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In Things Fall Apart, how does the main character Okonkwo's fear of being thought a coward affect the story?

In Things Fall Apart , Okonkwo's decisions determine the direction of the story, and his decisions are often based on his fear of being thought cowardly. At the beginning of the story, Okonkwo is considered great because he is a great wrestler, a great warrior, and a successful man with two barns filled with yams, three wives, and many children. But Okonkwo has a weak chi, and has difficulty connecting with his nurturing feminine side . ... In Things Fall Apart , Okonkwo's decisions determine the direction of the story, and his decisions are often based on his fear of being thought cowardly. At the beginning of the story, Okonkwo is considered great because he is a great wrestler, a great warrior, and a successful man with two barns filled with yams, three wives, and many children. But Okonkwo has a weak chi, and has difficulty connecting with his nurturing feminine side . Okonkwo adopts a boy, Ikemefuna, gifted to his village from a neighbouring village. He loves Ikemefuna and...

Things Fall Apart Characters | GradeSaver

Okonkwo Proud, ambitious, and ill-tempered, Okonkwo is the tragic hero of Things Fall Apart. An ambitious man who has risen from nothing to a man of importance in his tribe, Okonkwo rules his family with an iron fist. He is deeply dedicated to the traditions and social hierarchies of his people, and he is determined that his sons and daughters follow his demanding example. The indignities forced on him and his people by the British eventually prove to be too much for him. After an act of defiance which goes unsupported by his people, Okonkwo gives in to despair. He kills himself, partly so that he will not be executed under the white man's laws and partly because he is grieving for the death of his people. Unoka Okonkwo's father. He died when Okonkwo was very young, and he was a failure. Shame for Unoka drives Okonkwo to work tirelessly. Unoka died in debt and humiliation; the memory of him gives Okonkwo a terrible fear of failure. Ikemefuna A young boy given to Umuofia by a ...

Things Fall Apart Characters from LitCharts

Minor Characters Unoka Unoka is Okonkwo's father. Though a talented musician in life, he was also lazy and irresponsible, accumulating many debts. Unoka dies a shameful death, still in debt and without title. His death haunts Okonkwo , who vows to hate everything that his father loved, including gentleness and idleness. Obierika Obierika is Okonkwo's close friend. He questions clan tradition at times, choosing not to take part in the killing of Ikemefuna , for example, and wondering why Okonkwo's accidental crime should merit exile for seven years. He helps Okonkwo by selling his yams and visiting him in exile. Akunna Akunna, a respected man of the clan, discusses religious beliefs with Mr. Brown. During these discussions, Akunna brings up some striking similarities between their methods of worship. Uchendu Uchendu is the younger brother of Okonkwo's mother. Uchendu attempts to reassure Okonkwo after he arrives with his family in Mbanta, advising him to be grate...