Okonkwo, the son of the effeminate and lazy Unoka, strives to make his way in a world that seems to value manliness. In so doing, he rejects everything for which he believes his father stood. Unoka was idle, poor, profligate, cowardly, gentle, and interested in music and conversation. Okonkwo achieves great social and financial success by embracing these ideals. He marries three women and fathers several children. Nevertheless, just as his father was at odds with the values of the community around him, so too does Okonkwo find himself unable to adapt to changing times as the white man comes to live among the Umuofians. As it becomes evident that compliance rather than violence constitutes the wisest principle for survival, Okonkwo realizes that he has become a relic, no longer able to function within his changing society.Okonkwo is a tragic hero in the classical sense: although he is a superior character, his tragic flaw—the equation of manliness with rashness, anger, and violence—brings about his own destruction. Okonkwo is gruff, at times, and usually unable to express his feelings (the narrator frequently uses the word “inwardly” in reference to Okonkwo’s emotions). But his emotions are indeed quite complex, as his “manly” values conflict with his “unmanly” ones, such as fondness for
Ikemefuna is a fifteen-year-old boy from a neighboring clan, Mbaino, who is given up to Umuofia as a sacrifice for killing one of the women of Umuofia. He lives with Okonkwo’s family for three years before the elders order him to be killed. In those three years, he grows very close to Okonkwo's family, especially Nwoye. Okonkwo even prefers him to his true son Nwoye, considering Ikemefuna to be a promising, hard-working young man. His murder, in which Okonkwo takes a part, haunts Okonkwo throughout the book. Ikemefuna is a prime example of how okonkwo fear of being like hi father -feminine and cowardly -drive him to make poor,regrettable decision. He joins in killing Ikemefuna because he is afriad of being weak,yet he is haunted by his decision and it also permanently emotionally distance him from Nwoye.
Nwoye is okonkwo eldest son who okonkwo considers irredeemably effeminate and very much like his father ,Unoka. As a child ,Nwoye is frequent object of his father criticism and remain emotionally unfulfilled. Eventually Ikemefuna fills that void and Nwoye,in his adoration of his adoptive brother,begins to emulate him. In a strange way ,Ikemefuna fills the role of both father and brother for Nwoye,providing him with a peer to share his thoughts and a role model.
Ikemefuna is a fifteen-year-old boy from a neighboring clan, Mbaino, who is given up to Umuofia as a sacrifice for killing one of the women of Umuofia. He lives with Okonkwo’s family for three years before the elders order him to be killed. In those three years, he grows very close to Okonkwo's family, especially Nwoye. Okonkwo even prefers him to his true son Nwoye, considering Ikemefuna to be a promising, hard-working young man. His murder, in which Okonkwo takes a part, haunts Okonkwo throughout the book. Ikemefuna is a prime example of how okonkwo fear of being like hi father -feminine and cowardly -drive him to make poor,regrettable decision. He joins in killing Ikemefuna because he is afriad of being weak,yet he is haunted by his decision and it also permanently emotionally distance him from Nwoye.
Nwoye is okonkwo eldest son who okonkwo considers irredeemably effeminate and very much like his father ,Unoka. As a child ,Nwoye is frequent object of his father criticism and remain emotionally unfulfilled. Eventually Ikemefuna fills that void and Nwoye,in his adoration of his adoptive brother,begins to emulate him. In a strange way ,Ikemefuna fills the role of both father and brother for Nwoye,providing him with a peer to share his thoughts and a role model.