Things Fall Apart

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorHigh School, 12th grade November 2001

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Things Fall Apart Essay In the novel, Things Fall Apart, the protagonist, Okonkwo, goes through drastic personality changes. At first, Okonkwo is not emotional, and does everything without thinking about it. Okonkwo is extremely aggressive, and it seems that he is always angry. However, as the novel progresses, Okonkwo's personality changes completely. He is now very emotional, and prefers being independent.

In the early stages of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo focuses on one thing. He focuses on being the complete opposite of his lazy and improvident father, Unoka. The quote, "Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand," (pg. 13), is an example of Okonkwo's attitude towards being a different man than his father was. Okonkwo raises his children in a manner in which they will not end up like Unoka. Another quote, "Even in those days he was not a man of many words," (pg. 109), tells that Okonkwo expressed his feelings with actions, instead of words.

Okonkwo had no patiency for anybody or anything. When he asked someone to do something, he wanted it done right away, as said in the quote, "Do what you are told woman" (pg. 14). Okonkwo was a quiet man, and did not openly express any emotions, in fear of being thought of as a woman.

Later in the novel, Okonkwo turns into a different person. After Ikemefuna is killed, Okonkwo changes. One of his friends says, "Okonkwo, you have become a woman, indeed" (pg. 65). This shows that although he tried not to show any feelings, he failed and his friend noticed his change in personality. Okonkwo continually shows signs of character mutation, and and it changes his life. After being separated from his son. Nwoye, Okonkwo says, "I am worried about Nwoye," (pg. 66), whereas earlier he would have...