Who Is Okonkwo A Tragic Hero

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A tragic hero describes a character who possesses great qualities, but endures a change in life due to an adverse event. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo embodies the habits of a tragic hero when a calamitous event occurs, which leads to his banishment from Umuofia, his native land. Through the influence of his father, Unoka, Okonkwo strives to be an accomplished and respected man in his tribe, unlike his father. Throughout Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is an ideal representation of a tragic hero because he experiences a tragic misfortune and he is an admirable, but flawed leader.
A tragic hero typically experiences peripeteia and Okonkwo suffers vastly from his change of fate. A fortuitous mishap occurs, which causes Okonkwo’s torment: “The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years” (174). When Okonkwo’s gun went off, he accidentally kills a clansman. By committing this crime, Okonkwo offends the earth goddess, and his tribe forces him out of the land. The death was female because it was unintentional, and this unexpected accident permutes Okonkwo’s entire life. The tribe banishes Okonkwo from his native land for seven years, and Okonkwo lives with his mother’s clan and suffers immensely while being apart from Umuofia. Okonkwo reflects on his time in his motherland: “The seven wasted and weary years …show more content…

By enduring his banishment from Umuofia, Okonkwo manifests extensive misery. By being a strong leader in both Umuofia and his motherland, Okonkwo displays his perseverance and high esteem. Nevertheless, his fierce leadership is driven by his detestation of his father and trepidation of failure. Through his sufferings and leadership, Okonkwo personifies the epitome of a tragic

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