The Power of Fear in The Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

590 Words2 Pages

The Power of Fear Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. The power of fear can lead to one’s destruction. In Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, he uses fear to demonstrate the evolution of the protagonist- Okonkwo. Achebe uses conflict, irony to demonstrate the influential aspect of fear in his well-known novel which is examined by Robert Bennett in a literary criticism. Achebe uses internal conflict within his protagonist to demonstrate the power of fear. Okonkwo’s fear of becoming like his lackadaisical father is an internal conflict between Okonkwo. “Okonkwo’s fear was greater than these. It was not external but lay deep within himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father.” (Achebe 13). Okonkwo tries to live his life antipodally from his father. Unlike his father, Okonkwo is a hard worker with little debt and a driven personality. His internal fear leads to his decision to beat his wife during the week of peace and to take part in the mandatory action of killing his bel...

Show More
Related

  • Fear in William Golding´s Lord of the Flies

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fear resides within all of our souls and our minds in different forms wether it be mind, body, or spirit. Fear can be brought upon by actions, words or ever our mere imagination. Of course as one being younger your imagination can bring along fear that is non existent but, to one it may seem so vivid and tangible. In this Novel by William Golding we come to grasps with many different forms of fear being from the beast, the loss of humanity, and the fear of realization.

    Read More

  • The Man Behind the Mask in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    Their beliefs are completely opposite each other because of Okonkwo's need to fulfill his own pressures and ideal image, which he burdens himself with. Certain characteristics he holds which his father does not is seriousness, determination, and brutality. Okonkwo cannot move on from his past, instead he forces his future to be effected by his past, which results in his emotional separation from others around him. Oknonkwo describes his father as "lazy, improvident and quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow.

    Read More

  • Cultural Differences In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    Culture makes us who we are. Each individual has their own culture from their experiences in life and is developed from societal influences. The various cultures around the world influence us in different ways which we experience at least once in our lifetime. There are occasions, especially in history, where cultures clash with one another. For instance, the English colonization in Africa changed their culture. Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart, portrayed this change in the Igbo people’s society, especially through the character Okonkwo in the village of Umuofia; the introduction of Western ideas challenged him. In the novel Things Fall Apart, the author Chinua Achebe introduces to us Okonkwo whose character’s response to the

    Read More

  • Use Of Fear In The Yellow Wallpaper, Hills Like White Elephants

    632 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fear is the emotional state that someone goes into when they feel threatened or endangered. The fact that we do not know everything makes us think that everything we do not know is feared. There are many stories that include the fear of the unknown. Each poem, story, and drama include some type of fear. In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, “Hills Like White Elephants”, and “Poof” there is an extensive amount of fear for the unknown. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Ernest Hemingway, and Lynn Nottage all used the fear to their advantage while writing and making an entertainment for the readers.

    Read More

  • Things Fall Apart Okonkwo Analysis

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fear of failure and weakness dominates Okonkwo throughout his life. At first this fear motivates him to rise to success by working diligently and doing everything his father did not do. However, even when Okonkwo establishes an honorable reputation, fear of failure continues to overwhelm him and drives him to perform acts that lead to his suffering. One example of this is when the men of Umuofia decide that Ikemefuna must be killed and Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna even though he is told not to partake in the killing of Ikemefuna. Okonkwo panics when Ikemefuna turns to him and cries for help, and without thinking, Okonkwo slays Ikemefuna with his machete. Okonkwo does this because in the split second where Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo for protection, Okonkwo is overpowered with fear of being seen as weak and kills Ikemefuna. This is an unwise act on behalf of Okonkwo, and as a result, he suffers emotionally in the next few days. He enters a stage of depression and cannot eat or sleep as all he can think about is what he has done to Ikemefuna. It is at this point that things start t...

    Read More

  • Okonkwo's Character Development In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    Okonkwo’s shame and fear of being seen as weak drove him to be a cruel leader in his tribe and a harsh ruler in his household. In describing this harshness, Achebe writes:

    Read More

  • Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Okonkwo’s desire for respect motivates his quest to preserve the practices of Ibo culture, while Obierika preserves the practices of the Ibo culture with a more humanistic perspective. Achebe uses the differing approaches of Okonkwo and Obierika in maintaining the cultural doctrines of the Ibo people to reveal his sympathy for Obierika over Okonkwo. Okonkwo’s motives for maintaining the customs of the Ibo originate with fear. Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna while “dazed with fear,” drawing “his machete [to] cut him down” because, “he was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 61). Though Okonkwo attempts to appear strong to the people of Umuofia, his fearful motivation speaks to a hidden internal weakness. Okonkwo’s focus on eradicating the taint of “his father’s weakness and failure” and his yearning for respect drive him to kill Ikemefuna instead of the more proper motive of simply effectuating what the Ibo conside...

    Read More

  • The Power Of Religion In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    765 Words  | 2 Pages

    many brutal wars, such as the Crusades, yet also founded many hospitals and charities, proving it difficult to categorize religion as a positive or negative influence. Author Chinua Achebe acknowledges this debate in his novel Things Fall Apart. This novel takes place in Nigeria during the late 19th century and shows the Ibo tribe’s transformation after Christian missionaries arrive. Achebe suggests that Christianity can guide a society by including outcasts but can also destroy a society by breaking family values and establishing schools.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Okonkwo

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although the reader feels remorseful for Okonkwo’s tragic childhood life. It is another reason to sympathize with a man who believes he is powerful and respected by many when in reality, he is feared by his own family and that is another reason that leads Okonkwo to his downfall. He started positive, motivated but down the line, Okonkwo treats his wife and children very harshly. When the author mentioned, “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children” (pg.13).

    Read More

  • Culture, Change, and Tragedy in African Imperialism

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    The realistic fiction novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, depicts the life of Okonkwo, a descendant of Igbo heritage, during the imperialistic times in Africa. The story follows through the village of Umuofia, present-day Nigeria, and places significant ties between the historical background in this time period. During the story, the tribe is bombarded by the white man’s religion, and while Okonkwo is away in exile, their culture begin to fall apart. Torn by the woman-like behavior of his clan upon his return, Okonkwo can’t bear the idea of living with such change, and hangs himself. Like Okonkwo, John in Brave New World also takes his own life because of the changed society. Many of the same factors in Brave New World and Things Fall

    Read More

  • Okonkwo's Fear

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is commonly seen how an individual who is highly regarded to go above and beyond to keep that reputation in place. Likewise, Okonkwo was known for his persistence and high prestige, which is why weakness becomes his greatest fear and causes him to unintentionally exert harm on himself and others. Throughout his life, Okonkwo was seen to constantly place his well respected reputation above everything else, even his own family. Despite his affection for his household, Okonkwo seems to show greater care about others’ opinions about him, which is why he is seen to install fear instead, as it is mentioned how, “His [Okonkwo’s] wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children,” however the author

    Read More

  • Things Fall Apart Masculinity Essay

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    (Achebe 10). Okonkwo expresses himself through violence to avoid seeming emotional and

    Read More

  • Conflict in Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the world there are many conflicts. It has been that way all throughout history. Since the dawn of man, there have been many conflicts. These conflicts led to wars and changed the lives of many forever. Almost all of the conflicts are due to discrimination by different groups of people. Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, provide examples of discrimination between groups of people. The story focuses on the life and suicide of Okonkwo, a well-respected clansman of Umuofia clan. He struggles between the traditional strong masculine culture in a Nigerian Village and the new customs brought by white missionaries. The book shows the disastrous effects of prejudice and intolerance leading readers to reflect on the similarities of present and history. Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, strongly represents the vast amount of bigotry between those of different genders, religious groups, and social statuses throughout history.

    Read More

  • Igbo Culture In Things Fall Apart

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many characters including Okonkwo are fearful within the novel, Okonkwo fears following his father's footsteps and becoming lazy and shameful. As a result he rarely shows his affection and it often leads him to violence a trait his father never

    Read More

  • Essay on the Downfall of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    Okonkwo takes his life as he sees himself a lone warrior in a society of weaklings. This isolation is truly imposed by his decision of how to handle the conflicts which he encounters. His unitary channeling of emotions, cultural inflexibility, and tendency to seek physical confrontation are compiled into a single notion. The idealized vision of a warrior by which Okonkwo lives is the instrument that leads to the climax of Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart: Okonkwo's demise.

    Read More

More about The Power of Fear in The Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Open Document