Is Okonkwo A Hero Analysis

“A true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength but by the strength of his heart” This quote was said by a recognised hero in literature, hercules. By this definition Okonkwo the main character of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is not a hero. Not only is Okonkwo not a hero by hercules’s standard, but also by Aristotle’s too. Aristotle said that a hero is a noble figure which Okonkwo was not. All that Okonkwo ever accomplished was from fear of becoming his father, which means that he was only thinking of himself and not of others like a hero should. Not only was he selfish but in order to have people think he is strong he was willing to kill a child. Okonkwo is not tragic a hero because of his lack of selflessness and because he

There are many different instances that shows Okonkwo being dishonorable. Even as early in the book as page 13, it states how Okonkwo was someone who was feared in his own household by his 3 wives and his children. Okonkwo had a “fiery temper” according to Achebe which led to him to explode in anger when ever there was something that didn't go his way. A perfect example of this was when Okonkwo broke the peace in the sacred Week of Peace “Okonkwo was provoked to justifiable anger by his youngest wife, who went to plait her hair at her friend’s house and did not return early enough to cook the afternoon meal… When she returned he beat her very heavily” (Achebe pg 29). That just shows how Okonkwo does not care about other people's needs and he expects his wives to only be at his service. This was not the only instance were Okonkwo has abuse a wife of his he does this all the time and another instance of it is shown in chapter 5 when it states “Who killed this tree? Or are you all deaf and dumb?As a matter of fact the tree was very much alive. Okonkwo’s second wife had merely cut a few leaves off it to wrap some food, and she said so. Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left he and her only daughter weeping. Neither of

Not no mention that Okonkwo doesn't care about anybody but himself and he has no empathy and regard for others okonkwo is not a tragic hero based on either Hercules standards or Aristotle's; even though all his life we was terrified to not be thought at one. Now there might be others to disagree but they would have to read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe