Internal Conflict In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Internal Conflict in the Book, Things Fall Apart

Parents are a primary example for their children as they grow up. Kids often become very comparable to their parents as they grow up. Okonkwo, from the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, disapproves of his father, however, has trouble parting from his influence. Okonkwo refuses to look up to his dad because he is a failure and a bad representation of a man. His father was a coward and remains dishonored by the village. Okonkwo understands that children often become similar to their parents, and he has trouble coping with that. In the book Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo, the main character, suffers from internal conflict due to his fear of becoming similar to his cowardly father.

Okonkwo wants to be known as a strong man in his village, unlike his father. In his eyes, a good way of being strong is to not show any feelings, due to this regard, “Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger. To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength” (Achebe 28). Okonkwo’s whole life is based on the fear of him becoming like his father. A popular way of demonstrating his strength is

by not showing any emotions. He thinks that the only emotion worth showing is anger; his fear of being like his father can get out of hand sometimes. For example, Ikemefuna, who is like a son to Okonkwo, is suppose to be killed, but Okonkwo was afraid of his self image and helps with the act, “Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being weak” (Achebe 61). Okonkwo’s self image is a big concern to him. He cares a lot about what others think of him. Due to this, he betrays his own ‘son’. He is more concerned about what others think about him, rather than the safety of Ikemefuna. Okonkwo has a lot of internal conflict when it comes to his father; he is ashamed of him and hates having to even think about him. Sometimes he does things without thinking because he is so concerned about not being like him. Okonkwo can have trouble thinking before he acts.“[H]e threw himself into it like one possessed. And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father’s contemptible life and shameful death” (Achebe 18). Okonkwo is a strong man because he is constantly thinking about his unheroic father. His father has driven him to become very close to the opposite of him. He has a rough time almost the whole novel because his father is always on his mind. Okonkwo struggles from internal conflict due to his fear of becoming like his father.
Okonkwo is always concerned about his future and who he will be/turn into.

Okonkwo gets really emotional when he kills Ikemefuna. He starts to think he has become weak and is turning into his father. He reflects, “‘When did you become such a shivering old woman,’ Okonkwo asked himself, ‘you, who are known in all the nine villages for your valor in war? How can a man who has killed five men in battle fall to pieces because he has added a boy to their number? Okonkwo, you have become a woman indeed’” (Achebe 65). Okonkwo is very emotional but hates to show it because that is what a “weak man” would do. Everyday he worries more and more about if he will be like his father. He worries and worries and whenever he does anything he questions himself and if he is acting like his

father.
Okonkwo has always had internal conflict with his dad. Most of his decisions have been based on how it would affect him and his image compared to his dad. His whole life has been him worrying about turning out like his father. Okonkwo, from the book Things Fall Apart, struggles with internal conflict throughout the entire novel.