Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart by Chinua AchebeOkonkwo, as presented by Chinua Achebe in the novel Things Fall Apart, wished to be revered by all as a man of great wealth , of power and control --the antithesis of his father. Okonkwo was motivated by the need to exercise the greatest control over himself and others; he was an obsessive and insecure man. Okonkwo's father, Unoka, was "a failure", "a slacker" and "people made fun of him" (1426). This would bring great shame to any man, as it did to Okonkwo. In the Umuofia, “a man is judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father” (1427). In Umuofia, “success was revered.” Okonkwo became obsessed with proving to everyone that, unlike his father, he was a man worthy of respect. Okonkwo worked hard and in time his “prosperity manifested itself in his house” (1429). Okonkwo had "a large property", "three wives" (1429), "two barns full of yams" and "two titles" (1427). Okonkwo had become a rich and respectable man. However, he feared that everything would collapse if he allowed the slightest deviation, the slightest sign of weakness. Weakness could be slight disobedience to a wife, as happened during “Peace Week.” Ojiugo was not home in time to prepare Okonkwo's meal and although it was "unheard of to beat someone during the holy week" (1435), Okonkwo beat Ojiugo mercilessly. It is likely that Okonkwo feared that others would see Ojiugo's indifference to his responsibilities as a sign of Okonkwo's inability to control his wife. Okonkwo was equally demanding of his children and he wanted his “son to be a great farmer and a great man” (1437). ). Okonkwo would become excessively angry if Nwoye made small mistakes while learning. When Nwoye and Ikemefuna shared the yam...... middle of paper ......ch so that he would choose "evil" and commit suicide. Achebe, for the most part, seems to follow the Western formula for tragedy and the tragic hero. Okonkwo, although not born rich or privileged, becomes a rich and powerful man in Umuofia. Okonkwo is neither "good" nor "completely evil", but has a "tragic flaw" that leads to a series of tragic events. Okonkwo begins in poverty and rises to the height of wealth and prestige among his people. He is so obsessed with control, control at all costs, that he begins to make tragic mistakes: beating his wife during Peace Week, killing Ikemefuna, having to flee Umuofia, killing the messenger and then himself. This fits the criteria of “disregarding divine law and attempting to escape one’s fate” as stated in the study guide. Works cited: Achebe, Chinua. Things are falling apart. New York: Ballantine, 1969.