Okonkwo as Classic Greek Hero in Chinua Achebes Things...

Okonkwo as Classic Greek Hero in Things Fall Apart A sense of foreboding envelops us from the first. We sense all will not end well for Umuofia. The chill of fear grips us as the world of Okonkwo and his clan truly falls apart. Okonkwo will need all of his power to fight the forces against his world, but tragically he is crippled by the most destructive malady of all, fear of himself. Achebe employs the form of classical Greek tragedy to tell his African tale of the rise and fall of Okonkwo. This most fearsome warrior has proven himself from the youngest age as worthy of honor and respect. He is driven by his fathers legacy of shame and has no use for unsuccessful men. But as he projects his image of strength, we†¦show more content†¦He is victorious in wrestling, providing wealth for his family, and achieving honorary titles. We recognize his ambition, his drive to be the best- his implied excellence. In these introductory chapters, we understand the problem for the hero and his society- change is coming, but the hatred of his father and the resulting anger and fear have afflicted Okonkwo. His flaw will be his downfall in coping with the changes to come. Okonkwo fears for his disturbingly weak son, Nyowe, and teaches him with his stories- masculine stories of violence and bloodshed. (p. 53) But Nyowe prefers the stories of his mother- stories which teach wisdom rather than action. Nyowe knows that it pleases his father to listen to his stories, but it is apparent that Nyowe is a thinking person. As Nyowe absorbs the shock of Ikemefunas death, we feel the first break in the solidarity of the clan. .Nyowe knew that Ikemefuna had been killed, and something seemed to give way inside him, like the snapping of a tightened bow. (p. 61) Nyowe is forming his own impressions of the rituals of his society. We sense that the death of Ikemefuna has been a turning point in the story. The sense of foreboding grows. We know the inevitability of disaster now; the crisis is developing. Okonkwo has ignored the advice of Ezeudu, the wise man inserted in the tale in traditional Greek form. Although he was warned, Okonkwo kills the boy to show his strength, his bravery,Show MoreRelated Okonkwos Tragic Flaws in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay3094 Words   |  13 Pagesparticular individuals or those they influence. Classic characters, like Odysseus and Oedipus for instance, exemplify the excess of some positive character trait, like pride or honesty, which ironically leads to their personal misfortune. Throughout literary history, particularly within Grecian writings and apparently still evident in todays international pieces, there exists continuity within the human fear of failure. Chinua Achebes novel, Things Fall Apart, details a remote native African societyRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1522 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle, a Greek philosopher, defines a tragic hero â€Å"as a person of noble or high status who displays a tragic flaw hamartia, and experiences a dramatic reversal peripateia. In addition, his downfall is often preceded by self-realization†. In Things Fall Apart, the author uses Okonkwo, to illustrate the downfall of pre-colonial Ibo society. In the beginning, Okonkwo was destined for greatness. He was strong, economically stable, and had a huge influence over the village’s affairs. One may sayRead MoreEssay on Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe3009 Words   |  13 Pagescolonized societies and the ways in which wr iters articulate that identity. Things Fall Apart is a good novel that serves as a reminder of what Nigeria once was. It shows how a society can deal with change, how change affects the individuals of that society, and how delicate a change can be; so much so that the people themselves are surprised at the change. Things Fall Apart is an English novel by the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe which was published in 1957. Throughout the book the role of customsRead More The Role of Women in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay3614 Words   |  15 Pages More than those of any other African writer, Chinua Achebe’s writings have helped to develop what is known as African literature today. And the single book which has helped him to launch his revolution is the classic, Things Fall Apart.   The focus of this essay includes: 1) Achebes portraiture of women in his fictional universe, the existing sociocultural situation of the period he is depicting, and the factors in it that condition male attitudes towards women; 2) the consequences of the absence