The Theme Of Fear In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
analytical Essay
1481 words
The character of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart was driven by fear, a fear of change and losing his self-worth. He needed the village of Umuofia, his home, to remain untouched by time and progress because its system and structure were the measures by which he assigned worth and meaning in his own life. Okonkwo required this external order because of his childhood and a strained relationship with his father, which was also the root of his fears and subsequent drive for success. When the structure of Umuofia changed, as happens in society, Okonkwo was unable to adapt his methods of self-evaluation and ways of functioning in the world; the life he was determined to live could not survive a new environment and collapsed around him. From an early age, Okonkwo was ashamed of his father, Unoka, who was unable even to feed his family. The unpredictability of receiving enough food at a young age was enough to inspire fear and embarrassment in Okonkwo who associated this embarrassment with his father and was given further justification for these feelings when he went out into Umuofia, discovering that the …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the character of okonkwo in chinua achebe's things fall apart was driven by fear, a fear of change and losing his self-worth.
- Explains how okonkwo was ashamed of his father, unoka, who was unable to feed his family. the unpredictability of receiving enough food at a young age was enough to inspire fear and embarrassment.
- Analyzes how okonkwo rejected the ways of his father, who was deeply indebted to other members of umuofia, holding no titles, to the point where his whole life was dominated by fear, failure, and weakness.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's disparity between his true and warped motivations led him to behave in ways which shocked other members of umuofia with his apparent disregard for others.
- Analyzes how the ibo ways faded through the novel, reaching a head in part two, bringing the downfall of okonkwo.
- Analyzes how okonkwo didn't argue with the banishment that was the standard punishment when he accidentally killed another umuofia member during a funeral ceremony. obierika mourned his loss and questioned the reasoning behind the punishment.
- Narrates how okonkwo's rebellion against his father continued when he was deprived of umuofia and the opportunity to fulfill his passion of becoming a clan lord.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's suicide conformed to the ways of umuofia. the white men attracted the lowest positions and those who questioned the previous order.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's resistance to change was irreversible and his final downfall as the ibo ways changed.
He transferred his fears into the context of Umuofia and the traits that society valued, but what was really the driving force in his decisions “was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father” (17). The values of Umuofia resembled the polar opposite of what Unoka was and Okonkwo twisted his motivations around in his mind and presented them to himself and the community as derived from Umuofia’s traditions. From this delusion, Okonkwo established his ultimate goal of becoming a revered member of the village, possessing many titles, and achieving anything necessary displaying his prominence in the
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- Change In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apartanalytical essayLife is a road with infinity paths, among these paths is change. The character Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart was driven by the fear of losing himself in the whirlwind know as change. He needed the village of Umuofia, his home, to remain stuck in time because he measured his own self-worth by the system and the structure of Umuofia. Okonkwo required this order because of the ruined childhood, he had due to his father, their strained relationship, and this was the underlying cause for all his fears and drive for success. When the cultural and political structure of Umuofia changed, as it happens in society. Okonkwo was unable to adapt; the life he desired could not survive the collision with western culture, leading it to collapse.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the character okonkwo in chinua achebe's things fall apart was driven by the fear of losing himself in the whirlwind known as change.
- Explains that okonkwo despised his father unoka due to his laziness and inability to produce food for the family, which caused fear and embarrassment.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's use of the word beggar in the novel, the downfall of umuofia, is foreshadowing his response to the great events.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's suicide conformed to the ways of umuofia, which he had discovered in his youth.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's resistance to change was irreversible. he resisted the ibo traditions and took the old traditions with him.
770 wordsRead More - Cultural Differences In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebeanalytical essayIt challenged his identity by losing his high title in the clan due to the change in the village as well as new customs. He responded to the clash of cultures by attempting to encourage others to fight in his mission to get rid of the Western influences in the Ibo community. Because he failed to do so, he lost hope and refused to accept the new culture which caused him to hang himself. The conflict between Okonkwo and his clan’s decision to change their way of living was portrayed through characterization and plot development. Achebe gives the people of Africa a voice with Okonkwo’s character who stayed true to his roots. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe reveals to us Okonkwo’s response as the cultural collision of the English and Ibo challenged his sense of
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how chinua achebe, of things fall apart, portrayed the change in the igbo people's society through the character okonkwo in umuofia.
- Analyzes how achebe uses indirect characterization to show how okonkwo's fame throughout the nine villages from his great strength and talent in fighting.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's response to the cultural collision made an impact on the novel. he was in conflict with the ideas of the white men and the missionaries.
- Analyzes how chinua achebe wrote things fall apart to shine a light on the perspective of the nigerians during colonization. he demonstrates the struggle of dealing with forced western ideas into okonkwo's character.
960 wordsRead More - Things Fall Apart - By Chinua Achebe (diverse Cultures Essay)analytical essayHowever, beyond this manly display of strength and fortitude lies a man whose life is dominated by fear, a fear of being considered a failure. The main contribution to this fear is his father Unoka. When talking about Okonkwo, it is hard for Unoka's name not to come up, as he has been such a great influence and contribution to his personality, and the way in which he chooses to live his life.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how okonkwo is a senior member of the ibo tribe in nigeria and has two very different sides to his personality.
- Describes okonkwo as a powerful, respected man who is well known throughout his home village of umuofia and beyond. he is impulsive, explosive, hardworking, energetic, and has no patience with idle men.
- Opines that okonkwo's father, unoka, has been a great influence and contribution to his personality and the way he chooses to live his life.
- Explains that unoka was a lazy, incompetent man, who disliked war and violence, and was emotionally sensitive and reflective. he tries to be the complete opposite of his father in every single way.
- Analyzes how okonkwo became an independent, strong-headed man. unoka was far from perfect, but he had some good points, such as his gentleness, and his kindness.
- Analyzes okonkwo's protective, loving personality, which he hides for fear of being compared to his dead father. he cares a lot about what other people think of him, and tries hard to react bravely.
- Analyzes how okonkwo treats his children in the same harsh manner that he treats everyone else. he is rude, aggressive, and overreacts to the smallest mishap.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's relationships with his wives are not any better, as he has very sexist ideas as to how relationships between husband and wife should be. he acts in a very impatient and rude manner towards them, treating them with no respect whatsoever.
- Opines that okonkwo's narrow minded views about how a woman should behave towards and be treated by her husband are not entirely his fault.
- Analyzes how okonkwo accepts the laws and religions of his clan without question, and is completely happy to live his life in accordance with them.
- Opines that despite his impetuosity, he can sometimes accidentally go against the law of the clan, or react in a way that sets him in the bad light in their eyes.
- Explains okonkwo had heard rumours of white men who were 'as white as chalk, and had no toes'. they jokingly compared them to adami a well known leper.
- Narrates how okonkwo took the idea seriously when he heard from his friend obierika that their neighbouring town, abame, had been completely wiped out by the white men and some of their african converts.
- Explains that abame had been wiped out because they had killed the first missionary that was sent by the white men to survey the land, because their oracle had predicted that they would break up their clan, and spread destruction.
- Analyzes how okonkwo blamed the abame people for not being armed at all times since the prior warning of danger. he believed that people would regard them as foolish, and not listen much to what they had to say.
- Explains okonkwo's advice to not reason like cowards. if a man comes into his hut and defcates on the floor, what do i do?
- Analyzes how okonkwo was shocked when he heard his son's attendance at a christian meeting. he sprang to his feet, grabbed his father by the neck, and demanded to know his whereabouts.
- Analyzes how nwoye became thoughtful and depressed, and contemplated what it would be like if all his children worship the white man's god when he dies.
- Narrates okonkwo's seven years of exile ended, and he was allowed to return to his father land, umuofia. he realised what a great hold white men and their followers had over their way of life.
- Narrates how mbanta's white man built a place of judgement in umuofia and hanged people who failed to abide by their laws, but no-one took these stories seriously and thought it would be easy to drive them out of the clan
- Narrates how okonkwo was saddened and depressed when he heard of these happenings, and failed to comprehend why the war like people had succumbed to the laws and customs of the white men
- Narrates how okonkwo, a christian, committed one of the greatest crimes he could commit, by unmasking an egwugwe of umuofia.
- Narrates how okonkwo's faith in the clan was restored, and he felt it was like the good old days again.
- Describes how the leaders of umuofia (of whom okonkwo is one) were invited to the headquarters of the district commissioner, where they were handcuffed and imprisoned until a ransom was paid for their release.
- Analyzes how okonkwo, being the proud, dignified, man that he is, was degraded and humiliated, and has probably never been treated in this way before in his life.
- Analyzes how the man adamantly reminisces about past wars and tells himself that 'worthy men are no more.'
- Describes how okonkwo decapitated the head messenger, who made his life such a misery in his time of imprisonment.
- Analyzes how he has given up all hope for umuofia to return to the brave, worthy men they once were.
- Opines that okonkwo's decision to end his life was shock and disbelief, and they were disappointed that he had not chosen a different course of action.
- Analyzes okonkwo's decision to end his existence because he could not cope with the irreversible changes that had happened to the people of umuofia during his absence.
- Describes how okonkwo reacted to the changes like a fish out of water, and eventually felt that he could no longer cope with life.
2797 wordsRead More - Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apartanalytical essayOkonkwo is “a man of action, a man of war” (7) and a member of high status in the Igbo village. He holds the prominent position of village clansman due to the fact that he had “shown incredible prowess in two intertribal wars” (5). Okonkwo’s hard work had made him a “wealthy farmer” (5) and a recognized individual amongst the nine villages of Umuofia and beyond. Okonkwo’s tragic flaw isn’t that he was afraid of work, but rather his fear of weakness and failure which stems from his father’s, Unoka, unproductive life and disgraceful death. “Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness….It was not external but lay deep within himself. It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father.” Okonkwo’s father was a lazy, carefree man whom had a reputation of being “poor and his wife and children had just barely enough to eat... they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back.” (5) Unoka had never taught Okonkwo what was right and wrong, and as a result Okonkwo had to interpret how to be a “good man”. Okonkwo’s self-interpretation leads him to conclude that a “good man” was someone who was the exact opposite of his father and therefore anything that his father did was weak and unnecessary.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how okonkwo is a tragic hero in chinua achebe's novel things fall apart. aristotle defines tragic heroes as good men of high status who display tragic flaws and experience dramatic reversals.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's tragic flaw isn't that he was afraid of work, but rather his fear of weakness and failure which stems from his father’s unproductive life and disgraceful death.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's fear leads him to treat members of his family harshly, in particular his son, and his downfall is a result of the changes created by the british colonists to igbo.
- Analyzes okonkwo's reaction to christianity and the influence of the british after his seven-year exile.
975 wordsRead More - In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is an extremely complex character who experiences a variety of emotions which he has a difficult time controlling. He experiences a never ending battle of psychosomatic symptoms, starting with his obsession over the conflict of the past with his father, Unoka. Okonkwo portrays himself as a heroic, strong warrior, only to mask the feelings of intense anger, fear, and selfishness that provokes him, which inevitably leads him down the same path as his father. He feels a strong hatred towards his father because he believes that his father had no masculine qualities, he owed everyone money, and owned no titles. Achebe states:
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how okonkwo, in achebe's things fall apart, is a complex character who experiences psychosomatic symptoms, starting with his obsession over the conflict of the past with unoka.
- Analyzes how okonkwo believes that no man should ever be like his father. he defeats amalinze the cat in a wrestling match, gaining respect from those in his society.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's instincts of survival, satisfaction of his needs, his aggressiveness, murder and conquest are all provoked by one emotion he hides very well, fear.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's vile actions driven by fear of loosing his hard work and titles inevitably causes his downfall.
- Analyzes how okonkwo strives to avoid being like his father, which ironically leads him to be even weaker when he commits suicide.
692 wordsRead More - What Is Unoka's Trauma In Things Fall Apartanalytical essayHe has grown to detest all the things Unoka liked, and developed a strong will and exterior so he wouldn’t even flinch at bloodshed. His father was a coward that feared almost everything and was considered an agbala amongst others. Okonkwo had been personally affected by his father's underachievements by cause of children who taunted him at a young age. Unoka is also known to be the opposite of Okonkwo, or rather Okonkwo began to become the Unoka. “[…] 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.” (2.4). He is ridden by the internal conflict of the always caring of the opinions of others in the village. Okonkwo faces man vs. man conflict since he has to tackle his own perceptions of being an idol in the village. This is a fright that cannot be shaken off in Okonkwo's situation, since it;s been deeply embedded into his personality and how he is. Now that he is overflowing with pride of his high status in Umuofia, his standards are higher, it induces an even more self conscious Okonkwo.“[..] his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. It was deeper and more intimate than the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic“ (12). Okonkwo is able to tackle many obstacles with his power, but unfortunately there is no greater opponent than himself. His mind is always patrolling back on
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how trauma can cause stress to those who suffer through it. in achebe's things fall apart, the protagonist, okonkwo, is faced with a challenge of battling his internal fear and trauma.
- Explains that okonkwo's father, unoka, was a coward who feared almost everything and was considered an idol in umuofia.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's character becomes dynamic and round as the book climaxes. his harsh treatment to his son, nwye, is displayed due to the cause of his father’s neglect.
- Analyzes how okonkwo displayed a few drops of affection towards his newly found son, ikemefuna, after an incident happened in umuofia.
- Analyzes how chinua achebe's use of ibu language in things fall apart gives depth into okonkwo’s logic and reasoning.
997 wordsRead More - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebeanalytical essayOkonkwo was well known through out the nine villages because of his achievements in the tribe. Okonkwo had a great fear of becoming like his father. This had a rather large impact on his life and how his personality. Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was a lazy man whereas Okonkwo was a hard worker, Okonkwo ruled his house with a heavy hand and he was a man of war.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that okonkwo was well known through out the nine villages because of his achievements in the tribe. his fear of becoming like his father had a large impact on his life and personality.
- Explains that okonkwo's father was a man who was not looked up to through out the village. he was lazy and incapable of thinking about the future.
- Analyzes how okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. his wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children.
- Explains that okonkwo was a man of war, despite his fame for wrestling, but he had won titles for inter-tribal wars twice.
- Analyzes how okonkwo's father motivated him to work hard to achieve everything he was aiming for. his fear of becoming a failure made him fearful and never gave up.
659 wordsRead More - Okonkwo's Patience With His Father Analysisanalytical essayUnoka, Okonkwo’s father was always seen as weak and womanly by Okonkwo, causing him to swear off everything about his father. By rejecting Unoka’s ways Okonkwo rejects the personalities of being easy going and kind, making him a very hard working and harsh man. Unoka was always in debt to the people in his village and even at the end of his life Unoka had not even taken the lowest of titles, this irritated Okonkwo for he “had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had not patience with his father” (2). Okonkwo could not stand how his father had lived his life that in his time Okonkwo refused to have anything to do with his father. His father had loved to make music and be merry with other people in which he would buy palm wine and invite friends
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how okonkwo's rejection of his father, unoka, made him a hard-working and harsh man.
200 wordsRead More - “With a father like Unoka, Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had. He neither inherited a barn nor a title, or even a young wife. But in spite of these disadvantages, he had begun even in his father’s lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future” (18). Most of his accomplishments were despite his father, whom Okonkwo loathed, but with whom I connected. In the novel, I relate more to Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, a much more laid back character. Like Unoka, I am in love with life, lazy, not worried about tomorrow, and deeply in debt.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that unoka's appreciation for the moment is rooted in our struggle against society, which demands the focus of our lives to lie beyond the setting sun.
- Opines that it is easier to take life as it comes rather than preparing yourself constantly, securing a healthy, happy life for the future.
- Explains that unoka and he share the great ability to accumulate debts. they are in debt to their parents, in more than money or love.
- Opines that unoka was considered a failure, not only to his tribe but his son okonkwo. he had no title at all and was heavily in debt.
- Compares the character of okonkwo in the novel things fall apart by chinua achebe to their own.
- Analyzes how unoka's improvidence is seen through scholastic tests. he was poor and his wife and children barely had enough to eat.
- Explains that they are a lazy person, just like unoka, who was lazy, improvident, and incapable of thinking about tomorrow.
1662 wordsRead More - Respect Reputation And Religion In Things Fall Apartanalytical essayMoreover, Okonkwo paved his own way to success. His purpose is to outgrow the reputation of his father’s. Unoka, better known as Okonkwo’s lazy father, lived a useless life. Also, he’s noted to be insolvent. “It is a good in these days when the younger generation consider
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how chinua achebe in things fall apart communicates the importance of traditions and customs through respect, reputation, and religion. okonkwo and his wife, ekwefi, are hosting a feast in which the people of umofia honor him.
- Analyzes how okonkwo paved his own way to success by outgrowing his father's reputation. unoka lived a useless life and was insolvent.
173 wordsRead More