The Inflexibility and Hubris of Okonkwo in Chinua...

The Inflexibility and Hubris of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart This novel is the definitive tragic model about the dissolution of the African Ibo culture by Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe. Okonkwo, a great and heroic leader, is doomed by his inflexibility and hubris. He is driven by fear of failure. He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father. Unoka, for that was his fathers name, had died ten years ago. In his day he was lazy and improvident, and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow. (Achebe,4). The reader gets a rare and exotic understanding of a totally foreign and ancient culture experiencing the growing pains of colonial expansion during the British domination†¦show more content†¦This is a story of rage and fear mixed with cutting-edge wisdom, self-introspection, and self-destruction. After the death of Ikemefuna, his adopted son, Nwoye, his biological son has taken the way of the invaders religion, abandoning his tribe. Okonkwo was popularly called the Roaring Flame. As he looked into the log fire he recalled the name. He was a flaming fire. How then could he have begotten a son like Nwoye, degenerate and effeminate? His wife had played him false. He would teach her! But Nwoye resembled his grandfather, Unoka, who was Okonkwos father. He pushed the thought out of his mind. He, Okonkwo, was called a flaming fire...At Nwoyes age Okonkwo had already become famous throughout Umofia for his wrestling and his fearlessness. He signed heavily, and as if in sympathy the smoldering log also sighed. And immediately Okonkwos eyes were opened and he saw the whole matter clearly. Living fire begets cold, impotent ash. He sighed again, deeply. (Achebe, 153). Okonkwos personal and social chi, or karma, is good because he works, provides for his family, and serves his community. Okonkwo is forewarned by one of the elders, Ezeudu. His spiritual chi begins to degenerate with the murder of Ikemfuna (Achebe, 4). That boy calls you father, he had said. Bear no hand in his death. (Achebe, 121). This is after offending Ani, the earth goddess, for beating his wife