Okonkow’s whole life was dominated by fear, and the fear of failure and weakness”- Elucidate.

Answer

“Okonkow’s whole life was dominated by fear, and the fear of failure and weakness”- Elucidate.

“Things Fall Apart” (1958) is considered a tragic novel in which Okonkwo is the protagonist. The novel depicts Okonkwo’s dramatic ups and downs. His fear and weakness were the guiding forces or motivations of his life. Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) makes this comment at the novel’s beginning.

Background of Hereditary Fear: The background to this fear of failure and weakness was his own father’s character and habits. In his youth, Unoka, Okonkwo’s father, had an artistic mind. He played the flute very well. His happiest moments were two or three moons after harvest. Unoka played the flute and played games with them. His face was radiant with blessings and peace. As a child, he loved to fly kites. 

In his mature years, he was lazy, short-sighted and incapable of thinking about tomorrow. If any money came, he would immediately buy liquor and finish it. He used to call his neighbours and hang out together. He was a debtor. Every neighbour of his always got some money from him. He was a failure man. He was poor and did not have enough food to feed his wife and children. This fear pushes Okonkwo to work tirelessly. Okonkwo’s entire life is a rebellion against becoming like Unoka. 

He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had had no patience with his father.

Physical Qualities: The author first gives a vivid description of Okonkwo’s physical qualities. He is tall and has bushy and wide eyebrows that do not give him a severe look. He breathes heavily. It is said that when he sleeps, his wives and children in their outhouses can hear his breathing. Achebe says,

Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper.

Hate to Failure: Okonkwo feared failure and weakness from the example of his father’s life. In childhood, he endured poverty and privation, and it was natural that his father should develop hatred against the cause of such misery. Ambition haunted him from childhood. He did not surrender unsuccessful people. Even his relationship with his father was not good. Okonkwo becomes extremely ambitious. He seeks to be the opposite of his father. His fear makes him relentlessly pursue power. It often leads to harsh and unkind behaviour towards others.

His life had been ruled by a great passion—to become one of the lords of the clan.

Hard-working: Okonkwo was a hardworking man. He started his life from zero but quickly became a wealthy farmer. He had two barns full of yams and married his third wife. Though young, he was already one of the most extraordinary men of his time. One who knew his terrible struggle against poverty and misfortune could not say he was lucky.

Hardness Towards Everything: Nwoye, the eldest son of Okonkwo, caused his father great anxiety. Even at the age of twelve years, he seemed to be lazy, much like Unoka. He sought to correct him by constant nagging and beating. Again, his fear of failure and weakness was at the back of his mind. When Nwoye seemed to develop manly qualities under the influence of Ikemefuna, Okonkwo came to have some love for the boy. But he did not express his love outwardly; he thought it was a sign of weakness to do so. In the matter of killing Ikemefuna, his fear of weakness was responsible. Ezeudo, the oldest and most famous man, forbade him from having a hand in killing Ikemefuna. But still, he kills him with his hand because of the fear of being thought weak. Achebe says,

Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down.

To conclude, in “Things Fall Apart,” Okonkwo’s life is dominated by a profound fear of failure and weakness. This fear shapes his personality and actions. Through Okonkwo’s story, Chinua Achebe illustrates the destructive power of fear. It reflects broader themes of change, tradition, and identity in the face of colonialism.