Ezinma was the one child Okonkwo had that truly understood him. He had secretly wished she were a boy, since boys were the only gender father's could be proud of. She knew how to deal with him, which as a result allowed him to care more about her. .
Also, while they were in exile, Amikwu, Okonkwo's cousin informs him that his eldest son, Nwoye spends his time with the Christians. Nwoye cannot accept his father or the way he has been raised. Which seems to be a pattern from father to son, since Okonkwo did not understand his father, either. Okonkwo tries to give his son the life he did not have, and he is upset his son is so unappreciative and ungrateful. Nwoye walks out and never returns. He tries to live a superior life where he will not have to deal with his father, and as well as will have different life prospects. Okonkwo and Nwoye's problem is that they both want different outcomes in their lives. They are after dissimilar goals with unlike expectations. Okonkwo will never be able to accept the coming of the Christians as a change in culture, social status, or even every day living. Okonkwo is overconfident of his culture and Nwoye loses respect for him after Ikemefuna's death. He believes in pleasing the Gods and that his chi defines radical choices he makes.
Okonkwo disrespects the Gods on several occasions and is punished by his chi. .
He beat his second wife, Ekwefi, even during the week of peace; she received a sound beating. She only trimmed a tree, yet Okonkwo has accused her of killing the tree. When he loses control he cannot decipher good judgment from bad judgment, since he is blinded by rage.
He has committed an abomination to the earth goddess for taking his own life. His clansmen could not bury him, because his body was evil. Even at death, he is not able to have a respectable funeral. His people were not allowed to touch him. Only a stranger was allowed to do this. In the end Okonkwo and his father both have improper burials.
