Okonkwo In Things Fall Apart

Just because someone makes mistakes does that mean that they aren’t a good person at heart? Okonkwo is a realistic character because he continues to try to do good while he faces hardships like everyone does. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe‎, a great warrior of Umuofia in Nigeria, Okonkwo, is trying to make his life better by being the opposite of his father, who didn’t do very well in life. While Okonkwo is trying to distance himself from his father he faces some problems along the way because of his actions. For example Okonkwo and his family get exiled then move Mbanta for seven years because of Okonkwo’s actions

When Okonkwo is trying to be better than his father in his life, he’s trying to be something more than just his father’s son. Okonkwo asks Nwakibie “I have cleared a farm but have no yams to sow. I

I am not afraid of work…. If you give me some yam seeds I shall not fail you.” (Achebe 21). Okonkwo wants to do good so badly that he asks for Nwakibie’s help in being better and being the best Okonkwo possible. Okonkwo is making a promise to Nwakibie that he will work for the yam seeds in order to become better than his father. Okonkwo also makes major mistakes in his life while trying to distance himself from his father. When Ikemefuna was about to be killed “One of the men behind him cleared his throat. Ikemefuna looked back, and the man growled at him to go on and not stand looking back. The way he said it sent cold fear down Ikemefuna’s back. His hands trembled vaguely on the black pot he carried. Why had Okonkwo withdrawn to the rear? Ikemefuna felt his legs melting under him. And he was afraid to look back. As the man who had cleared his