Okonkwo Relationship With His Father Analysis

In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Okonkwo’s relationship with his father affects all of his actions. In his childhood, Okonkwo was exposed to ignominy because his father, Unoka, was not respected by the rest of Umuofia, the village they lived in. In adulthood, Okonkwo’s shame grows with him and with the shame comes a fear of being like his father. He spends his whole life avoiding acting like his father and ultimately fails in his death. Okonkwo became ashamed of his father in childhood and this shame affected his behaviour throughout his life and ultimately lead to him dying in similar circumstances to his father. Okonkwo’s views on masculinity are greatly affected by how he perceived his father, Unoka, to be. Unoka was a happy and relaxed man but as a result of this he was not accomplished or hard-working. Unoka’s “happiest moments were [...] when the village musicians brought down their instruments, hung about the

As Unoka’s is deteriorating he told Okonkwo, “You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and bitter when a man fails alone.(3.36-37)” Unoka was speaking from his own experience, as he was later taken to the Evil Forest to die. Ironically, despite all of Okonkwo’s efforts throughout his life to be different from his father, he fails alone and dies in similar circumstances to Unoka. A few days before, Okonkwo had told himself “If they listen to him, I shall leave and plan my own revenge. (24.15)” and the following day “he knew that Umuofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messenger escape. (24.35)” Okonkwo realizes that he is alone, and then goes to kill himself the next day. Only at the end of his life does he realize he has become similar to his father in his efforts to do the opposite and that is his final