Character Analysis

Okonkwo is an African character who is the protagonist in the book, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Okonkwo is an influential leader that fears insignificance. His character, Okonkwo's strive for power was inspired by his father, Unoka. Instead of looking at his father as a role model or setting him as an idol that Okonkwo would like to be, he sets his father as an example of what not to become, due to his father's wrongful and unreasonable upbringings. Okonkwo's character is portrayed as great and powerful, throughout the book.

How does Okonkwo develop themes in the text as a tragic hero?

The theme of a tragic hero is portrayed through Okonkwo in the story as his fate vs. free will and culture vs. tradition come into play. Throughout most of the book Okonkwo is portrayed as powerful and filled with achievements, yet as the story progresses his fate becomes more evident and he starts to blame it for the events that occur. Inevitably, his fate takes over his free will and he murders Ikemefuna and blames the oracle. He is then exiled from the village, only to return and kill others, along with himself. This shows how the restraint of his power throughout the story is shown and how Okonkwo’s fate over-rides his free will. 

Why does Achebe choose a tragic hero for his protagonist in his colonial counter narrative?

Achebe made it obvious that Okonkwo was the main focus of the story, by doing so, this give readers a central focus point to follow as the story progresses. He may have chosen to use a tragic hero, such as Okonkwo for the protagonist of the story to show just how a character could have been demolished or ruined in a situation similar to that of having your home invaded, just as Okonkwo did.

What is the purpose of function of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart?

The purpose of function Okonkwo plays within the novel of Things Fall Apart is to show the readers and audience what had occurred and to give them a prospective of the event that happened during this time period. Achebe uses Okonkwo to portray the themes in the story and show the culture of not only the Igbo tribe but also many others with similar stories or events that had occurred.