Okonkwo’s Telling Duality

Type :

School essay

Pages :

4 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

12/17/2007

Category :

Philosophy & literature

Sub category :

Literature

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Summary :

Introduction
Okonkwo's character and his relationships with the Igbo culture
The idea of Chi ukwu
Okonkwo and colonialism and cultural violence
The dual nature of Okonkwo
The murder of Ikemefuna
Okonkwo's death
Conclusion
Works cited

Abstract

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, the definitive post-colonial, African novel, focuses on a character who is in constant struggle with his tribe and with himself. okonkwo, a purveyor of masculinity in his society, has many reasons for his actions in the novel. The continuing cultural violence in the novel and within the culture (often started and ended by okonkwo), some argue, is inherent in the contradictions of the Igbo culture (Hoegberg, 69-77). okonkwo's actions, as well as the actions of others in the novel, explain a culture very sacred to Achebe, and through okonkwo's various actions and thoughts throughout the novel, the culture seems both precious and brutal, cultural relativism aside. okonkwo is a character whose chi is in constant conflict, and okonkwo himself is in constant conflict with himself over the masculinity, overall violence demanded by his honor based Igbo culture, and his relationship with his father.