Characters In Things Fall Apart, Antigone, And Titus Andronicus

993 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Antigone: a tragic hero essay

Having an open mind creates the possibility of accepting new ideas, but refusing to listen to others can do more harm than good. In Things Fall Apart by , Antigone, and Titus Andronicus, stubbornness of the protagonist is the main conflict that leads the tragic hero to their downfall. All three tragic heroes, Okonkwo, Antigone, and Titus believe their own beliefs are the correct ones to be followed and that nothing is wrong with them; however, as the stories progress, it's clear to see that this is what ultimately leads to the characters’ deaths.The three plays consist of main characters who are stubborn and only follow by what they believe individually. They are completely relentless when it comes their beliefs. This stubbornness results in the downfall of the main characters because their beliefs go against the main conflict of the story, and when the characters feel they might be dishonored because of their actions, they end up with the inevitable fate of either committing suicide or being murdered. Okonkwo’s beliefs are mainly related to masculinity. Throughout the story, it's clear to see that Okonkwo is very attached the idea of masculinity and power. …show more content…

Rome had just finished having a war with the Goths, and as a result of this, Titus’s sons were killed in the war. They were to execute Alarbus because Titus wanted to sacrifice a traitor for the lost lives of his sons. Tamora begs Titus not to kill her son, but Titus insists that he can't do anything about it because it will please the gods as the sacrifice would make up for his sons’ deaths in war. This would result in Tamora being furious towards Titus for what he has done. Tamora would get her revenge towards Titus with the help of Aaron, her secret lover. She constructs a devious plan with Aaron, which would lead Titus to lose his sanity, resulting in Titus to be murdered by

Show More
Related

  • Belief System In Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    Strangely, regardless of the fact that Aaron immediately returns to behaving diabolically, it is noteworthy that out of all the parents in Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare portrays Aaron as the parent who sacrifices all for his child. Tamora believed herself to be wholly degraded after begging for Alarbus’ life, and she made no further sacrifices for her children. To Titus’ credit, he chopped off his hand in an effort to save two of his sons, but Aaron gave his life for the benefit of his child. Shakespeare skillfully salvages the noble family line, and the remaining Andronicus family members, mainly Lucius and his son, will continue as imperialists. Plainly, although Titus lost many sons in the war with the Goths, he did not despair over his losses.

    Read More

  • Okonkwo's Self-Destructive Masculinity in Things Fall Apart

    2752 Words  | 6 Pages

    Throughout the novel, Oknonkwo does many things to prove his masculine quality. Many of these things are debatable as to whether they affirm Okonkwo's masculinity or if they bring out his true weakness and lead to his destruction. (Goldman 2)

    Read More

  • How Is Titus Andronicus A Good Father

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are opinions that accredit Titus as an ideal father because he is a general, he is disciplined and seeks justice for his children. Nonetheless, Lavinia’s rape and mutilation is a pivotal turning point that pushes Titus over the edge. Titus then seeks revenge and is no longer tied to traditions and discipline. Aaron carried out schemes because he was trying to survive. He needed to somehow find a way to benefit from Tamora so that he could have some sense of security. He ends his relationship with Tamora not only because he is tired of being a subordinate for so long, but also because his child is giving him a new opportunity, a new future- one that can be

    Read More

  • Titus Andronicus Manipulation

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    After Aaron finished telling the rest of his plans and giving the letter to Tamora, she thought that it was a great plan, shouting “Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life!” (2.3.51) being able to easily manipulate the new Empress. When they saw Martius and Quintus near the hole where Bassianus died, they were sentenced to death. Upon hearing the news, Titus was desperate and would do anything to keep them from dying a dishonorable death. Aaron saw an opportunity then to trick Titus, “Let Marcus, Lucius, or thyself, old Titus,...chop off your hand and send it to the King; he for the same will send thee hither both thy sons alive, and that shall be the ransom for their fault” (3.1.154-158) hearing this news from Aaron, Titus did not hesitate and even let Aaron himself chop his hand. Of course Aaron knew that his sons were already dead when after chopping off his hand says “I go Andronicus, and for thy hand look by and by to have thy sons with thee. Their heads, I mean.” (3.1.203-205) A few hours later, Titus was give back both his sons’ heads and his hand back by a

    Read More

  • The Tragic Play Antigone

    362 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Tragic Play Antigone by Sophocles has a Conflict between religious morals and loyalty to the state and its laws. This struggle is displayed through the characters Antigone and Creon. Antigone’s life meets a tragic end in the play, but her death makes her a martyr leading to the citizens to follow her view of religion.

    Read More

  • Okonkwo: The Tragic Hero in Things Fall Apart

    470 Words  | 1 Pages

    Okonkwo’s fear of unmanliness is kindled by his father, who was a lazy, unaccomplished man. Okonkwo strives to have a high status from a young age and eventually achieves it. He has a large family, many yams and is well known throughout the village for his valor. He raises his family by his mentality of manliness and is ...

    Read More

  • Antigone Character Analysis Essay

    627 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone remains a static character at stage five throughout the story. Faced with people who do not agree with her decision, Antigone stands tall with what is morally right to her. Kohlberg’s Theory is not only universal but also helps readers understand a character morally. Choosing whether or not to bury her brother, Polyneices, or to follow the law given by Creon, does not derail her moral

    Read More

  • Titus Andronicus Villain

    1088 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the standard formula of a revenge tragedy, Tamora more justifiably fits the role of the character enacting revenge. Her oldest son is sacrificed by Titus for the loss of his own sons even though she was not personally responsible for their deaths (Titus Andronicus, 1.1.121-26). She is flung into the political world of Rome through not only this but future actions throughout the play. Tamora and her consort Aaron are continuously othered by the narrative of Titus; Tamora is the former queen of the Goths and Aaron is a Moor.

    Read More

  • Okonkwo A Sympathetic Character

    563 Words  | 2 Pages

    In these few chapters that we read, we have already learned a lot about Okonkwo, his life, and how he shows sympathy to some, but to others he is heartless. Okonkwo is other wise known as an unsympathetic person. Okonkwo is a clan leader of umuofia who holds many titles and is well known among his people. Okonkwo's daily life consists of tending to the three yam farms he has produced and to make numerous offerings to numerous gods and to help himself and his family. Okonkwo's personality is hard driven, since his father did not provide for him and his family Okonkwo had to start man hood early and this led him to be very successful in his adulthood, Okonkwo is an unsympathetic character who only shows sympathy rarely because he believes it's a sign of weakness Okonkwo's family relationships make him a sympathetic character because when his children show signs of manliness or do their jobs right he shows sympathy towards them. He is an unsympathetic character because whenever he get a little mad he has to take his anger out on something and that is usually vented by beating his wife's.

    Read More

  • Tragic Hero In Antigone

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Sophocles’ classic play Antigone the main character Antigone faces the impactful and controversial choice between god’s laws and man’s laws, fate and free-will, and family versus government. With her heroic and ultimately fatal decisions, Antigone would normally be the character everyone defines as a stereotypical tragic hero, however, not many people take into consideration that her counterpart Creon, is the real tragic hero. Creon is often portrayed as the antagonist within the play, yet he has all the qualities that make an ideal tragic hero.

    Read More

  • Zero Control In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are multiple themes that are going on through the novel, Things Fall Apart. The one that definitely sticks out the most is that one person cannot control every aspect of his and their spouses and children lives. Okonkwo has a hard time accepting that fact because he sees it as him becoming like his father. Once everything in Okonkwo's life starts spiraling out of control he doesn't know what to think. We start to side of him that isn't shown that often. Okonkwo's prideful and full of achievements life is just, all at once, turning into “Mere anarchy” that is loose upon the

    Read More

  • The Man Behind the Mask in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    Their beliefs are completely opposite each other because of Okonkwo's need to fulfill his own pressures and ideal image, which he burdens himself with. Certain characteristics he holds which his father does not is seriousness, determination, and brutality. Okonkwo cannot move on from his past, instead he forces his future to be effected by his past, which results in his emotional separation from others around him. Oknonkwo describes his father as "lazy, improvident and quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart

    526 Words  | 2 Pages

    Okonkwo is portrayed as a respected individual in many ways. He was a well known person through out the 9 villages and beyond. His successes were based wholly on his personal achievements. For example, he was a warrior and wrestler who gained respect through his athletics. Manliness was a characteristic that was greatly valued by the people of the village. Since Okonkwo was a wrestler and a warrior this showed that he was a fierce fear-free individual. And because he hadn't lost one fight or any battles this was more reason for the people of the village to love him. He was also respected because of his wealth. Okonkwo had three wives and m...

    Read More

  • Masculinity vs. Femininity in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ung lazy and reliant on the whites. When Okonkwo's own son joins the church he must have felt a great sadness that his son was weak in mind, and would become softened by the white culture. Feminine versus masculine traits is the controversy in this instance. Okonkwo has built his whole life on the masculinity of the tribe. The masculinity is what helps the tribe survive.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Feminism In Things Fall Apart

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    Okonkwo sees his father’s gentleness as a feminine trait. He works hard to be as masculine as possible so that he will be the opposite of his father and overcome the shame his father brought to his family. Okonkwo deals with this struggle throughout the entire book, hiding the intense fear of weakness behind a masculine façade (Nnoromele 149). In order to appear masculine, he is often violent. In his desire to be judged by his own worth and not by the worth of his effeminate father, Okonkwo participates in the killing of a boy he sees as a son, even though his friends and other respected tribe members advise him against it. (Hoegberg 71). Even after the killing of Ikamefuna, Okonkwo hides his feelings of sadness because the emotions are feminine to him. He goes so far as to ask himself, “when did you become a shivering old woman” (Achebe 65), while he is inwardly grieving. The dramatic irony of the secret fears that Okonkwo has will open the reader’s eyes to how important gender identity is to him. This theme is also presented among Okonkwo’s children. He sees his oldest son, Nwoye, as feminine because he does not like to work as hard as his father (Stratton 29). When Nwoye eventually joins the Christian church, Okonkwo sees him as even more feminine. On the other hand, Okonkwo’s

    Read More

More about Characters In Things Fall Apart, Antigone, And Titus Andronicus

Open Document