Okonkwo: a Life Story of a Tragic Hero

Esha Moore Honors English II- Hyatt May 23, 2012 Things Fall unconnected Final Literally Analysis Essay Okonkwo A Life Story of a Tragic supporter What makes up a hero in todays society? Young children today envisage a hero with superpowers and a cape, but little do they know heroes come in galore(postnominal) different forms. In his novel, Things Fall Apart, the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe illustrates the making of modern hero. Even though Okonkwo does non act like a regular hero, he still has a noble structure, makes mistakes throughout life, and experiences a great downfall.Elijah Wood once said There is nonhing noble in being blue-ribbon(prenominal) to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. Growing up, the Umuofia clique did not consider Okonkwo noble because of his impecunious father, Unoka Unoka was, of course, a debtor, and he owed every neighbor some money, from a a couple of(prenominal) cowries to quite substantial amount (Ache be 5). When Unoka died ten years ago he has taken no gloss at all and left Okonkwo in debt. Greatly ashamed of his father, he based many of his beliefs nigh how life should be lived by doing the exact opposite of his father.Okonkwos nobility all begins almost twenty dollar bill years ago, when his rank announces him the best wrestler. This all happened when Amalinze the Cat- 7 year champion- who fights Okonkwo however, Okonkwo throws the Cat and won the match. Mean magical spell, a warfare was going on in Mbaino, so in the nine villages of Umuofia, all the men must be present tomorrow morning. Umuofia needed a young man and a virgin He was a man of action, a man of war (10). Okonkwo leaves for Mbaino knowing not to suspect upon his arrival. Okonkwo suffers various hamartia or mistakes that he truly regrets.Okonkwo starts out being his town hero however, his biggest flaw was having uncontrollable anger, which eventually leads to his bowelless behavior. Okonkwo violent behavior starts before the Week of Peace. He comes home expecting Ojiungo and dinner she usually prepares for him. Okonkwo realizes her lack of absence he wherefore starts freaking out because she went to her friends house to plait her hair. Since she was not at the house, he came back to the hut and waits upon her arrival, which lead to Ojiungo beating.Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess comes to the hut to discuss Okonkwos actions and how he could wispyen the clan. While getting ready for The Feast of the New Yam, he makes another mistake by injure at Ekwefi-his second wife- she mocks her husbands poor hunting ability, making a remark about guns that never knock down He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and children (39). Okonkwo tends not to think and he acts impulsively and inconsiderately.Okonkwo tries instilling his personal views on how to live as a man to Nwoye and according to Okonkwo, showing emotions are signs of acting womanly. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves pronounce Ikemefuna should be killed, and the oldest member of the clan informs Okonkwo of this. Okonkwo has an obsessive fear of anything that can be associated with the image of his weak, lazy and gentle father whom he invariably considered a failure. As an ambitious man who became a successful, respectable warrior of the clan, he wants to take part in the killing of the male child however, the older clan member forbids him to do so.Forced to march in a procession, Ikemefuna potty by one of the clan members, when he tries to seek Okonkwos protection, Okonkwo so as not appear weak performs Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down (61). His irascible behavior leads to besmirching his reputation. Ikemefunas death generates a serial publication of events, which lead to Okonkwos downfall. Okonkwos son, Nwoye and Ikemefuna have grown close like brothers and even Okonkwo has grown fond of Ikemefuna.While attending Ezeud us funeral another disaster befalls him Okonkwos gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boys heart (124). The death of Ezeudus son went against the Earth Goddess, so he was forced into exile for seven years to his mothers village. During the time of exile, washcloth missionaries appeared on their bicycles. The Oracle warns the clan about death and destruction in the future. They ask for land to build a church and they are given the Evil Forest, with hope the unsaved land will lead to their demise instead, their church flourishes and gains more and more converts each day.When Okonkwo finds out about Nwoyes conversion, he beats him so severely. Upset by his fathers action Nwoye runs forward and never comes back he joins the missionaries as a teacher. He sees himself and his fathers crowding around their ancestral saint waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days, and his children the while praying to the white mans god. After seven years he returns to his village, hoping to regain his position of importance, but much has changed with the invasion.Resistance to the white men was agreed upon because of fear of killing their own clansman. While the meeting was taking place, a congregation of messengers from the white men arrive and orders them to stop In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete. The messenger crouched to eliminate the blow. It was useless. Okonkwos machete descended twice and the mans head lay beside his uniformed body (204). From this action, Okonkwo knows that his clan will not go to war. He has lost his respect and authority he once had from his family and his Umuofia clan.He then commits suicide by hanging himself. Okonkwo starts out being his town hero but later sees himself in situations he regrets. Okonkwos inflexibility to accept causes his downfall because he became so obsessed with being everything his public address system was not. This causes Okonkwos to no longer care whether thing s were wrong or right. Although Okonkwo demonstrations fear and anger actions much devotion should be taken to make sure his personal flaws in society do not intervene with ones judgment.Work Cited Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Anchor Books New York 1994.