Okonkwo

Okonkwo is the main character. He is well known throughout his village for his wrestling skills, after beating Amalinze(the cat). He was tall and huge, had bushy eyebrows, and a wide nose that gave him a severe look upon his face.

Intersting Facts About Okonkwo... What makes him tick?

Okonkwo had a lazy father named Unoka. Unoka was drowning in debt. He never paid back anything that he owed. Unoka created many enemies, so to speak, in the village. It seemed that he owed everyone something. Okonkwo, therefore, was very ashamed of his father and did not like being associated with Unoka or anything that he had done. So when Okonkwo was a grown man and had sown his own land he set out to make something of himself, because he did not want to end up anything like his father. Okonkwo splits a distinct difference from his father, saying that he has a drive that his father never had. Okonkwo has a temper, when things are not done his anger flares and he is very dangerous. Yet it was not uncommon for African men to mistreat their wives. Okonkwo refrains from showing emotion. He finds that any emotion besides anger is a weakness. Even though Okonkwo appears to be strong he does have fears. He is afraid of what is inside him, he is afraid that he will become like his father.



Okonkwo was a very impatient, agressive, violent man who was always ready to pounce on people. His anger would become explosive and his best way of communicating with others was through his fists. Although he was capable of great things and his fame sweeped across many villiages, Okonkwo looked down upon others, implying he was also a very arrogant person. Okonkwo was very wealthy and famous at a young age, and mistook his strength as a reason to take his anger out on others. He does not need to be pouncing on random people. He was ashamed of his father, Unoka, and proud in the fact that he has built himself to be the complete opposite of his own father. Unoka was a very carefree man who made the most out of life, hence Okonkwo's belief that anger is the only acceptable emotion. Unoka may have felt every emotion other than anger - and Unoka was a weak man - therefore, every emotion other than anger is a weakness. He does not enjoy feasts, for he believes they are wasted moments of idleness. This implies that Okonkwo things that anything that does not benefit him is not worth taking part in. This may also imply Okonkwo's selfishness and aloof mindset. When Okonkwo had nothing to do, he became angry and conjured up an excuse to beat his second wife, Ekwefi. This shows how volatile and explosive Okonkwo's true character really is. The fact that Okonkwo becomes angry and resolves everything with violence also proves that his true weakness is his anger, or his thinking he is not weak at all. Through the beating of his wife, Okonkwo can also come off as arrogant - he could believe that he is so high above others that he can take out his hidden emotion on other people through his fists.

Okonkwo was a relatively wealthy man in his village, he had 3 wives and many children who he was able to support. He owned his own hut, a farm of yams, and even a shrine for worship. HIs skill and ferocity as a warrior has earned him much respect throughout his clan and even others such as the Umuofia. The only downfall of Okonkwo is his short temper and fear of weakness, the fear of weakness can be attributed to his father and it poses as a obstacle Okonkwo has to conquer.

Ogbuefi Ezeudu and an elaborate funeral is held for him. At the funeral peoplebeat drums and fire their guns, an accident happens and Okonkwo's gun missfires. When Okonkwo's gun goes off it kills Ezeudu's son, he is sixteen years old. SInce Okonkwo killed a clan member it is his tribes tradition for him to go into exile. Him and his family go into exile for seven years and they have to live in Okonkwo's mothers village for seven years. Men from Ezeudu's house burn down Okonkwo's buildings and slaughter his animals. Okonkwo's best friend Obierika wonders why Okonkwo must suffer so much for an accidental crime.

Over the course of the story, Okonkwo's mask of anger begins to break. His emotions begin to shine through, and his feelings toward other people are more evident toward the end of the book. With Obierika, he actually smiles and jokes around more often. He also begins to treat his wives a bit differently, and his words and actions better portray an evolved personality. [] Okonkwo Hung himself because he couldn't live with the cowardness of his clan, the loss of all his respect and because he killed the messenger boy.