The most despicable character in Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart is
Okonkwo, because he allows his pride to dictate his actions. Okonkwo is portrayed as a
man whose wealth and ambition is surpassed only by his pride in himself and his
Achievements. "'I will not have a son who cannot hold up his head in the gathering of the
clan. I would sooner strangle him with my own hands (33).'" This relates to the topic
because Okonkwo is so proud that he cannot bear to have a son who is lazy. Okonkwo's
pride and fear of being thought of as weak force him to kill a boy who thought of him as
a father. "'Dazed with fear Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was
afraid of being thought of as weak(61).'" This proves that Okonkwo will do anything to
keep his image as a great warrior.
Okonkwo is ashamed of his father because he was
lazy, poor and heavily in debt. "Any wonder then that his son Okonkwo was ashamed of
him(8)?" This shows that Okonkwo is embarrassed and ashamed to be related to his
father. In Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart Okonkwo is the most despicable
character because he lets his pride get in the way of his actions.