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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
An 8 page research paper that focuses on the character of Okonkwo in Chinus Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart. The writer examines how much of Okonkwo's downfall is due to his own character and how this relates to Igbo society in general. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
8 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khokonkw.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Umuofia. Okonkwos village is one of a handful of villages that collectively make-up the Igbo tribe. This man is pictured by Achebe as representing both the best and the worst
of his culture. Caught in times where the social paradigms are changing due to outside influences, Okonkwo fails to adapt and insists on maintaining the old, militaristic customs that
the Igbo have long valued. This is the factor largely responsible for his ultimate downfall. However, Achebe also makes it clear that Okonkwo, while a tribal hero has human flaws
and these flaws, also, contribute to his tragic end. Within the first few pages on the novel, Achebe establishes Okonkwo as having the stature in this culture of an
epic hero. Achebe states that Okonkwo was known throughout the nine Igbo villages and even beyond (7). His fame began at the age of eighteen when he brought
honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat, who was unbeaten for seven years and acknowledged as the greatest wrestler. Achebe makes it clear that Okonkwo is honored
by his tribe because he embodies their values in regards to violence and warfare and, also, that the Igbo culture is martially oriented. In other words, the Igbo prize those
men who are "warriors", who have won distinction on the battlefield. Achebe comments that "in Umuofia...men were bold and warlike" (151). Because Okonkwo embodies so much of Igbo culture, it
is clear that he himself is also a symbol for the Igbo culture as whole, personifying the destiny of the community. Nevertheless, even though Achebe makes it clear that
Okonkwo "is" the Igbo culture, he is far from being a perfect character. He is very human. In creating this framework, Achebe appear to be working with an Aristotelian perspective,
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