Tragic Hero
I believe a tragic hero is someone who tries to be a hero (according to their societal views), sometimes succeeding or failing, and then dies. Okonkwo definitely has attributes of a tragic hero. One attribute is the fact that he tries so hard and still fails. He is a hero in the sense that he tries to do whats right, though what he views as being right isn't necessarily the case. Another thing that makes him a tragic hero, is that he tries to preserve his people's traditional values. The main reason he objects to Christians is how they're trying to supplant his people's traditions (revere their ancestors, gods, etc.). In this sense, he is trying to stand up for whats right. He is trying to prevent his people's destruction, though he doesn't realize this. His people may not be destroyed in the physical sense, but as a culture they are slowly dying.
Analysis of Things Fall Apart
Though Things Fall Apart focuses on the destruction of the Ibo people's culture, it is also a prime example of many cultures total lack of understanding of other cultures, as well as the destruction of many supposedly "primitive" cultures. The British think that the Ibo's culture is primitive and unsophisticated, when in reality it is extremely intricate. It also demonstrates how we have destroyed so much that we can never get back.
I also believe that this story has a personal aspect to it, as well as a cultural one. The personal aspect is about Okonkwo. He is actually rather relatable as a character. He undergoes a personal struggle and eventually gains everything he's ever wanted, but in the end he loses it all. He's driven to the edge of despair, to the point that the only thing he can do is to take his own life. For Okonkwo, in my opinion, this has to be far worse than being killed, because the one thing he feared most has come to pass: failure.
The reason Okonkwo is a relatable character is because, like most people, he is afraid and lets his fear rule him. Can any of us honestly say we're any better? For example, if you're afraid of heights, there are plenty of things you can't do if you let that fear rule you. This makes Okonkwo very human in my opinion. There is a certain irony to this story. He let his fear of failure drive him, but in the end it was this fear that killed him. He didn't wish to be thought weak, so he counseled that they should go to war, as well as killing the messenger. If he hadn't done this, he might not have been driven to the point of killing himself.
In tragic hero, I agree with you that Okonkwo definitely fits the term of tragic hero because he seems to strive for the hero role, but always fails. When he tries to get people to rebel against the Christians, he doesnt' realize how hard it is because conversion to Christianity is inevitable. He can't do anything about it. We know from foreshadowing that Okonkwo will not have a happy ending. So you have a perfect definition because the hero has a little victory, but then you know something bad is coming.
ReplyDeleteIn the Analysis of Things Fall Apart, I agree that this novel has more of the personal aspect of Okonkwo and how we can maybe relate to him. We have all had some sort of struggle in our lives that we just can't get over. We all have fears that we don't want to make us weak, but they do. I do agree with you that Okonkwo's fear of failure did drive him down this lonely road because look at all the things that have happened. Drought, Death, Exile. He tried everything to overcome these and he did. However, he couldn't overcome the conversion and his fear of being weak took the better of him.
I totally agree with you about how his fear killed Okonkwo. He's so scared of being like his father that he only embraces a couple aspects and emotions. Without other aspects he has no idea what to do when it comes to feelings, intimacy, and family. Without his emotional link with his family there is no way he knows how they feel about things and how to deal with certain issues, like the killing of Ikemefuna. He tries to hard to focus on things that arent the most important, and so when other people don't think his same way, he feels like his people are at fault.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting how you pointed out that his fear of failure, was his failure all in its own. Honestly, this book shows the most human side of people, like you said. Fear, for example is demonstrated through this book, and shows us how it drives us to our goals, or lack there of. Also, the ibo culture is so intricate and im glad you caught onto that. In many ways, the ibo were more sophisticated than the christans.
ReplyDeleteI think the fear of failure is a relatable quality but I think it shows us how he was a coward. The fact that he couldn't handle life after his treasures were taken away. A true hero could have and would have changed and adapted into a new man to work the new system in place. It is very ironic how his fear ultimately killed him. I hope our next hero we read about is better than Okonkwo in a sense.
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