Things Fall Apart A Great African Tragedy - 1727 Words

Peter Thomas Mid-Term Paper English 3510 10-12-17 Things Fall Apart: A Great African Tragedy Tragedy is not new to Africa, precolonial, colonial, or postcolonial. Despite this, the continent of Africa and the countries within are not known for tragic literature. If any single work can make African literature, especially African tragedy stand out, Things Fall Apart can. Things Fall Apart fits the genre of tragedy due to Okonkwo’s role as a tragic character. He exhibits all of the traits of the tragic hero laid down by Aristotle – he has hubris, excessive pride, he has hamartia, making serious errors in judgment throughout the text, and he experiences a massive reversal in fortune, partly due to his own actions and flaws, and partly due to†¦show more content†¦He always said whenever he saw a dead man’s mouth he saw the folly of not eating what one had in one’s lifetime. Unoka was, of course, a debtor and he owed every neighbor some money, from a few cowries to quite substantial amounts.†(p.4 ) In the text Okonkwo is determined not to carry on his father’s legacy. He is a successful wrestler and a yam farmer, traits the Igbo people, his tribe, found admirable. Despite his achievements, his life is dominated by the fear of becoming like his father. He wants so badly to perpetuate the image he wants for himself that he shuns anything he sees as weak or feminine. This overcompensating behavior is violent and erratic which makes him a danger to his family. This hubris is what will ultimately lead Okonkwo to his downfall. Compare Okonkwo to Oedipus, one of the most famous tragic characters in history. Oedipus, like Okonkwo, is a man of action. Having saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx, Oedpius is quickly appointed their king. Similar to Okonkwo, who lives in fear of becoming like his father, Oedipus lives his life in fear of an old prophecy, that he will marry his mother and wed his father. In many ways, Okonkwo’s father’s legacy becomes Okonkwoâ⠂¬â„¢s prophecy. He is so focused on distancing himself from his father that he dooms himself to fate. Both characters take swift action, often out of pride, and in these are the actions in which their fates are sealed, condemningShow MoreRelatedAfrican Politics: No Longer at Ease by Obi Okonkwo Essay874 Words   |  4 Pageswhere he declares: â€Å"It is evident almost from the beginning of No Longer at Ease that Obi is not of heroic nature and that his tragedy will not be a falling in full battle but rather it will result from an inability to face up to that battle. He never rises to greatness; he only sinks further and further from it, succumbing to what he has labelled the sin of the old African† (qtd. in Asong 167) (SEE â€Å"UNDERSTANDING T.F.A.† p9 ) See the novel and globalization culture p140 See the ch ach encyclopediaRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1719 Words   |  7 PagesThings fall apart is a classic novel written around the turn of the century, the novel focuses on the protagonist who we can also call a hero, Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a wealthy and respected leader within the Igbo tribe of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. Strong individual with a passionate belief in all the values and traditions of his people. Chinua Achebe presents Okonkwo as a particular kind of tragic protagonist, a great man who carries the fate of his people. Okonkwo is a man who is inflexible andRead MoreEssay about An Analysis of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart1631 Words   |  7 Pages Chinua Achebe is well known as the father of African literature. 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A writer trying to capture the truth of a situation that his readers may know little or nothing aboutRead More The Character of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart1602 Words   |  7 PagesThe Character of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart What makes a successful man? This, in itself, is a culture bound question because it can vary from culture to culture. However, in the perception of Okonkwo, the main character in Chinua Achebes novel, Things Fall Apart, the measure of a mans success is based on two elements, material acquisition and growth, and physical prowess. This is ironic for Okonkwo since his peoples typical idea of success seems to be constructedRead MoreWhat Drives a Man1606 Words   |  7 PagesWhat Drives A Man What makes a successful man? This, in itself, is a culture bound question because it can vary from culture to culture. However, in the perception of Okonkwo, the main character in Chinua Achebe s novel, Things Fall Apart, the measure of a man s success is based on two elements, material acquisition and growth, and physical prowess. This is ironic for Okonkwo since his people s typical idea of success seems to be constructed of a complex, strong spiritual culture, seeminglyRead MoreThings Fall Apart- Achebe1000 Words   |  4 PagesAn African Tragedy In Chinua Achebe’s novel 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 (â€Å"hamartia†) and experiences a dramatic reversal (â€Å"peripeteia†), as well as an intense moment of recognition (â€Å"anagnorisis†). Okonkwo is a leader and hardworking member of the Igbo community of Umuofia whose tragic flaw is his great fear of weakness and failure. Okonkwo’s fall from grace in the Igbo community