Prompt 2
Every hero of a story, either great or disappointing, has a flaw; Achebe writes the character Okonkwo to examine his flaw: fear of failing tradition. Umuofia is a land where the concept of tradition is ending due to the colonization of the white man. For example, Okonkwo's own son, Nwoye, joins the new church and Okonkwo is livid. He thought, “ To abandon the gods of one’s father and go about with a lot of effeminate men clucking like old hens was the very death of abomination,” (Achebe 153). Through Okonkwo’s anger for Nwoye changing beliefs, deep down he becomes frightened that the traditional Igbo religion will be no more because of people like his own son. The other members of the tribe, Uchendu for example, saw Okonkwo’s actions as extreme and uncalled for therefore showing Okonkwo's over-the-top attitude towards failing traditions compared to other Igbo
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Because Umuofia had been traditionally known as a fierce, warlike community, Okonkwo feared of his tribe not fighting against the white man after being captured and beaten by them. He speculated, “If Umuofia decided on war,all would be well. But if they chose to be cowards he would go out and avenge himself,” (Achebe 199). How Achebe is portraying Okonkwo in this situation is that if his community fails to stick up for what is right, then prideful Okonkwo will intervene to prevent his uneasiness of failing their traditional bellicose status. However, this angst of failure ultimately leads to Okonkwo's demise. During a meeting of the tribe, five messengers ordered appeared and the head ordered the meeting to stop. Okonkwo then pulled out his machete and killed the