Things Fall Apart

One thing that I have found interesting throughout the book is Okonkwo's fear of becoming like his father.  His father, Unoka, was a very lazy, music man.  He did not work hard and owed many debts to other people.  Okonkwo did not want any of his father's reputation rubbing off on him, so he did everything and anything to avoid that.   Though this fear has pushed him to become successful, it has also been his downfall.  He used this passion to drive himself to become successful man, one who is better than his dad.  He worked hard to gain respect and high status in his community.  Okonkwo liked to work and he pushed his sons to work just as hard and become successful.  However, even though his intention was to better himself, he is becoming a man who is short tempered and shows not emotion.  Because he is so afraid of being seen as a woman and weak, he shows never shows emotion and treats his children and wives so badly.  Also, he will do anything to look strong and successful even if it goes against his morals.  For example, when he killed Ikemafuna, he did not have to.  In fact, he was told not to kill him, but in order to look powerful and manly, he kills Ikemafuna.  After doing this, he does not feel any better and feels worse, but he cannot show any of this emotion since he cannot ever seem like a woman or like his father.  He has a fear for looking like a woman because he is traumatized by a childhood memory of people giving his father a womanly trait.  I look forward to seeing how else this fear will effect Okonkwo.