After reading the first few chapters, I was certain that Okonkwo was a hero. He would have been considered a great hero in the middle ages as he is strong, loyal to his clan, and proud of his achievements. I also thought he was much like a modern day hero as well. In his childhood, Okonkwo was given very little as his father was not a successful man. However, Okonkwo worked hard and gained fame and fortune as he grew older. Because of this, I found Okonkwo to be very inspirational and determined, making him a modern day hero.
My opinion started to change as I continued with the novel. The man who was greatly respected by his fellow clansman was in fact not a very good man at all. He beat his wives and children and did not feel sympathy for anyone. Often, Okonkwo would not listen to the opinion of others and found his own to be the most important. His own son's feelings were ridiculed just because Okonkwo did not agree with them. Nwoye was disowned after his father became aware of his interest in Christianity. A hero is supposed to be open-minded and listen to what others have to say. Okonkwo kept his focus on his own achievements and reputation, and that is not what a hero does. A hero would put others in front of their own well-being. What destroyed Okonkwo was his need to be accepted by others. He needed his achievements to be recognized and praised in order to keep his self-esteem high. One of his only goals in life was to be the opposite of his father, a man who passed away without any titles. A hero has confidence and respects himself as well as others. This was something Okonkwo was not capable of as he often took his anger out on his wife and children.
With all these factors, this man is definitely not who I would consider a hero. The ending of the novel was what made my opinion final. Okonkwo's suicide shows that he is not as strong as others thought he was. In fact, he is a coward. He took his own life just because his life was not going the way he planned. He felt betrayed because some of his clansmen decided to become Christians. Okonkwo's burning anger got the best of him and before he took his own life, he killed an important missionary. A hero would fight for their cause despite the obstacles that come their way. To me, Okonkwo is not a hero as he contradicts the characteristics a hero should possess.
Wow you were really thorough in your explaination Ardelia! Really a job well done.
ReplyDeleteI too, thought that Okonkwo's suicide was what made my decision of his final. As you said, a true hero would stick it out til the end, and never give up. Okonkwo gave up on his life, and in turn lost the right to be called a hero.
I too believe that Okonkwo is not a true hero but your introductory paragraph does have some good counterarguments. You pointed out that Okonkwo had to start his life out from scratch; he grew up with no male role model to follow as his dad was a washed-up agbala. Yet Okonkwo turned this negativity into his inspiration and, against all odds, becomes one of the most respected individuals of his clan. This itself is truly inspirational as you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI believe, after reading your post, that Okonkwo's efforts are heroic but his actions are not. In the novel, he heroically sets his heart out to prevent his village from being assimilated and disgraced, but never does he actually try to stop the Christians. In the end, his only response is to murder a messenger and giving up all hope afterwards, kills himself.