Okonwo As A tragic Hero

A detailed Summary of Okonwo As A tragic Hero

Tragic heroes exemplify a number of qualities including courage and some type of personal sacrifice. The character Okonkwo in the novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe demonstrates many of the characteristics of a tragic hero. However, he also exhibits many qualities not representative of a tragic hero. It is these differences that prevent Okonkwo from being an actual tragic hero. Though Okonkwo appears to have many of the attributes of a hero, a closer inspection of his character will lead to the conclusion that he, in fact, does not meet the qualifications.

There are many ways to define a tragic hero but there are a few marks that all of these figures must possess. First they must fit the typical classification of a hero: not only does a hero display bravery, but he also is willing to act on his intentions. Basically, a her

Unfortunately, even though Okonkwo stood up for what he believed, he was not heroic. A hero acts out of courage and a genuine belief that he is making the right decision. Okonkwo consistently acted out of fear and made decisions based on how he would reflect on his reputation. When Okonkwo was to kill Ikemefuna, it was clear that he was very unsure about whether or not he should strike him, but in the end "He was afraid of being thought weak" ( 61).

Okonkwo's tragedy was his eventual suicide in the end of the novel. Though it may seem like he stood up for his beliefs, he actually defeated his own purpose. By committing a crime that was loathed in the clan, he lost the respect that the tribe had for his position. His sacrifice only showed his cowardice in the face of a difficult situation. A true tragic hero would have perhaps sacrificed his pride an

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Chinua Achebe, Unfortunately Okonkwo, Okonkwo Okonkwo, Fear Tragic, tragic hero, loss one's, characteristics tragic, characteristics tragic hero,

Approximate Word count = 576
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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