Okwonko is portrayed throughout the village as strong man because he defeated the Amalinze the Cat. Everyone in the village fears him because of his physical appearance and the power that he has over his wife and children. He may be considered a strong man throughout the village, but in truth, he is rather weak man.
He is known as a weak man because he often beats his wives for the simple mistakes that they make. For example, Okwonko beat his second wife mainly because he was angry and needed an outlet to vent. After his second wife simply cut leaves off a banana tree. He claimed that someone had “killed his banana tree” (Achebe 38). No one dared to intervene because they all fear him. Another example is that he beats his children, especially Nwoye. After Ikemefuna was told that he was going to be able to go home, Nwoye bursts out into tears. Okwonko, in return, “beat him heavily” (Achebe 57). Overall, he cannot control his anger and he often takes it out on his wives and children. His anger has eventually taken a toll on him.
Okwonko’s weakness is partly due to his father, Unoka. His father was considered such a weak man that Okwonko found the need to become a stronger man than this father. Unoka had a fear of blood and didn’t like the idea of war. Okwonko was disgusted by his father’s choice. In response, Okwonko tried to be the strongest man in the village. This obviously does not work because he ends up upsetting the gods by following Ezinma into the cave.
Now that Okwonko has been shunned from the village, his status as a strong man will begin to fall apart. More bad things will begin to happen to him and this will end up making him a weaker man. He is finally going to break down and show that he has another side to him. This was already shown a little bit when Okwonko became worried about Ezinma’s disappearance. This might make him a better man in time.
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3 comments:
I completely agree that Okonkwo is trying to make up for the legacy that his father left. To Okonkwo his father was weak and because of this he grew strong on the outside and emotionally detached within. Okonkwo is a man who is a firm believer in the ideas a woman should submit herself to her husband and their children should be brought up to carry out either the duties of a woman, managing the home and the kids, or the obligations of a man, the "rough" jobs. Okonkwo has been blinded by he believes is the only way to live; the only route to success. He conveniently puts on the front of a strong, competent man. But how strong can one be if he cannot even show his true self or his real feelings?
Okonkwo's strong personality becomes questioned during certain situations. He has to be strong and stern in front of his wife and children but when bad things start to happen, his weak side starts to show. When his wife was not home to make his lunch, his anger started to show. However, Okonkwo showed that he truly cared when Chielo took Ezinma into the Evil Forest. Chielo said that Ezinma had to go see the Oracle. He arrived at the cave with his wife Ekwefi waiting outside. After making several trips back and forth to the cave, he finally found them on the fourth trip. Okonkwo told his wife, “Go home and sleep, I shall wait here” (Achebe 108). He is concerned that his wife has been out this whole time and that he will be there for Ezinma. Okonkwo is a leader throughout the village so he needs to look strong and cannot show his weak side. This also effects him when they take Ikemefuna to kill him and he kills Ikemefuna himself so he does not seem weak. Okonkwo’s personal thoughts on how people view him sometimes out rule his outlook on what is right and wrong in his own mind.
I agree that Okonkwo is trying to make up for his father's weakness. Unoka had died with no titles and Okonkwo was set on countering the poor legacy his father left. He was highly respected among the people of his village. "And so although still young, he was already one of the greatest men of his time.(Achebe,8)" Okonkwo has alot of anger. He is quick tempered as seen when he beats his wife and children often for small mistakes. "He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists. (Achebe 4)" Okonkwo as a man is very strong willed and opinionated.
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