Okonwo As A tragic Hero
Tragic heroes exemplify a number of qualities including courage and some type of personal sacrifice. The character Okonkwo in the novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe demonstrates many of the characteristics of a tragic hero. However, he also exhibits many qualities not representative of a tragic hero. It is these differences that prevent Okonkwo from being an actual tragic hero. Though Okonkwo appears to have many of the attributes of a hero, a closer inspection of his character will lead to the conclusion that he, in fact, does not meet the qualifications.There are many ways to define a tragic hero but there are a few marks that all of these figures must possess. First they must fit the typical classification of a hero: not only does a hero display bravery, but he also is willing to act on his intentions. Basically, a her
When Okonkwo was to kill Ikemefuna, it was clear that he was very unsure about whether or not he should strike him, but in the end "He was afraid of being thought weak" ( 61). The clan's resistance to the Christian ideas dies alongside Okonkwo. Though it may seem like he stood up for his beliefs, he actually defeated his own purpose. Although Okonkwo's journey was tragic, he does not fit the tragic hero stereotype. His sacrifice only showed his cowardice in the face of a difficult situation. Okonkwo fails to accomplish anything in his death and destroys what little chance there was of someone following in his footsteps by committing suicide. In addition to exhibiting these characteristics, a tragic hero must sacrifice something of his own. It is clear that in the near future the clan will be totally decimated. Also, he always hated the Christians and refused to waiver from his position even when the clan disagreed. It is safe to say that Okonkwo was not a tragic hero. Okonkwo even went so far as to behead one of the Christians when he realized that no one in the town would take action against the missionaries. A hero acts out of courage and a genuine belief that he is making the right decision. He despised cowards and preferred his homeland of Umuofia because he believed that Mbanta was not a masculine tribe. Okonkwo consistently acted out of fear and made decisions based on how he would reflect on his reputation.
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