by Julius Vortemizzi

Created on: March 15, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Chinua Achebe creates a character of great strength and intolerance in his book, Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo, the protagonist of Things Fall Apart, is renowned as a leader of his tribe, Umuofia, and also as a successful farmer and warrior. Okonkwo's great pride is what truly drives his intolerance for idleness and his great strength stimulates this intolerance.

This complex character is described by Achebe as "tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look" (Achebe, 3-4). He also breathes very heavily like a great beast in deep slumber. Okonkwo is always seen walking upon the foremost part of his feet, leaving his heels just above the ground. This stance gives the impression that he is ready to pounce upon anybody who angers him, and often times this is the case. Okonkwo's harsh features and defining stature accent his character which is full of strength and callousness.
Although Okonkwo is revered as a great warrior and leader, he also is noted for his intolerance for laziness, his quick-to-anger spirit, and his often violently impulsive actions. At one point, his most recent wife does not return in time to cook the meal. As a consequence, Okonkwo beats her incessantly. Another time, in a frustrated fit of rage, Okonkwo kills a messenger from the British district office. These types of rash actions can be observed throughout Okonkwo's entire life.
Okonkwo's actions and choices are all driven by his single fear: becoming idle and weak like his father. Unoka, Okonkwo's father, passed his time mostly by playing music or simply relaxing. Thus he often times fell into debt as he was always borrowing due to the lack of work on his own part. This lazy lifestyle is hated more than anything by Unoka's son, and so Okonkwo is strongly motivated to have a life dominated with constant work and no idleness. This lifestyle helps him become a very successful farmer and leader, but it also has negative results. All of Okonkwo's emotions are bottled up inside; the only emotion he actually releases is anger. Compassion and kindness are never exhibited for he connects these traits with the weakness of his father. His driven personality results in material success but emotional isolation.
The character of Okonkwo is an extremely strong as well as complex one. His strength and stubbornness could serve him well, but in the end they lead to his fall. Okonkwo ends up realizing that his clansmen do not support his rash actions and in turn, Okonkwo commits suicide, a very shameful death. This brash and stern character tries so hard throughout his life to maintain a certain lifestyle, but ultimately defeats himself and thus becomes a tragic hero.

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