FREE ESSAY ON CHINUA ACHEBE'S THINGS FALL APART

CHINUA ACHEBE'S THINGS FALL APART

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart presents its readers with an African tribe and its
culture. Okonkwo, a well-respected member of the tribe, has some very interesting
attributes. Specifically, he has an undying desire to be manly at all times complimented
by a deeply rooted fear of being thought of as weak. Okonkwo has a very short, violent
temper that is immediately triggered in response to actions that he deems to be weak.
Okonkwo basically lived by the phrase, act first and think it through later.
Unfortunately, almost every time that Okonkwo lets loose his violent temper in his manly
way, he brings trouble upon himself, as well as those around him. One way to explain his
actions and the misfortunes that usually follow is to conclude that Okonkwo has bad luck.
Another way of looking at this fact is to say that the events are a result of
coincidence. However, I disagree with these views, and instead assert that Achebe
deliberately made sure that after each of Okonkwo's outbursts, a tragedy befell him and
those around him. I think that Achebe could have been trying to hint to the reader that
placing too much emphasis on acting manly is bad. 
One example of Okonkwo's quick reflexes is seen when he kills Ikemefuna because he did
not want his fellow clansmen to think that he was weak. After the Ikemefuna's slaying,
Okonkwo is unable to eat or drink for two days due to the fact that he is upset over the
death of Ikemefuna. However, he must fight against his manly pride, which reminds him
that killing someone should not bother him. However, he has trouble accepting this, but
must for fear of being considered weak, like a shivering old woman (Achebe 45). Another
instance of Okonkwo's hot temper arises while he and some other men are locked up in a
cell and Okonkwo reaffirms how he believes they should have killed Mr. Smith. A messenger
overhears this remark and beats each of the men on their backs and heads with a large
stick. A final illustration of Okonkwo's rash actions leading to suffering for himself
and those around him occurs when he hastily kills the head messenger who comes to Umuofia
to break up a town meeting. The messenger is only able to speak 2 short sentences, before
a furious Okonkwo assassinates him. This brings the ultimate suffering to Okonkwo, who
hangs himself, as well as suffering for the rest of the tribe, who may not bury him and
some of whom are brought to the court where Okonkwo and the others suffered earlier. 
In conclusion, Okonkwo's tragic flaw was his constantly flared temper, which was a result
of a fear of being considered weak, or womanly. It was this temper that was constantly
bringing problems to Okonkwo and others around him. In the end, Okonkwo could fight no
more and had to take his own life. I believe that Achebe purposefully arranged the novel
in this manner in order to convey that being manly is not as important as some believe it
to be.