Things Fall Apart

The most fascinating thing of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is the main character Okonkwo. The intrigue in Okonkwo can be found in the various perspectives the reader can see him in. At first he is seen as possessing great strength and resolve. His rise to greatness through war and strength help portray Okonkwo as a hard working, powerful warrior. The fact that he overcame the laziness and negative stigma of his father also help present him as a hero and someone the reader can feel for. However as the novel progresses the view on Okonkwo quickly changes. His major flaw is his hot temper and fear of being perceived or seen as weak. This causes Okonkwo to act quickly and irrationally throughout the course of the story. This is seen when he refuses to help Ikemefuna (leads to his death) and how he continually beats his wives and children. Okonkwo’s greatest strength ends up leading to his fall in the end. Okonkwo’s inability to adapt to the changing times and the inevitable influence of the white people keeps him and the Umuofia back. From the outset of the novel the reader likes Okonkwo and wishes the best for the hard worker and his tribe. However by the end of the novel one cannot but help feel that Okonkwo’s death as inevitable and self inflicted.