Okonkwo Character Analysis

Okonkwo’s characterization:

What is the significance of Okonkwo’s character? What does he represent or is symbolic of?

Okonkwo, the main character of the story stimulates a lot of pride/masculinity in his character while being

the major factor to the development of the plot, while exemplifying Igbo-culture as a whole, however

displaying the extremes of the culture throughout his characterization. In many ways Okonkwo's character

exemplifies Igbo-culture in a hyperbolic fashion as if Achebe is implying the assumptions of africans in

western depictions through the character Okonkwo, where he takes these concepts and further exgurates

them, Okonkwo exemplifies the cultural aspects of Igbo at the same time contradicting the culture. I.e

Igbo Culture perceives that balance is important having femininity too balanced masculinity is important

for transparency. Okonkwo is embedded with fear, the fear of being seen as his father, the fear that his

perceives a perception of weakness. This contradicts the igbo belief of being transparent where

transparency of one's character cannot be opaque otherwise one's character is perceived to have a

suspicious character. However Okonkwo does exemplify this cultural-aspect to some extent, the act of

transparency was evident after there killing of ikemefuna where he isolated himself from the community

due to his own actions of pride and his fear of looking weak.

What is the purpose of Okonkwo’s character within the text?

Okonkwo’s character is important within the context of the plot and the interactions of other characters.

This evidently exemplifies the cultural aspects of Igbo under Okonkwo's character. Displaying the rigidity

and the adherence to Igbo-culture. Under these conventions Achebe transcribes Okonkwo’s hamartia

through his  patriarchal personality. This transitions to Okonkwo's interaction to the missionaries arrival in

Umuofia and it symbolizes the clash of two cultures where it creates multiple perceptions on the culture

under different perspectives.

This cultural clash is due to Okonkwo’s adherence to the old Igbo, and this further envelopes external

conflict in Okonkwo’s character.

How does Okonkwo’s character contribute to big ideas?

Okonkwo’s character is very symbolic of the idealistic values of Igbo, where the perception of

transparency is there within Okonkwo's and displays adherence of traditional values. However it's also

mentioned the contradictory values it has on the culture. Where he displays such rigid behavior which

evidently created his hamartia. He lacks the balance to have femininity and masculinity yo intertwine with

his personality and have this sense of balance which is important of Igbo-culture.

It's also evident after the colonisation he struggles to adapt to change which is a another contradiction to
igbo beliefs as the ability adapt or to conform with change is very important in Igbo-culture, we see many
acts where Okonkwo exemplifies the Igbo culture, however due to such an adherence to his culture we see
that his perception to traditions is very hyperbolic and rigid, this evidently led to his death and it's through
this development of his hermartia is what led him to die with the cultural aspects still intact rather than to
die honobourly in the hands of  missionaries.