Okonkwo's Tragedy

[abeeranoor]

Things Fall Apart

''Tragedy Of Okonkwo''

A tragedy is a tale of suffering,leading generally to hero's death.Okonkwo is a real tragic hero and the factors that bring about his tragedy are immense.However,a bird's eye view of the book confronts the reader with two questions,roughly speaking two factors contributing in the tragedy of Okonkwo:his own rashness and role of colonialism.The reader finds himself between the devil and deep sea to decide wether Okonkwo is a puppet in the hands of his own actions or wether colonial system is the killer of Okonkwo___an embodiment of humanity.However,a balanced point of view goes like as a wit says;

''The strongest man,Okonkwo,is destroyed in a very complicated process of internal contradictions and external Invasion''.

The very first factor contributing in Okonkwo's tragic death of Okonkwo is his fallibility.He is ambitious and hardworking and believes strongly in his traditions.This ''Roaring Flame'' is honored and well_known throughout the nine villages.

The wrestling match established the reputation of Okonkwo who is still remembered twenty years later in the past when he has become a mature elder of his village.

His character is strongly defined by strength and power.He is never afraid of war.He is rash and head strong.Out of anger he desecrates the ''Weak of peace'' by beating up one of his wives.He even kills Ikemefuna because he is afraid of being thought weak.

''He was a man of action,a man of war.Unlike his father he could stand the look of blood.''

Okonkwo is presented as a true patriot who loves his cultural roots and local traditions.This set of traditions provide spiritual and emotional sustenance and a sense of continuity to him.He refuses to break away from his traditional and religious values which result in his own death.He feels about the danger to his culture.

''Let us not reason like cowards.If a man comes to my hut and defecates on the floor what should i do?Do I shut my eyes?No;I take a stick and break his head this is what a man does.''

His rashness allows no room for compromise and he refuses the forces of domination .His rough treatment with the whiteman's messenger causes his failure from grace to grass.

''In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete............Okonkwo's machete descended twice and the man's head lay beside his uniformed body.''

After his action,he hangs himself and becomes a taboo.Here,it seems that Okonkwo himself contributes in his tragedy as a critic says,

''Okonkwo's suicide is a gesture that symbolizes at he same time his personal refusal of a new order as well as the collapse of the old order which he represents''.

But point to be noted is that not only Okonkwo's anger that brings about his tragedy,Colonial powers contribute in this too.Slowly and steadily they were destroying the world which Okonkwo has own through corage and will.

''Okonkwo was deeply grieved.......He mourned for the clan,which he saw breaking up and falling apart.''

Chapter 23 reveals the oppressive measures that white man would take to enforce their growing control in the area and also lead Okonkwo to his tragedy.The reader here sees the treachery of the whites,who invite the leaders of the clan,including Okonkwo,for a discussion but imprison them instead.

The treatment meted out to them in the prison is shocking and distressing.They shaved off all the hairs on the men's head.They were not even given any water or drink,and they could not go out to urinate.At night the messenger came in to taunt them and to knock their shaven heads together.When Okonkwo talks of killing white men,a messenger hears him and consequently thrashes them.

''He carried a strong stick and he hit each man a few blows on the head and back.Okonkwo was choked with hate.''

The entire village mourns for the men and pays fine of two hundred and fifty bags of cowries to white men.The six leaders are released but hey have not found the mouth with which to tell of their humiliation.

The mental agony which Okonkwo undergoes is beyond imagination.A man of honor is humiliated in his own clan at the hand of invaders___the very thought of this stern reality is agonizing for Okonkwo.He slept very little that night.

''As he lay his head on his bamboo bed he thought about the treatment he had recieved in the white man's court,and he swore vegenance.''

The Umuofia people hold a meeting to discuss the recent events.When the meeting is still being addresed five messengers come to say;

''The whiteman whose power you know too well has ordered this meeting to stop''.

Okonkwo's patience reaches its limit.Seized by a conclusive/fierce rage he murders the leader of the messengers.Okonkwo has thought that the people will rise and fight but rather he heared voices asking:

''Why did he do it?''

He,now acknowledges the fact that he cannot save his nation single handedly and defeat is imminent and so he commits suicide.Obierika clearly blames colonizers for the tragedy of Okonkwo:

''That was one of the greatest men in Umuofia.You drove him to kill himself and now he will burried likew a dog.''

According to this very comment of Obierika of Okonkwo is brought upon him not by himself but by the white colonizers.

After discussing both factors that work in Okonkwo's tragedy_____namel Okonkwo's own rashness and colonial powers,one tends to say that Okonkwo sinned as much as he is sinned against.He takes his own life rather than submit himself to the hands of the British.In a sense he does not surrender but dies like a warrior.That is what a man of ego can do in such a situation.

To give final verdict about the factor of Okonkwo's tragedy is rather hard.A moderate approach is required to conclude that personal faults of hero and external dispensation both are equally responsible for the tragedy of hero.In other words a single man in conflict with a whole system reaches at the verge of tragedy.