Okonkwo is a self-made and much-respected leader of Igbo ethnic group in Umuofia. He is a brave wrestler and violent fighter who is always fighting others. He is portrayed as an extremely wealthy and hardworking man, who provides materially for his family. He is also portrayed as someone who takes pride in personal success and thinks that such success attracts reputation to the rural community, resulting in close relations between the community and the person. Okonkwo is internally fearful despite his aim of being courageous and masculine since he does not want to take after his father who is lazy and cowardly like a woman (Achebe, 3). This propels him to become authoritarian in dealing with his family that is comprised of three wives to the point of beating them even when they are faultless (Achebe, 21). His fear of being feminine leads him to do despicable acts, and finally he kills himself by hanging himself on a tree.
Okonkwo represents the African culture before colonization by the Europeans. Various aspects of the Igbo people and their interaction with each other and their traditional lifestyles are brought out by Achebe through Okonkwo role. He also represents their general emotions towards matters in their daily lives, which are richly blended with Okonkwo’s lifestyle. Chapter three has an illustration that displays the Igbo cultural life through sayings such as "The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said that he would praise himself if no one else did" (Achebe, 16). The saying illustrates some of the things that the Igbo people admire. For example, it is clear from the quote that they admire respect.
Works Cited
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Oxford: Heinemann Educational, 2000. Print
