by Jenn Weiss

Created on: April 04, 2009

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart have many characters who make a difference in the novel. His characters are some of the best ones in literature. Each one of the characters are related to each other somehow which makes the character interaction more interesting to read and easier to relate to. The majority of the story follows the life of the most influential person within the Ibo tribe: Okonkwo. We see his compassion for his daughter and a "prisoner" placed in his care. There are times when we can see ourselves within this character and his desires, goals, compassion and more.

Okonkwo is one of the most influential tribal leaders. He was always ashamed of his lazy, unambitious father and will not become the same man, nor will he accept his sons to be the same way. He places high importance on status and achieving the best that he possibly can. His wealth is sufficient enough to support three wives and their children. He has one flaw which is his fear of appearing like his father. He hides his feelings and emotions and will fight to do what he can to keep them hidden as well as fight to protect his traditions and beliefs.

Ezinma is probably Okonkwo's favorite child. She is the only child of his second wife, and he sees her as being stronger than his oldest son Nwoye. Ezinma and her mother have a close bond as they do everything together. She understands her father better than any of his other children and possibly respects him more than the others. Since Okonkwo feels Ezinma is stronger than his sons, he wishes she was a boy because then she would be the perfect son to help him with the daily chores and upkeep of the family wealth. Nwoye on the other hand Okonkwo sees as weak and lazy just as he views his own father. His father continues to beat him in hopes of correcting his lazy ways. It isn't until Ikemefuma comes to live with them that he changes his ways.

Ikemefuma is the young boy given to live with Okonkwo when he commits a crime against one of the females of the tribe. He does the daily chores with Okonkwo, and soon he sees the boy as one of his own. As he becomes closer to Okonkwo's son Nwoye; Nwoye starts acting the way Okonkwo believes he should. When it comes time to act out Ikemefuma's punishment, it is Okonkwo who does it out of fear of appearing weak to the others in the clan.

Mr. Brown is the first white missionary that comes to the tribe. He tries to institute a policy of compromise, understanding, and non-aggression to the tribe that Okonkwo finds offensive and tries everything to fight. He is respectful of the tribe and their traditions. He doesn't force the Christian beliefs, but just speaks and allows the clans people make their decisions based on what they have heard and known.

The characters in this novel are well written and planned out. They make the novel what it is and their interactions make the readers think about their own interactions in life. Some of us are like Okonkwo while others are like Ezinma. No matter what your personality is like there is a character within the novel who is like you

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