The Importance Of Okonkwo's Roles In Things Fall Apart

Throughout the first century and present day, sacrifices have been an offering to appease the God’s. During the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo’s bloodshed of the messenger and himself brought forth his values of Determination, Hard Work, and Ferocity.

There are many self-determined individuals around the world. Okonkwo was determined to be an acclaimed leader of the clan in his village. “He knew he was a fierce fighter, and since he survived the year of the harvest, “should survive anything”(25). Okonkwo can survive any storm and tribulation, because his arrogance and pride of life is strong enough that “his proud heart can survive a general weakness” (25). During Okonkwo’s rituals with the clansmen, he would “move his

First, Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna, when he ran toward him. “He was paralyzed by fear, and Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down” (61). His whole life was dominated by fear, and the fear of himself. Next, in the center of a crowd lay a boy in a pool of blood, who had been dancing to a traditional farewell to his father. The gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy’s heart” (124). From the passage, the author evokes a sense of hatred toward the boy. Since he was worshiping his father’s farewell of death, Okonkwo thought it as a weakness, as he hated his father. Finally, Okonkwo was deeply disturbed after the head messenger had said, “we must root out this evil. And if our brothers take the side we must root them out too” (204). Okonkwo sprang to his feet and drew his machete, and the messenger crouched to avoid the blow. “Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body” (204). Okonkwo did not want to be viewed by the clan as weak, fragile and powerless, so he killed the head messenger as a