Okonkwo's Actions Lead To His Downfall example essay topic

China Achebe's Things Fall Apart shows an odd similarity between the cultures of Ancient Greece and the Lower Niger. Despite the fact that two societies can exist during different periods of time and have conflicting cultural values, their stories and behavior can have surprising overlaps. Things Fall Apart is structured like a Greek Tragedy in its use of a chorus and in the presence of a tragic hero whose actions ultimately lead to his downfall. The Egwugwu from Things Fall Apart act like the chorus in a Greek Tragedy, such as Antigone. These figures, the elders of society who speak in behalf of the spirits, are present to provide background information and extra news It is imperative for the audience to know of this information for them to follow plot development. In both situations, these groups are the elders of the culture.

A member of the Egwugwu tells Okonkwo to not take part in the killing of Ikemefuna, but Okonkwo disobeys the order and slays Ikemefuna himself. Just as the chorus of a Greek Tragedy relays the messages of the gods to the citizens of the town, during certain rituals, the Egwugwu convey the teachings of important spirits. Their influence is displayed when they hear the case of Uzowulu, who is soon forced to beg his wife to return to him. This shows that the orders of the Egwugwu are always followed, weather the citizens want to or not. These teachings and directions are not alterable, and must always be obeyed. Like the heroes of Greek Tragedy, Okonkwo had many tragic flaws, the most significant of these being hubris.

Okonkwo is incredibly stubborn in that he would always let his temper get the better of him. This is shown when he becomes hungry, and when his wife is not there to bring him his lunch, she is severely beaten, despite the fact that it is a Holy Week. Okonkwo is required to pay a fine for his actions, but it is assumed that he did not learn the meaning behind his punishment. His inability to accept his emotions led to his incredibly violent ways. Okonkwo was also obsessed with impressing the other men of Umuofia.

Despite his love for Ikemefuna, 'Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak'; (61). Okonkwo had to portray himself as being incredibly strong-willed, after overcoming his hereditary situation, which put him originally in the lowest social position that his father was in. Since he was able to shed the poor name of his father, Okonkwo began to think of himself as better than virtually everyone, including the gods. Okonkwo insulted a man with fewer titles than himself, which was in very poor taste according to the warriors of Umuofia. By making the derogatory claims on him, Okonkwo shows his conceitedness and how he considers himself better than the others.

Okonkwo's actions lead to his downfall. Creon of Antigone had sentenced Antigone to death, instigating the tragic results of his family. Creon had abandoned and rejected his religious tradition and decided to not bury his nephew, while Okonkwo ignores the rituals and beliefs tied to the holy weeks and continuously beat his wives. Just as Creon's critical decision to kill Antigone lead to the destruction of virtually the entire royal family and in essence himself, Okonkwo's decision was to take his own life, quite obviously destroying everything he had worked for throughout the years. People are beginning to lose faith in Okonkwo, which diminishes the way he views his self-worth. Once he begins losing the citizens' faith, they also stop believing in him or following him.

Since the Missionaries provide better options for the people of Umuofia, Okonkwo loses all of his influence and importance to them, and he feels that he was a failure. This leaves him feeling much like his father, who he had sworn never to be like, since he was a poor warrior and farmer. Okonkwo feels that he had been forgotten by Umuofia and considered his life to be worthless, therefore ended it. While exploring Okonkwo's rise and fall from influence, one may wonder if Achebe consciously tried to emulate the Greek Tragedies. Tragedy is a story line that transcends time, and is present in all geographic locations and in all time periods. The message that is mostly achieved in this story line is that a character can destroy lives when he pursues careless, unthought out actions, including his own.

Many of the connections seem beyond coincidental, and can be only planned to be so similar.