A Sympathetic Character In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

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Within various pieces of literature, character's relationship with other individuals may result in negative actions that may be for the better or worse. However, it is up to a certain extent in which those actions become too extreme or unreasonable; to where the reader has no remorse or sympathy for that character. In which, this comes in relation to Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, where Okonkwo’s ridiculous actions makes him an unsympathetic character. Though his relationship with his son and wife creates many situations where he becomes a sympathetic character, the few actions that he takes part in, proves otherwise. To begin, Okonkwo’s relationship with his son, Nwoye, is one key example towards why many readers feel no sympathy for his character. The way he treats his son is unreasonable, and as a father who wants his son to be successful, he takes the wrong approach in doing so. Specifically, the story states, “Nwoye… was already causing his father great anxiety for his laziness… and he sought to …show more content…
Early in the novel, not only does he beat his wife, he shoots agt his wife, and disrespects his own god when committing those actions during the sacred Week of Peace. All of these, being actions that contribute toward him being an unsympathetic character. These actions are additionally shown as the novel states, “And when he returned, her had beaten her heavily. In his anger, he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace… But Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating someone… even for fear of a goddess.” (pg.29, para. 8). Although beating his wife is acceptable within the culture of the novel, the actions still display his disrespect for women, and most importantly, his disrespect towards his own god that he believes in. Any individual who sins with no consideration for his own culture and religion, should not be shown any sympathy for his mistakes and wrongful
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