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"THINGS FALL APART."
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Analysis of Chinua Achebe's 1958 novel.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Analysis of Chinua Achebe's 1958 novel. Character of Okonkwo as a tragic hero. Classic tragic hero definition.. Okonkwo as a flawed hero.; his struggles. How African society and impact of white man in Africa is revealed through Okonkwo. Novel's themes of brutal destruction of native culture and inevitability of change.
Paper Introduction:
Published in 1958, Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart centers on a traditional Ibo village culture in Nigeria before and after the English came to Africa and changed a nation’s way of living. Both the brutal destruction of the native culture and the inevitability of change are themes in the novel which focuses on the character of Okonkwo who is caught in the middle of the struggles wrought by change. This research paper will analyze the character of Okonkwo as a tragic hero.
In ancient Greek literature a tragic hero has a tragic flaw that brings about his downfall. The classic tragic hero is always a character of great importance to his state or culture, usually of noble birth. Such heroes are complex characters, neither all good or all bad. As expressed in Aristotle’s “Poetics,” the tragic fall of the hero is what drives the plot
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The classic tragic hero is always a characterof great importance to his state or culture, usually of noble birth. He cannotchange or surrender; he must fight even though that will not help thevillage at this time and will also bring about his own destruction. His fame rested onsolid personal achievements" (3). He realizes his people had let other messengers escape,that they "would not go to war." He hears his clansman asking why he killedthe messenger, and realizes that he is an outcast in his own village, notjust because of the killing but because he cannot compromise. He thensays "I fear for you; I fear for the clan" (167). It also appears to him that the whites will triumph. As expressedin Aristotle's "Poetics," the tragic fall of the hero is what drives theplot of tragedy, when a disastrous reversal of fortune, coupled with thehero's tragic flaw, causes his downfall. He is alone,and knows the white man will come for him and kill him. The villagers paythe fine, and the six men are set free. When thehead white messenger arrives to break up the meeting, an enraged Okonkwodecapitates him. Throughout the novel, Okonkwo is reprimanded for his contemptof anyone whom he sees as weak. (184). He also "never showed any emotion openly, unlessit be the emotion of anger" (3 ). There are white missionaries in the motherlandas well, and soon there are conversions including Okonkwo's son whom hethen disowns. Achebe shapes his character tobe a sympathetic man who lives according to Ibo principles, but notperfectly; this makes for reader identification. However, Ibo society, marked bycompromise and flexibility, cannot support its staunch defender.Okonkwo feels a sense of hope when the villagers burn down the Christianchurch. He hates his peace-loving father whom heconsidered weak and a disgrace to the village. Part II ends with a farewell feast given by Okonkwo who,after seven years, is returning to his own village. However, Okonkwoviciously cuts down Ikemefuna in a effort to please the gods and avoidbeing thought weak. This is, of course, contrary tohis nature. Both the brutaldestruction of the native culture and the inevitability of change arethemes in the novel which focuses on the character of Okonkwo who is caughtin the middle of the struggles wrought by change. Achebe describes Okonkwo's attributes from the very beginning of thenovel, with the first paragraph informing the reader that "Okonkwo was wellknown throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His goal is powerand respect as a man and a leader. All his plans and beliefs are rooted in thecontinuance of the traditional African culture and in keeping to the oldways. He also feels greatpain and rage when it becomes clear that the old ways are gone and willnever return. Okonkwo's banishment ends Part I of the novel, and Part II deals withhis exile and life in his mother's land. Okonkwo is a hero, but a flawed hero. Although admired, Okonkwohas his own inner turmoil. Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo wasnot a cruel man. Because of his militancy and inflexible will, Okonkwo risesas the defender of the traditional ways. He is driven to hate everything his father hadloved and the desire to restore his family name. In ancient Greek literature a tragic hero has a tragic flaw thatbrings about his downfall. Okonkwo is unalterably committed to the traditional doctrines of hisculture. Okonkwo's tragedy, brought about not only by his tragic flaw but bythe white man's takeover, represents Africa's tragedy as well. The villagers hold a meeting todecide a course of action, to root out the evil in their midst. His inflexible will and pridedo not bring him happiness, but that is not his goal. This research paper willanalyze the character of Okonkwo as a tragic hero. Ibo culture is depicted as valuing both strength andgentleness. "To abandon the gods of one's father" is a crime in Okonkwo'sview (153). Africa's tragedy is epitomized in Okonkwo, who has several faults as wellas many virtues but his biggest fault, his tragic flaw, is his unyieldingnature. At a tribal meeting, Okonkwo insultsanother man and it is immediately observed that everyone "at the kindredmeeting took sides with Osugu when Okonkwo called him a woman" (28).Later, Okonkwo is punished for beating his wife during the sacred Week ofPeace. He chooses to commit suicide although his customdeclares it "an abomination...an offense against the Earth...." (2 7). Six villagers, including Okonkwo are brought to police headquartersand told they would be released if a large fine was paid. His exile, however, takes placeat a crucial point in the novel for while he is gone, the English come tothe Ibo people and basically take over his village in the name ofChristianity and the Queen. The elder at the feastportends the misfortune to come to the Ibo, and Okonkwo, when he ends thefeast with a speech that the younger people do not know how to speak withone voice and therefore the "abominable religion" has settled in. His primary goals are torule his household to prove his strength, power and ability. Hisonly course now is to leave his clan. He mourned for The clan, which he saw breaking up and Falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike Men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably Become soft like women. Suchheroes are complex characters, neither all good or all bad. Because the killing had been an accident, and thus considereda "female" crime, Okonkwo could return to his village after seven years. The tragic flaw is often in theform of a ruling passion such as hubris or excessive pride. Later another violent incident occurs that will change Okonkwo's lifeforever. Okonkwo returns to a time of great changewhen compromise is needed for survival. Things have fallen apart.Still, Okonkwo resists the coming of white culture and control. Things Fall Apart. His deathsymbolizes the falling apart of traditional African life due to the whiteman's ways. WhenOkonkwo kills Ikemefuna, a captured boy from another village, he does soagainst the will of his community. Because of this, he "ruledhis household with a heavy hand... Many ofthe male clansman "have joined the ranks of the stranger (and) his religionand they help to uphold his government" (176). Ikemefuna had lived with Okonkwo'sfamily for three years, until the village elders decided what to do withhim. Using thisdefinition, Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Okonkwo was deeply grieved. Okonkwo holds great power in his villageas the embodiment of strength and achievement. When Okonkwo returns to his village, he knows that he place is notwaiting for him and that he must regain it. Because Okonkwo understands only strength and violence, he seesnothing in the white man's god, ir in the importance of human gentlenessand compassion found either in his own culture or in the Christian culture. African society isrevealed through him, as is the impact of the white man's coming to Africa. To show emotion would be a sign ofweakness in Okonkwo's eyes. To complicate matters, theEnglish have pretty much taken over the true administration of the villageand have no use for Ibo culture. Although it was against the beliefs of his culture, Okonkwo,as a prideful, inflexible tragic hero, chooses to control his own fate bysuicide. New York: Anchor, 1994. Okonkwo's one-sided, inflexible personality is not characteristic ofhis society. "It was a crime against the earthgoddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from theland" (124). There is no other way for him, and it is against his nature toyield to the white man's rule. Although Okonkwo is considered a great man in his community, becauseof his inflexible will to power, he cannot survive in a society that valuescompromise and respects both authoritarian and humanitarian ideals. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear offailure and weakness" (7). The incident, however, has great impact on him and forseveral days he is in a state of depression. During that time, the boy had become like a son to Okonkwo, and so hewas asked not to take part in the killing of the boy. Published in 1958, Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart centers ona traditional Ibo village culture in Nigeria before and after the Englishcame to Africa and changed a nation's way of living. At a funeral with drums, dancing and guns firing in salute to thedead man, Okonkwo accidently shoots the dead man's 16-year old son. This act is considered evil in Ibo society, and because Okonkwonever admits that he did wrong, he is viewed negatively by other members ofthe community. Thus, he is alienated from his own community as well as the new order ofthe white man. He could run away,but that is not his way. In honoring the old ways upon his return, he does so in part from aself-aggrandizing way which reveals his tragic flaw. Work CitedAchebe, Chinua. And it was Not just a personal grief.
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