Is Okonkwo Sympathetic

Words: 705

Pages: 3

Open Document

“If you don’t like my story, write your own” (Achebe). By saying this, Achebe explains about the Ibo culture and that the story is his view on it. The main character in Things Fall Apart is Okonkwo, a strong man with many titles and one who is well respected. When he was young, he lived with his family, including his dad who was a lazy, unmotivated man who had no titles and always borrowed and never gave back. He had to take care of his family at a young age and grew a strong hatred toward his father. His main goal is to not become or be anything like his father. As he grows up he becomes a well respected man with many titles to his name. Throughout his journey of growing up, he has become a very uncaring person, although his sympathetic side comes out rarely. Okonkwo's family relationships make him a sympathetic character because he takes responsibility for them and takes care of them, and unsympathetic because he rules his household with a heavy hand and if something bad happens, he beats them harshly.
Okonkwo comes off as a short tempered, quick to use his hands kind of guy, but when you get to know him, he can actually be a caring and gentle guy. An example of when Okonkwo is sympathetic is when it states, “And so at a very early age when he was striving desperately to build a barn through …show more content…
4). This means that if in an argument and didn't know what to say, he would just throw punches. He is a fighter and doesn't care about others or what others think about him. Another example is when they were at a meeting and someone contradicted him. Without looking at the man Okonkwo said, “This is a meeting for men” (Achebe pg. 28). This means that he has no respect for anyone else. By saying this he is calling the man with no titles a women and is killing the man's spirit. These quotes show that he is a short tempered man and has no regard for anyone but

Okonkwo Quotes

Hidden Feelings Okonkwo will not openly show kind emotions to others, like us. He would only show anger and frustration, believing that affection are signs of weakness and should be kept hidden. Okonkwo is a dominant clan leader in Umuofia. His shame towards his father, Unoka, drove him to success, along with hard work and expertise during war. He achieved a position of high status within the clan and is extremely wealthy to be able to support three wives and their children. Although fear of becoming…

Words 606 - Pages 3

A Sympathetic Character In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

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…

Words 626 - Pages 3

Things Fall Apart Sympathizing Analysis

husbands. One question that can be asked is, “Can I sympathize with Okonkwo?”. The answer to that question is no. Because Okonkwo ultimately lead himself to his own downfall, was very close minded, and had violent solutions to problems, there is no sympathy for him. Okonkwo lead to his own destruction because of his resistance to being like his dad. The thought consumed him and made him the complete opposite of his dad. Okonkwo picked up this idea of “Manliness” because his father was soft and did…

Words 549 - Pages 3

Essay on Things Fall Apart

Achhebe, the main character Okonkwo faces many obstacles throughout his life. Unfortunately, he did not have the start in life which many other young children had. His father did inherit him with neither a barn nor a title. His father was drunk and underachiever. That so, he did not receive a proper burial. Okonkwo biggest fear was to become like his father. Although he had these disadvantages, he was determined to avoid his father unrecognized life. Through the story, Okonkwo pride and fear of showing…

Words 1326 - Pages 6

Things Fall Apart Rhetorical Analysis

that they just learned to accept the ways of this tribe. The reader tends to take the side of Okonkwo when it comes to the time that Nwoye decides to convert to Christianity, because they now understand Okonkwo’s perspective. One feels sympathetic towards Okonkwo seeing that his culture falls apart under his feet and that he loses his eldest son in the process. Because the reader takes the side of Okonkwo, there is not sympathy felt towards Nwoye, but rather apathy is felt. These conflicting emotions…

Words 1545 - Pages 7

Things Fall apart and Chinua Achebe Essay

Instrument of Change Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, is a very rich novel. Set in a Nigerian village at the outset of the 20th century, it is the story of Okonkwo, an Ibo warrior and clan leader struggling to come to terms with the upheaval of his cherished way of life. Proud, wealthy and respected by the members of his community, Okonkwo values above all his position in traditional Ibo society. With the arrival of Christian missionaries and colonial administrators in his home of Umuofia, however…

Words 456 - Pages 2