigone defied King Creon’s edict in order to fulfill her duty.
Contents Introduction Chronology 11 14 Chapter 1: Background on Chinua Achebe 1. The Life of Chinua Achebe G.D. Killam In writing his seminal novel about Africa, Chinua Achebe established himself as the most prominent African writer of his generation. In all his work, Achebe has focused on dispelling the idealized images of his own people and depicting them as they live in the real world. 19 2. Chinua Achebe’s Philosophy of Fiction Jerome Brooks, interviewing Chinua Achebe Achebe recounts in an interview that his first attraction to the art of storytelling was a result of the stories told in his home as a child.
In Chinua Achebe’s acclaimed novel, Things Fall Apart, there are various themes which make up the complexity and richness of the story. Although it is a work of fiction, Achebe touches upon contemporary issues involving Africa and colonialism. Colonialism is defined as political control over another country. Often this means exploiting its resources and tampering with the precious culture of the people. Post-colonial Africa is still trying to recover, by trying to adapt a mindset of what it truly means to be an African.
This is very detailed and horrific because he is saying he won’t be able to stop his soldiers from raping the women in the city. Henry’s choice of words in this speech show us that not only can Henry influence people into fighting but he can create the illusion that disturbing things will happen if you don’t do what I say. This actually isn’t the best type of leadership because he his leading with fear. It is an effective form of leadership but it is one that doesn’t always work
“He heard Ikemefuna cry, ’My father, they have to kill me!’ as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down” (Achebe 61). Okonkwo kills his son, because he is afraid of being seen as weak. To the villages he is perceived as brave and ruthless. But what the villagers do not know is that he never wanted to kills his son.
Okonkwo is absolutely dedicated to the tribe's concept of manliness and when he was asked to aid in Ikemefuna's murder, he killed the boy himself because he did not want to appear “weak”. Conversely, Obierika tells Okonkwo that he would neither question the Oracle's will, nor have a hand in the boy's death. In saying this, Obierika brings out certain logical flaws in Okonkwo's mindset. Because Okonkwo is symbolic of the tribe's mindset, Obierika also pointed out flaws in the tribe. By the same token, Obierika is symbolic of a modern African mindset, and consequently, he represents Achebe himself.
Although his father was looked upon as a failure in society, in the eyes of the tribe, and by his own son, he contained something that Okonkwo never had: humility and happiness in the smallest things. He thought that those were the reasons that made his father a failure. His son, Nwoye, was more like Okonkwo’s father and this leads them to drift off in different directions. Okonkwo had grown up to reject anything that resembled his father, humility or happiness, and this leads him to live his life dominated by fear. Okonkwo's tragic flaw is that he fears looking weak and letting emotions get the best of him is what lead him to his ultimate downfall.