Things Fall Apart
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Task- Use details from the novel to support the view that “Okonkwos relationship with his late father shapes much of his violent ambitious demeanor.”
“Things Fall Apart”
In the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, the protagonist is seen through his violent and ambitious demeanor. Okonkwo wants to rise above his fathers reputation of being a big spender and his lazy behavior to prove to the Igbo society he is greater than that. Okonkwos relationship with his late father shapes much of his violet and ambitious demeanor which can be seen through Okonkwo being impatient, violent, and his lack of hard working habits.
Okonkwo is seen as an impatient character throughout this novel. He is very impatient with men who are less successful than he is. During a meeting of the tribes elders, he calls another man a woman and says, “This meeting is for men.” This man he called a woman had no titles, and so Okonkwo felt that he was not worthy enough. However, Okonkwo was forced to apologize to the man. Another time Okonkwo was impatient was when he beat his wife during the Week of Peace because she does not send him his food as required. Okonkwo broke the rules during the Week of Peace, which is considered a sin. Also, it was Okonkwos first offence against the tribal laws.
Throughout “Things Fall Apart” Okonkwo is seen as being a violent man in the Igbo society. Okonkwos obsession with manliness makes him believe that violence can make him a man. Okonkwo does not think before he does something, his anger takes control of him which causes him to do very violent things such as shooting at his second wife, Ekwefi, however he misses. He thought that she had cut down his banana tree, but the realism was she had only cut a few leaves. This shows how Okonkwo has a violent temper which causes him to do violent things. In addition, Ikemefuna, the boy that was adopted into Okonkwos family, eventually gains Okonkwos love. Although Okonkwo never shows his love for Ikemefuna, in time he calls Okonkwo his father. The Oracle orders the death of Ikemefuna, Okonkwo, in order to show his manliness kills the boy who calls him “my father.” .Ogbuefi, the oldest man in the village had asked Okonkwo not to join in the killing of the boy because Ikemefuna called Okonkwo his father, yet, Okonkwo does not listen to Ogbuefi. By Okonkwo killing the boy he has made his second offense against the tribal laws.
Gaining titles and having a fear of becoming anything like his father is shown through Okonkwos lack of hard working habits. Okonkwo earned his first title by defeating the wrestle, “The Cat”, who went undefeated for a period of time. Okonkwo wanted to continue gaining titles so he would not have his fathers reputation. In the novel, Okonkwo is seen to have three out of the four