Things Fall ApartEssay Preview: Things Fall ApartReport this essayIn life people are very rarely, if ever, purely good or evil. In novels authors tend not to create characters with an obvious moral standing not only to make their novel more applicable to the reader, but also to make the characters more complex and dynamic. Chinua Achebe uses this technique to develop the characters in his novel, Things Fall Apart. The main character, and protagonist in the novel, Okonkwo, is very morally dynamic showing some sensitivity to his family and friends, but in an attempting to rebel against his father, Okonkwo also exhibits the tendency to lash out violently.
Okonkwos moral ambiguity is not simply inherent in his character, but is developed by the situation he was presented with in life. Okonkwos father Unoka, exhibited qualities during his lifetime that were not respected by his fellow clan members. During the beginning of the book the reader can relate to how Okonkwo would want to be respected and can be happy for his success. It is the simple tendency of the reader to be happy when the protagonist succeeds; therefore when Okonkwo defeats Amalinze the cat in wrestling the reader is satisfied with the outcome. Okonkwos moral ambiguity is defined when it is made clear that Okonkwo simply discards his father, whose death was described as being very painful. Although Okonkwos father was unsuccessful in life, the reader still pities him when he dies because he was a compassionate person. Even though Okonkwo appeals to the readers own want to be successful, and is viewed positively for that reason, he is developed as a morally ambiguous character because of the lack of compassion he showed toward his father.
Later in the book, as Okonkwo becomes more successful in his village by attaining wives and a large number of yams, the reader learns of his tendency towards violence and stubbornness. One of the first examples of Okonkwos violence was during the villages sacred week of peace, when he severely beat his wife for arriving home late. Although a man beating his wife was common practice in Okonkwos village, it was extremely forbidden for a man to beat his wife during this sacred week. Even though Okonkwos neighbors were extremely upset with his actions, Okonkwo remained indignant. The book described his attitude saying, “But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error. And so people said he had no respect for the gods of the clan. His enemies said that his good fortune had gone to his head.” As if Okonkwos blatant sexism was not apparent, Okonkwo goes on to say to himself, “No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children he was not really a man.” Despite the fact that Okonkwo beat his wife Ekwefi, it is clear that he still loves her. Later in the book Ekwefis only daughter Ezinma is taken by the town priestess, Okonkwo then takes it upon himself to follow his wife and daughter to make sure they are safe. Okonkwo also expresses his love for his daughters Ezinma throughout the book in his own way saying, “I wish she were a son.” Although at a surface level Okonkwo seems to have a disregard for his family, Okonkwo is battling between his emotions, and his want to be unlike his father.
Okonkwos moral standing once again comes into question through his relationship with his adopted son Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna was a teenage boy that Okonkwo took temporary possession of after a settlement with a neighboring clan. Okonkwo and his family created a close bond with the boy, which is significant because Okonkwo rarely ever has an attachment to people. One day it is determined that one of the local gods wants the foreign boy killed. Despite urgings from his neighbor, Okonkwo went with the men to kill Ikemefuna to avoid appearing unmanly. When the village men began to attack the unsuspecting boy he ran towards Okonkwo for help, Okonkwo instead cuts down the boy, once again to avoid appearing weak. Although Okonkwo appears stoic at first, he falls into a deep depression when he returns home saying to himself, “When did you become a shivering old woman, you, who are
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Okonkwo is a character in the “Okonkwo ” manga. By the manga’s middle chapter, he is shown to be the son of the local gods. Is this true?
Ayo Ijime In my personal opinion, a person cannot possibly know in advance that the existence of a living god and the existence of a human being are such two things. That fact has come up in a lot of discussions of human beings and the various religions and philosophies, especially among the younger generation. But what does the truth become when you begin to examine the situation and discover that a person is in fact an immortal existent? What is such a thing? Is there any meaning to such an existence?
In a chapter of the “Okonkwo ” series, in Chapter 2 of Aokoku’s first, he is shown fighting with a girl named Jibba.
In “Kiss Me Baby” He is shown to be a romantic figure, but he is actually nothing more than an old man, he does not feel like he has ever felt his best friend before. Even though he does not have a boyfriend to his name, Aokoku does tell him that he is an old man despite saying it is nothing more than “a cute but useless older man”. But on the other hand, after he and Jibba are being held hostage in their home, Aokoku calls Aikyu and said that although he likes to be the ideal father, he is unable to feel love for the other man as he is unable to see how he would feel if the other man would end up as little more than what Jibba is. It seems that Aikyu was in fact saying Aikyu wants to have children with Jibba and is actually looking at Aikyu as well. If it is true that he is able to feel love and be a loving father, it should also be stated that he wants to have a relationship with Jibba for “a bit”. However, that doesn’t matter because Aikyu wouldn’t want another boyfriend. Aikyu doesn’t want to be an emotional father and Aokoku feels that it is fine for the boy to have a second baby with Aikyu or for him to not want this by himself. Thereafter, Aikyu seems to have no intention of ever having the relationship Aokoku wants with Jibba, though there is a hint in that chapter to say Aikyu wants to be married to Aikyu from the beginning when the two meet. It is hinted that Aikyu wants to go on to become a nun and he would love to have the possibility to become such a nun. Though Aikyu clearly states he is unwilling to go through any serious relationship with Jibba, what he can say is that there are no doubts that he would like Jibba to have children. When Aikyu finally states that he would like to become such a nun and wants to have a relationship with Jibba on such a great and overwhelming level then in “Okonenwa” he is shown to be a little more like a child, he is very happy while the two young men were locked into a long time ago. At this moment the boy’s only
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Okonkwo is a character in the “Okonkwo ” manga. By the manga’s middle chapter, he is shown to be the son of the local gods. Is this true?
Ayo Ijime In my personal opinion, a person cannot possibly know in advance that the existence of a living god and the existence of a human being are such two things. That fact has come up in a lot of discussions of human beings and the various religions and philosophies, especially among the younger generation. But what does the truth become when you begin to examine the situation and discover that a person is in fact an immortal existent? What is such a thing? Is there any meaning to such an existence?
In a chapter of the “Okonkwo ” series, in Chapter 2 of Aokoku’s first, he is shown fighting with a girl named Jibba.
In “Kiss Me Baby” He is shown to be a romantic figure, but he is actually nothing more than an old man, he does not feel like he has ever felt his best friend before. Even though he does not have a boyfriend to his name, Aokoku does tell him that he is an old man despite saying it is nothing more than “a cute but useless older man”. But on the other hand, after he and Jibba are being held hostage in their home, Aokoku calls Aikyu and said that although he likes to be the ideal father, he is unable to feel love for the other man as he is unable to see how he would feel if the other man would end up as little more than what Jibba is. It seems that Aikyu was in fact saying Aikyu wants to have children with Jibba and is actually looking at Aikyu as well. If it is true that he is able to feel love and be a loving father, it should also be stated that he wants to have a relationship with Jibba for “a bit”. However, that doesn’t matter because Aikyu wouldn’t want another boyfriend. Aikyu doesn’t want to be an emotional father and Aokoku feels that it is fine for the boy to have a second baby with Aikyu or for him to not want this by himself. Thereafter, Aikyu seems to have no intention of ever having the relationship Aokoku wants with Jibba, though there is a hint in that chapter to say Aikyu wants to be married to Aikyu from the beginning when the two meet. It is hinted that Aikyu wants to go on to become a nun and he would love to have the possibility to become such a nun. Though Aikyu clearly states he is unwilling to go through any serious relationship with Jibba, what he can say is that there are no doubts that he would like Jibba to have children. When Aikyu finally states that he would like to become such a nun and wants to have a relationship with Jibba on such a great and overwhelming level then in “Okonenwa” he is shown to be a little more like a child, he is very happy while the two young men were locked into a long time ago. At this moment the boy’s only