Okonkwos Tragic Flaws in Chinua Achebes Things Fall...

An increasing amount of contemporary literature traces its origins back to the early works of Greece. For ages, humans have fascinated themselves with the impossible notion of perfection. Unrealistic expectations placed on those who were thought to be the noblest or most honorable individuals have repeatedly led to disappointment and frustration, either on the part of those particular individuals or those they influence. Classic characters, like Odysseus and Oedipus for instance, exemplify the excess of some positive character trait, like pride or honesty, which ironically leads to their personal misfortune. Throughout literary history, particularly within Grecian writings and apparently still evident in todays international†¦show more content†¦Dr. Peter Smith identifies the characteristic of an archetypal tragic hero as having noble stature, a tragic flaw, free choice, and increased awareness (Smith 1). He maintains the theory that in order for a character to fall he or she must come from an original position of power and prestige. The tragic figure falls as a result of a personality flaw. While fate does in deed lend a hand in events surrounding a tragic hero, there must be some element of free choice available to the character. According to Smith, the tragic hero falls because he chooses one course of action over another (1). The hero must understand through increased awareness what went wrong before he comes to his end. Additionally, in the case of a tragic figure, the punishment must exceed the crime. This is the injustice that evokes a kind of catharsis in the audience. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwos greatest fears lay in the anger he holds for his father. His father, Unoka, is a man estranged from the tribe. Okonkwo hates him for his laziness and typically female traits. To Okonkwos further frustration, Unoka is refered to as agbala, meaning the weakest form of a man, one who has no property or one who resembles the weakness of a woman. Intense feelings for his father motivate Okonkwo to achieve a better life for himself and his family. He strives to avoid becoming anything like the man whom he despises and never forgives Unoka forShow MoreRelatedThings Fall Apart875 Words   |  4 PagesOkonkwo is a tragic hero in Things Fall Apart Question ( 2 ): Discuss Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe s â€Å"Things Fall Apart† is a tragic hero. Answer: In Chinua Achebe’s novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Aristotle’s Poetics defines a Tragic Hero as a good man of high status who displays a tragic flaw ‘hamartia’ and experiences a dramatic reversal ‘peripeteia’, as well as an intense moment of recognition ‘anagnorisis’. 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In the tribe of Umuofia, Okonkwo is considered to be the â€Å"greatest men of his time†(Achebe 8), his characteristics fit the definition of an everyday hero, which is a man of distinguished courage, ability, and thought highly of for his braveRead More Okonkwo in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay973 Words   |  4 PagesOkonkwo in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart  Ã‚  Ã‚   Okonkwo, as presented by Chinua Achebe in the novel Things Fall Apart, wished to be revered by all as a man of great wealth, power and control--the antithesis of his father. Okonkwo was driven by the need to exhibit utmost control over himself and others; he was an obsessive and insecure man. Okonkwos father, Unoka, was a failure, a loafer, and People laughed at him (1426). This would bring great shame to any man as it did for OkonkwoRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart And William Butler Yeats The Second Coming1128 Words   |  5 Pagesauthor deems that each individual had tragedies particularly the common man who dealt with it in his lifetime. He contends that tragedy possibly will also depict ordinary people in domestic surroundings. Miller had a new view of tragedy in which he saw tragic experience as impartial of widespread ethical matters. But, in all honesty, I would argue against Miller’s view of believing that tragedy is impossible in a world of moral relativity. Many views of tragedy have been portrayed over time; nonethelessRead MoreTragedy And The Common Man By Arthur Miller1675 Words   |  7 Pagesauthor deems that each individual had tragedies particularly the common man who dealt with it in his lifetime. He contends that tragedy possibly wi ll also depict ordinary people in domestic surroundings. Miller had a new view of tragedy in which he saw tragic experience as impartial of widespread ethical matters. But, in all honesty, I would argue against Miller’s view of believing that tragedy is impossible in a world of moral relativity. Many views of tragedy have been portrayed over time; nonetheless