... time periods have lived in fear of becoming something that they are inevitably fated to become. The laws of science and logic show us that genetics make us resemble and act like our parents before us, but the resistance of this truth brings upon a life of hardship and hatred inexplicable to those who have never felt that degree of hatred. Okonkwo ... 's inability to change was because of his need to disregard his father's ways. The very last sentence in the book is the notion of the title of the District Commissioner's new book. "He had already chosen the title of the book, after much th...

• Word Count: 1024
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... that will take his village into war against the white man. 3. Okonkwo has few options in this conflict. He can choose to act or he could choose to not act. If he chooses to act, using the forces of the id as he did, he could either start war with the white man or he could just cause ... chaos in the village which will make everything worse then it already was. If he didn't act, like his superego was telling him, he could risk the humiliation of being thought cowardly, something that his entire life he feared. 4. The object that symbolized the ... out your machete and cut him down. You do...

• Word Count: 866
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... 1958, just two years prior to the establishment of an independent Nigerian state. These two seemingly unrelated pieces of literature are actually more related to each other than just the title. All of the horrors that occurred during the First World War and conflicts between the Irish and English can explain the intricate and chaotically dark imagery of "The Second Coming ... the converted who no longer heard the ideas of their traditions and traditional culture and beliefs. "Now the white man has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one," said Achebe (176). The white m...

• Word Count: 1063
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... about though Africa's colonial period. One of the most obvious signs of civilization in the Ibo community is their caste system. It was considered a great accomplishment for a man to receive a title in the village. For those who are lazy or idle, they are rejected by society and also by their family. The governmental structure was composed of a council of elders or ... Okonkwo losing his first son to the European way of life. Okonkwo cannot accept the European customs, even though the old way of life has disintegrated. He commits the ultimate act of rejection of the new order by murderi...

• Word Count: 1008
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... activities that are considered feminine such as conversation, Okonkwo's forceful persona and personal drive for success lands him a primary role in the community. The son of Unoka, a man with no title and no known accomplishments. Okonkwo strives to be stronger and manlier than his father. Unoka was a simple man whom had no desire to equate to a "man's" standard of ... for acting too feminine as he believes he sees a correlation of weakness between his boy and Unoka. Okonkwo hopes that Nwoye will one day grow out of his femininity and act as a man should, a hope that is received by a sh...

• Word Count: 1084
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... it is understandable that Okonkwo had to retaliate in the only form he knows, by resistance to Christianity and loyalty to his culture's traditions. Okonkwo wishes to achieve the highest title in his village but ultimately his rash and impetuous behavior leads to his fall. The reader also sees how Okonkwo refuses to break away from his traditional and religious values ... Okonkwo cannot take more of the vile behavior of the District Commissioner, it is his impulsive nature that pushes him to behead one of his messengers. Though this was a brave act, he commits suicide realizing that his...

• Word Count: 1006
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... sign of weakness near him. Again, Okonkwo is forced to feel shame when Nwoye converts to Christianity. Okonkwo mistakes nobility with being a snob. In a clan meeting, he insults a man without a title, Osugo. Okonkwo turns to the man telling him that the meeting is "for men." When the other men agree with Osugo, Okonkwo does a back shift and apologizes. The elders remind ... things that held [the clan] together and [they] have fallen apart" (2934). His inability to handle the clan's weakness and fear of also becoming weak turn him to suicide - an act done by the weak. ...

• Word Count: 553
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... standard of his clan, Unoka was a coward and squanderer. When he was a child, a boy called Okonkwo's father an agbala. This word means "woman" as well as a man who has no title. His carelessness left numerous debts unpaid at his death. Ashamed of his father, Okonkwo worked hard and fought well to gain a reputation of high status and influence in his clan ... happening, Okonkwo killed one of the leaders at a meeting. The pacification of Okonkwo's clan is what depressed him. He knew his clan would not go to war. This desire to act violently all goes back to his father's lack of desire. In...

• Word Count: 743
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... honored man. While Okonkwo strived to be a better man, events that he couldn't control ended up beating him down in the end, until he just couldn't fight anymore. His first act to differ his life was by being known for his strength and personal achievements. "As a young man of eighteen he had brought honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the ... as he had wanted for him and his family, because too many things have changed in his village. He saw the breaking up and falling apart, which goes with the title of the book. One of their rituals involves men putting on masks which are belie...

• Word Count: 879
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . This is a much larger effect, because it completely changes Okonkwo's personality. Because of his weak father, Okonkwo is pressured to act mean and heartless for fear of being thought weak. Okonkwo's father, Unoka, is a lazy and weak man. He has no title in the village of Umofia, and his only real skill is playing the flute, which is almost worthless. The skill ... ...

• Word Count: 776
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School