OKONKWO & BIG IDEAS
What is the significance of Okonkwo’s character? What does he represent or is symbolic of?
Okonkwo represents the tragic hero in Things Fall Apart as he held a position of power and prestige because he was a clan leader of Umuofia however it was stripped away from him when he was exiled. Okonkwo is significant because his character/ personality is quite orthodox and different compared to other Umuofians and he is dissimilar to the cultures and customs of Umuofia. In Umuofia, people tend to see the middle ground between two plausible causes however Okonkwo is fixated on one aspect and believes in it to the extreme and thus can not see other views about it which displays his resistance to change. In addition Okonkwo embodies strength both physically and mentally and it is portrayed through his personality however Okonkwo suffers from internal conflict due to his fear of weakness and failure thus it is important as it shows how someone so dominant can also be suffering. He is also often a representation of fire and his nickname in his clan was “Roaring Flame”, which alludes to his fiery and unpredictable temper. It is also acts as the symbolism of the only emotion that he openly portrays within the story because it is viewed as masculine.
What is the purpose of Okonkwo’s character within the text?
Okonkwo is the main protagonist in Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart and thus Okonkwo’s purpose in the novel is too drive the story and to view the story from Okonkwo’s perspectives. In addition, Okonkwo whilst following Igbo traditions religiously only embodies one aspect of a tradition rather than keeping an open mind. Achebe creates Okonkwo to be this way because he is trying to show the importance of being balanced ( having and using male and feminine traits ) and by depicting Okonkwo as rigid and not being able to bend to changes in society, it shows his downfall and tragic flaw. Achebe also uses Okonkwo to show the damage that colonialism brings. When the missionaries, raided Umuofia and started implementing their own ideologies, Okonkwo did not accept the new change and destruction of his traditions and as a result he committed suicide. This shows that colonialism is something which not only assimilates a society’s culture but also shows the detrimental effects it has on individuals. Okonkwo is also a purposeful character in being able to connect with the audience especially with his tragic flaw; fear of weakness and failure.
How does Okonkwo’s character contribute to big ideas?
Okonkwo represents the tragic hero in Things Fall Apart as he held a position of power and prestige because he was a clan leader of Umuofia however it was stripped away from him when he was exiled. Okonkwo is significant because his character/ personality is quite orthodox and different compared to other Umuofians and he is dissimilar to the cultures and customs of Umuofia. In Umuofia, people tend to see the middle ground between two plausible causes however Okonkwo is fixated on one aspect and believes in it to the extreme and thus can not see other views about it which displays his resistance to change. In addition Okonkwo embodies strength both physically and mentally and it is portrayed through his personality however Okonkwo suffers from internal conflict due to his fear of weakness and failure thus it is important as it shows how someone so dominant can also be suffering. He is also often a representation of fire and his nickname in his clan was “Roaring Flame”, which alludes to his fiery and unpredictable temper. It is also acts as the symbolism of the only emotion that he openly portrays within the story because it is viewed as masculine.
What is the purpose of Okonkwo’s character within the text?
Okonkwo is the main protagonist in Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart and thus Okonkwo’s purpose in the novel is too drive the story and to view the story from Okonkwo’s perspectives. In addition, Okonkwo whilst following Igbo traditions religiously only embodies one aspect of a tradition rather than keeping an open mind. Achebe creates Okonkwo to be this way because he is trying to show the importance of being balanced ( having and using male and feminine traits ) and by depicting Okonkwo as rigid and not being able to bend to changes in society, it shows his downfall and tragic flaw. Achebe also uses Okonkwo to show the damage that colonialism brings. When the missionaries, raided Umuofia and started implementing their own ideologies, Okonkwo did not accept the new change and destruction of his traditions and as a result he committed suicide. This shows that colonialism is something which not only assimilates a society’s culture but also shows the detrimental effects it has on individuals. Okonkwo is also a purposeful character in being able to connect with the audience especially with his tragic flaw; fear of weakness and failure.
How does Okonkwo’s character contribute to big ideas?
Okonkwo’s character contributes to big ideas especially about the importance of balance and the ability to adapt to change. In the novel we see that Okonkwo is both unbalanced and lacks the ability to change thus it lead to his downfall and pushed him to take his own life. Through Okonkwo it shows how balance his vital to a society to maximise your value within that society. In addition change certain changes should also be embraced such as when Oberieka proposes that titled villagers should also tap palm oil. Okonkwo also displays how the fear of weakness and failure are factors which can drive you to do something regretful and Achebe demonstrates Okonkwo’s hamartia to also change people’s opinions about these factors.
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