Okonkwo Character Analysis Blog Post
Okonkwo Character Analysis Blog Post
Okonkwo is many things; one of them is that he is a representation of Africans during colonial times. African literature, during the production of the book, has been written by non-Africans, white writers. While contemporary white writers could have potentially written about well-depth and layered African characters, non did it in the way that Achebe was able to. But it is certain that past accounts of Africans were often harmful and inaccurate of African culture and society. Achebe can accurately portray African culture through Okonkwo and his characterization. But this is on a grand scale, however more specifically, Okonkwo is a representation of Igbo culture. Okonkwo is a product of his culture's value and system and through the portrayal of Umofia, Mbanta, and Igbo culture can we further understand Okonkwo's character.
"Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered."
If one thing made a man a man, it was his achievements. Okonkwo was a man of many accomplishments, as "his fame rested on solid personal achievements". Okonkwo most pivotal and significant characteristic was his manliness, and it's importance. And in contrast, his biggest fear is his fear of being a failure, like his father. This ideology is not one he made up, but rather an ideology that was produced and shaped into him by his culture's own ideology.
His father, a man of little to no achievements, men with no titles, agbalas, and converts: They all share the fact that in their culture's eyes, they are not successful and therefore are not worthy to even be thought of and to ostracised. Okonkwo represents this for his hatred of unsuccessful men, as he had little patience for them. And while Okonkwo came from nothing, he worked for what he has. This connects to the value that "a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father". And while he could show some type of empathy or sympathy for those unsuccessful, he does not. This is because, at a young age, Okonkwo attempted to make a name for himself, as he went to Nwakibie, a man with the second-highest title, and asked to trust him with his yams knowing that "these days when young men are afraid of hard work". So even, at a young age, Okonkwo is representative of his society, and it's idolization of work.
The killing of Ikemefuna further characterizes Okonkwo as his culture. When walking Ikemefuna to his death, many of the clansmen mock the other men that decided not to go, referring to them as females. This shows that if Okonkwo had decided not to go, they would have also mocked him, albeit the fact that Ike considers Okonkwo his father. And as established, Okonkwo did not want to be seen as a coward, as this was not a desirable trait. Furthermore, his natural instincts are to be respected and not be a failure drove him to kill a boy he considered his son, this symbolizes the extent of his dedication and how far he will abide by his traditions.
Moreover, when Okonkwo returns to his obi, without Ikemefuna, Nwoye realizes that Okonkwo had some play in Ikemefuna's death. And in succession, Achebe described the story of the twins that resulted in the same feeling that Nwoye felt. A sense of dread and confusion. This would then result in Nwoye to convert to Christianity, seeing that the missionaries were more accepting of others, while the Igbos were not. This was all foreshadowed by the connection between Okonkwo and Nwoye. Okonkwo never was genuinely proud of his son, as he was similar to his own father. So, by Nwoye converting, he is leaving his father and by extension is rejecting Igbo culture.
While Okonkwo commits acts against his culture that lead to him being punished, they should not be considered acts of a deviant, but instead acts of a purist. The trend in his actions against his culture, from the breaking the week of peace, to killing Ikemefuna, and to killing the missionary and committing suicide, is that they all were done by instinct, devoid of rational thought. These acts were all done to be seen as manly, to be respected, to stay as a member of his culture. Additionally, and after committing his crimes, he quickly realizes his mistakes and accepts his punishment with no hesitation. This behavior is what allows the end, the suicide, to be so powerful and to be considered a tragic end.
Realizing that Umofia will never be the same, Okonkwo as an act to send a message for his fellow clansmen to remember their days of ruthlessness and dominance kills a missionary. However, he also realizes that it is too late to change and the colonizers have too much of an influence, so a final act of hopelessness he kills himself.
Interesting on commenting on how Okonkwo's acts are that of a purist, but could you also consider Okonkwo to be a personification of the Igbo culture? (Brutal, violent, loyal, strong, without-explanation, barbaric, etc.) Alike how the Igbo culture was defeated by the British, Okonkwo had also been defeated as he killed himself in despair of the end of his culture. Even so, I agree with how Okonkwo's acts are that of a purist as his acts, although unjust and, in our eyes, extremely barbaric and violent, are revered in his village and grant him success through the 4 titles Okonkwo wishes to receive. Not only this, but he was heavily affected by the lack of success his father had, which caused him to want to work hard to get himself that success, leading him to be the personification of the culture's idolization of hard work, alike how you had said. Although, I would have to ask, how else do you think Okonkwo represents the Igbo culture? Because I found it interesting how you called his acts as 'acts of a purist', but could you go further and connect Okonkwo's character to the Igbo culture as a whole? As well, Okonkwo's story can be related to Prospero's story of struggle but, unlike Okonkwo killing himself in despair, Prospero adapts to the situation to be able to succeed in the end.
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