Okonkwo's Tragic Flaw Essay

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Recommended: Development of okonkwo in Things fall apart

The main character of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is considered a tragic hero to some people. Shakespeare once said that tragic hero holds a position of power and prestige, chooses his course of action, possesses a tragic flaw, and and unfortunately has a tragic downfall. Okonkwo's tragic flaw is his fear of weakness and failure. To add, Chinua Achebe used a tragic hero in his novel to erase the stereotype that is set forth by Europeans during this time period.
While in his prime, Okonkwo is one of the leaders of the Igbo community of Umuofia. Mr. Achebe describes Okonkwo right in the first line of the novel. “Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond”. (Achebe 1) Right away we learn that Okonkwo is a very well …show more content…

He acts before he thinks.This turns out to be his main flaw. Throughout the story, Okonkwo offends many of the Igbo people and their traditions and gods. For example, Okonkwo is told by the Oracle not to help in the killing of Ikemefuna, but he decided to actually take part in the murder of Ikemefuna because as Achebe writes “He is afraid of being thought weak." (61) He tries his entire life to not be thought weak like his father was before him. And that eventually leads to his death. Another time, when he goes against the tradition of the culture and beats his wife during the week of peace. “ But Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating somebody halfway through, not even for fear of a godess” (30) Okonkwo's impulsiveness eventually leads to his downfall.
Okonkwo's downfall occurs when Okonkwo decides to kills one of the British messengers, unfortunately the people of Umuofia do not take action; he realizes that none of them support him “He heard voices saying why did he do it? He wiped his machete in the sand and went away” (205) Ultimately he can't save his people from the colonists. Okonkwo has been broken. He finally commits suicide, which in the Umuofia society is a shameful and disgraceful death just like his father. Exactly how he pledged not to have his life be

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