Skip to main content

How is the father-son relationship portrayed in Achebe's Things Fall Apart?

The two father-son relationships we get the most information on in Things Fall Apart are those between Okonkwo and his own father, Unoka, and between Okonkwo and his son, Nwoye. Both of these relationships reveal tensions between father and son and in both cases, Okonkwo is not satisfied with the way Unoka and Nwoye play the role of father and of son, respectively.


The novel begins with many details about Okonkwo's opinion of Unoka and...

The two father-son relationships we get the most information on in Things Fall Apart are those between Okonkwo and his own father, Unoka, and between Okonkwo and his son, Nwoye. Both of these relationships reveal tensions between father and son and in both cases, Okonkwo is not satisfied with the way Unoka and Nwoye play the role of father and of son, respectively.


The novel begins with many details about Okonkwo's opinion of Unoka and how his father has shaped Okonkwo as a person. Unoka is described as lazy and always indebted to others. Okonkwo is ashamed of him and does not want to take after him; instead, he tries to be the opposite of Unoka: powerful, hard-working, domineering. Okonkwo's shame at his father's reputation in the community leads Okonkwo to aspire to be something at the other end of the spectrum. Okonkwo subsequently becomes extreme in his values and perspectives, which ultimately contributes to his downfall.


Okonkwo is likewise disappointed in his oldest son Nwoye who he sees as not masculine enough, when Okonkwo has made it a point to cultivate his own masculinity. Eventually, Nwoye joins the white missionaries and converts to Christianity. This is the last straw for Okonkwo, to whom ancestors and tribal traditions are of paramount importance. He disowns his son as a result. Earlier in the novel, Okonkwo has, briefly, a more positive relationship with his adopted son, Ikemefuna, who is basically a hostage from another tribe. Once Okonkwo's tribe decides to kill Ikemefuna, though, Okonkwo participates in that killing and masks his own emotions through his outward show of power and masculinity. Okonkwo is closest to his daughter Ezinma, but he always laments that she is not a boy. In the tribe, males are the respected ones, given titles and power. Okonkwo is disappointed that he does not have a son who can follow in his footsteps as a leader of the tribe.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the probability that a cross between parents who are both homozygous recessive for trait will have offspring that are homozygous recessive...

In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring... In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring will have the disease phenotype. The disease phenotype of sickle cell anemia re...
Post a Comment
Read more