Things Fall Apart As Tragedy Essay

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For this reason, he is a tragic hero according to Aristotle's definition of the word.

Aristotle believed tragedies must "imitate actions which excite pity and fear" (Aristotle). This involves the hero to suffer a change, which usually means going from good fortune to misfortune through the course of the story. Like real life, all things are not all good or all bad. Aristotle believed "misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty" (Aristotle XIII). In addition, this change is the result of something the hero does. Aristotle believed it was necessary for the hero to comprehend the gravity of what he has done. This forces him to realize his fatal flaw. A catharsis follows this realization and it heightens the drama of the story. Aristotle believed the best effect results from a surprise. In this way, action drives the plot and keeps the audience guessing. At the end of the story, Okwonko believes that "worthy men are no more" (200) and there is no escaping what is happening. Okwonko's action rouses the audience's pity because they can relate to what he is feeling and they can know there is little he can do to reverse the order of things.

Finally, Things Fall Apart meets Aristotle's definition of a tragedy because Okwonko lives to see the horror of what he has done. When he realizes what the consequences of his actions will be, he decides to take things in his own hands and do what he feels is the only thing to do. He hates the way things have turned out for his tribe and his people and he understands that by killing one of the messengers, he is taking a great risk.

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After thinking about it all night, he decides death is the only plausible answer. This is the answer with which he can live and because of this, he purges his soul of any more suffering.

Things Fall Apart is undoubtedly a tragedy by our modern standards and it is amazing to consider that it is also a tragedy by the standards set forth by Aristotle many centuries ago. Aristotle knew what audiences needed to feel and recognize in order for a tragedy to have real and lasting impact. The story must be something the audience can believe in and the hero must stand apart from his fellow men in some way. Achebe captures these aspects of the story beautifully and he brings Okwonko's actions into the story in such a way that we do not question them. Spoken with authority, we see the tragedy unfurl as Okwonko watches his very heritage fall apart.

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