Who is Okonkwo?
Okonkwo is the sole protagonist of importance in Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo is a fierce warrior with three skulls hanging on his belt. He is the son of a person known as Unoka who used to borrow and spend money without much consideration. Okonkwo earns his name in Umophia and Mabanta on the basis of hard work and his strong powers. He gives unnecessary importance to the values of manhood. As far as his physical features are concerned, he is tall, strong and looks exactly like a person always in anger. Okonkwo is so bad-tempered that he uses his fists before he talks. Let's explore his character in detail:
Made by Himself through Action
Okonkwo is a person who is known for his own efforts. He, by any means, did not like to be an exact disciple of his father who was a lazy person and he was fond of drinking. Okonkwo, on the other hand, is quite opposite to the lazy image of his father. He believes in the values of manhood which are courage and bravery like the lion, in the battlefield, marrying as many wives as possible, acquiring a high status in society. It must be noted that Okonkwo's father was not a respected personality among Umofians and he had won no titles. Therefore, to climb the social ladder, Okonkwo had to start from scratch to build up his reputation in the Umofian community.
The first important milestone in rising to high orders came in the form of Okonkwo throwing a seven-year champion, Amalinze the Cat, out of the wrestling ring. Such a victory alone awarded him with a distinct title of "Roaring Flames". Okonkwo, then, emerged as a wealthy farmer of yams and then, a messenger to Mbaino, Okonkwo not only "won" a boy known as Ikemefuna, but also a beautiful virgin who became his third wife. It is baffling to see how his father was ignored by the Umofian tribes but Okonkwo not only got himself noticed, but also climbed the social leader with such a great success that Okonkwo was chosen to be one of the egwugwu.
A Consistent Hard Worker
Okonkwo utilizes his physical might to turn him into a wealthy person. Okonkwo does not inherit any piece of land from his father. He gets one based on his own image. He works tirelessly from dawn to dusk on his farms and considers it a kind of worship. His first attempt to attain a hefty crop of yams is marred by long droughts. While his second attempt is swept by fierce rains which compel a farmer to hang himself but Okonkwo is not demotivated by it,
Since I survived that year, I shall survive anything.
And his hard work is finally paid off in a handsome amount of money.
His Stern Belief in the Values of Manhood - His Tragic Flaw
Okonkwo gets what he desires for, wives, children, social status, health and wealth. But his social influence slowly adds pride in him. But still this does not contribute as a tragic flaw in him. His actual tragic flaw is his stern adherence to his own values of manhood. For instance, Okonkwo is consistently advised by Ezeudu not to kill Ikemefuna,
That boy calls you father.... Bear no hand in his death.
But Okonkwo murders his son only to prove his "manhood".
In order to make his son Novoye, as good a 'man' as Okonkwo is, Okonkwo treats his family strictly. If someone goes against his wishes, he does not even hesitate from beating, even his own wife. Due to Okonkwo's hostile behaviour, Novoye gradually turns against his father and when he learns that Okonkwo is the murderer of his brother friend, Ikemefuna, he converts to Christianity. Okonkwo's tragic finale occurs when he, along with other reverend people of the Umofian tribe are arrested, beaten and released. Okonkwo motivates his people to fight a final war against the English missionaries for molesting their gods and for arresting, and beating the respectable members of the Umofian clan. But in return, his own people back himself out. He is saddened to see the "feministic" traits in his 'men' and he hangs himself assuming he is the only man left in the village who can do nothing.
Conclusion
Okonkwo wins the hearts of the readers through his unparalleled hard work but he also disappoints them with his lack of compassion for his family, only to show his love for the values of manhood.
