Things Fall Apart Okonkwo's Suicide Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 901 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 3

He does not hesitate to host Ikemefuna when his tribe provides him with this task and he even takes part in murdering the child when the tribe's elders decide that he should die. Even with that, it appears that Okonkwo's fate is sealed and that he has limited control over what happens to him.

Okonkwo cannot stand by and watch as his village's values are being trampled by men that have nothing to do with his clan or his lands. Upon seeing that his tribesmen are reluctant to join him at the time when he slays a messenger, Okonkwo realizes that the battle is lost and decides that he can no longer live in a world where everything that he respects is destroyed both by his people and by the invading white individuals.

On the other hand, the man's death can also be perceived as proof that people are unable to change their fate. In spite of the fact that Okonkwo struggled to be different from his father, he ended up being exactly like him, especially considering that he dies alone and without receiving any recognition from the tribe. Even with that, Obierika's determination to present the commissioner with his friend's courage and loyalty to his people makes it possible for readers to understand that there was more to Okonkwo than they thought.

Stuck Writing Your "Things Fall Apart Okonkwo's Suicide" Essay?

View All Our Example Things Fall Apart Okonkwo's Suicide Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

Okonkwo's suicide is likely to demonstrate that the man was actually capable of being stronger than fate.

The book's protagonist constantly manages to impress through his behavior as he initially succeeds in making it from rags to riches and as he later commits suicide as an extreme act meant to raise his people's awareness concerning the gravity of the situation that they are in. Cultural values are everything for Okonkwo and he is determined to act in accordance with his principles regardless of the situation that he is in. His last act, however, comes against everything that his people stand for, as he commits one of the most terrible sins that an Umofian is capable of. To a certain degree, one can actually consider that Okonkwo reached his goal through killing himself, as he succeeds in impressing his people through this act and influences Obierika to lash out in rage at the commissioner. It appears that Obierika understood the way that Okonkwo thought and was no longer willing to allow foreigners to dominate his tribe. Not only does this individual accuse the commissioner of being responsible for Okonkwo's death, but he actually puts across his perspective in regard to his friend's suicide by claiming that Okonkwo was one of the greatest individuals that he had ever come across......

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Things Fall Apart Okonkwo's Suicide" (2011, December 06) Retrieved May 20, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/things-fall-apart-okonkwo-suicide-48262

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Things Fall Apart Okonkwo's Suicide" 06 December 2011. Web.20 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/things-fall-apart-okonkwo-suicide-48262>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Things Fall Apart Okonkwo's Suicide", 06 December 2011, Accessed.20 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/things-fall-apart-okonkwo-suicide-48262
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example