Okonkwo's Personality In Things Fall Apart

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Self-absorption, anger, and violence. These three words are just a brief summary of the list of immoral characteristics that make up Okonkwo’s personality. Through numerous instances in the novel Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe heavily emphasizes Okonkwo’s general lack of sympathy for other people. A primary example of this occurs after one of wives, Ojiugo, returns late from getting her hair done at a different location: “He [Okonkwo] walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo’s return… when she returned he beat her very heavily,” (Achebe 37). The implications of his lack of emotions is two-fold in this case, as he clearly cares so little about his wife that he will beat her for being late to dinner, and also, his poor-decision making put the clan in jeopardy since this took place during the Week of Peace. Okonkwo’s …show more content…
The children require a father who cares for them, more than just with food and a place to live. Nevertheless, the fact remains that he cared for Ikemefuna more than his own children, which can be seen through him allowing “Ikemefuna to accompany him, like a son” to certain “big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts,” (Achebe 36) which is something none of his other children had the privilege of. Although unstated, his kids were likely feeling disdain, which their father of course would never attempt to acknowledge or compensate. However, his seeming proclivity for Ikemefuna vanishes when his reputation suddenly appears to be at risk. After realizing what is about to happen Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo in hopes of finding safety in his stand-in father only for Okonkwo to “dr[a]w his machete and cut him down,” (Achebe 65). Just the thought seeming weak to his clansmen causes Okonkwo to murder Ikemefuna, one of the people he held dearest in his heart, further reiterating that when it comes down to it, Okonkwo will put himself before
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