Transition Of Okonkwo In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

The Transition of Okonkwo In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the Ibo culture has an unexpected visit from a conflicting and unfamiliar culture. Achebe uses his own experience to tell the story of how Okonkwo, a man who was very strong and successful, who fell apart because of a new foreign culture known as the Western Culture. Okonkwo started on as a respected and successful leader, but due to the introduction of Western culture, his standing in the Ibo culture soon declined as well as his pride and respect from his family. Achebe incorporates masculinity and father-son relationships to display the concept that not being open to new ideas and cultures can lead to the destruction of one’s self. In the beginning, “Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements” (13). This quote displays how his title in the villages was very high and he had a great deal of respect from the people in the clan. He had great confidence and self-assurance of his talents and beliefs. Little did he know that all his achievements and success would come crashing down. Okonkwo was seen as very masculine and strong, but when he decided to commit a crime that was seen as very “feminine,” it changed his

“Then they came to the tree from which Okonkwo’s body was dangling, and they stopped dead” (191). Okonkwo had felt like he lost everything, and he had no hope in anything. First his home, then his son, and now himself. This is the lowest act he can commit, he was thought of as so masculine and robust and he lost it all. “It is against our custom,” said one of the men. “It is an abomination for a man to take his own life” (191). Okonkwo had gone against the earth, his village, and his beliefs because of the depression he was going through while people were converting and following the new missionaries rather than fighting and trying to keep the village as their original