Okonkwo: The Tragic
Hero
By
Cherie Law, Allison Bitney,
Anthony Warren, & Conall Quinn
Okonkwo: Model Clansmen?
 Okonkwo is a model clansmen from based on his
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success. However, he is more alienated from his culture
based on his lack of respect for it.
Okonkwo beats his wife during the Week of Peace. (Pg.
29- 31).
Kills a clansman and feel his situation is unfair doubting
his culture. (Pg. 124-125).
Violence is the answer, whereas peace is the solution for
the tribe. (Pg. 199).
Okonkwo commits grave sin by committing suicide. (Pg.
207).
Okonkwo
 Okonkwo is respected by the tribe because he won
wrestling match against the cat. (Pg. 4).
 He went from failure to success with his yams. (Pg. 24 &
26).
 His chi agreed with him. (Pg. 27).
Okonkwo/Nwoye
 Okonkwo and Nwoye have a sour relationship.
 Okonkwo sees Nwoye as weak and lazy, just like his
grandfather. (Pg. 13).
 The relationship deteriorates after Okonkwo kills
Ikemefuna. (Pg. 61).
 Okonkwo disowns him for converting to Christianity. (Pg.
172).
 Other examples: Pg 152.
Okonkwo/Ikemefuna
 Okonkwo and Ikemefuna’s relationship is good.
 Okonkwo loved him like his own son however kills him
out of fear of being weak.
 Examples: Pg. 28
Okonkwo/Unoka
 The relationship between Okonkwo and Unoka is hate.
 Okonkwo hated his father because he was lazy and a
debtor.
 He hates what his father loves. (Pg. 13).
 Examples: Pg. 4, 5, 13.
Okonkwo/Ezinma
 The relationship between Okonkwo and Ezinma is happy
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relationship.
Okonkwo secretly wishes she was a boy. (Pg. 67).
She has the work ethic of a boy.
He shows care for her. (Pg.112 & 172)
Attitude resembles her father, anger. (Pg. 173).
Okonkwo’s character teaches us that he shows no signs
of emotions for the ones he loves, but greatly expresses
hatred towards the one he does not like.
Public vs. Private
 Okonkwo has a public and private self.
 Publicly, he wants to be seen as this great clansman who
has the absence of fear.
 Privately, he had emotions deep within him that he did
not want nobody to see, especially himself because to
him he seems weak.
 Example: We can see Okonkwo’s feelings for Ezinma
privately. He secretly wishes she was a boy. Pg. 173 &
174.
Okonkwo and other Literary
Tragic Hero
 Okonkwo
 Achilles
 Hubris
 Hubris
 Status: Achievement
 Tragic Flaw: Ankle
 Tragic Flaw: Fear of
 Character: Savage-like
failure
 Character: Savage-like
 Death: Suicide
 Death: Shot in the ankle
Characteristics of a Tragic
Hero
 High Status
~Birth
~Achievement
 Tragic Flaw
 Death or Destruction
Okonkwo
 Okonkwo is a tragic hero because he is of high status. He
earned it through achievement by the success of his
yams.
 Okonkwo has a tragic flaw which is fear of failure.
 Okonkwo’s death is by his own hands.
Okonkwo
 Okonkwo’s tragic flaw leads to his death because he
fears failure.
 He sees a sign of weakness as a downfall which the idea
comes from his father.
 Example: “Whenever the thought of his father’s
weakness and failure troubled him he expelled it by
thinking about his own strength and success.” Pg. 66.
 He is so afraid of failure that he brings his own death
upon himself.
Conclusion
 Okonkwo is a tragic hero through the eyes of the
clansmen.
 However, the District Commissioner and other colonists
see him as a person with no status.
The End