In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is portrayed as a man of strength. In the final pages of the book this fear to be anything else but a “strong man,” is what ultimately leads to his suicide in the most ironic way. The fear of being seen as weak not only to himself but the in the eyes of everyone around him, not only lead to his death but drives the entire story. Okonkwo's need to be seen as no less than strength comes from his father. Throughout the writing we see the hatred Okonkwo has for his father, viewing him as a weak man Okonkwo has no patience for. Having a weak father is what drives Okonkwo as well as being his greatest fear. Okonkwo’s fear of being weak isn't to be judged for being weak, but to be seen as his father was.
“He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike his father, he could stand the look of blood. In Umuofia’s latest war he was the first to bring home a human head.” (Achebe, 8) Not scared of death, killing, blood, or battle. Okonkwo used these things to run from his fear, these were his tools of strength. It is just this tool that sends him into exile, yet during this time that fear is still what drives him. He used violence and killing to make him seem strong. Which worked getting him many titles and respect …show more content…
Throughout Things Fall Apart we see several examples of what Okonkwo would do to prove his strength. It is when he feels that the people around him are not strong and that he would then become weak is when he lets this fear take over and ends his life. To fully understand what was going on in Okonkwo's head for him to do this is unfathomable, but with what we were given by the writer about Okonkwo and his relationship with strength, weakness, and view of his father.We can see how this action is ironic. As well as his fear is the catalyst for destruction and failure in the
“He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike his father, he could stand the look of blood. In Umuofia’s latest war he was the first to bring home a human head.” (Achebe, 8) Not scared of death, killing, blood, or battle. Okonkwo used these things to run from his fear, these were his tools of strength. It is just this tool that sends him into exile, yet during this time that fear is still what drives him. He used violence and killing to make him seem strong. Which worked getting him many titles and respect …show more content…
Throughout Things Fall Apart we see several examples of what Okonkwo would do to prove his strength. It is when he feels that the people around him are not strong and that he would then become weak is when he lets this fear take over and ends his life. To fully understand what was going on in Okonkwo's head for him to do this is unfathomable, but with what we were given by the writer about Okonkwo and his relationship with strength, weakness, and view of his father.We can see how this action is ironic. As well as his fear is the catalyst for destruction and failure in the