Okonkwo, a man in conflict

First of all, we need to understand the context in which Okonkwo lived, a country with heavy tradition for honor, and devotion to religion, where titles and manhood were seen as characteristics of strong men. In this setting, the book: Things Fall Apart, told us the story of Okonkwo, a man who is hard-working, full of physical strength, but extremely stubborn. With a past, marked by his father behavior, who was the exactly opposed to Oknokwo’s characteristics, in a country were family background was very important as it was in Umuofia from the very first beginning Okonkwo realized that he must be differ from his father’s actions. Therefore, Okonkwo’s father behavior is what hunts him throughout the story, and main the reason why he devotes his life to be the opposed to his father by following the Umuofia heroes code.   

   The problem is not in Okonkwo, who people in the village known. The trouble is inside Okonkwo, who constantly has to live by the standards of Umuofia great leaders rather then live by his real intentions, which in Okonkwo opinions are seen as weakness. One example of this constant struggle of Okonkwo is the following extract presented in the text.

"As the man who had cleared his throat drew up and raised his machete, Okonkwo looked away. He heard the blow. The pot fell and broke in the sand. He heard Ikemefuna cry, "My father, they have killed me!" as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak" (Things Fall Apart)

Even though, Okonkwo wouldn't want to kill his step-son, Ikemefuna. He actually has to takes his life in order to be seen as a strong man, but later he is seen full of sadness by the loss of Ikemefuna. And after all this he still feels guilty for having those feeling of sorrow, which is not a characteristic of a great headman.

Finally, we can see that physical strength that Okonkwo possess, it is not enough since it cannot helped him to evolve, in order to change his chi. It is his physical strength what prevented him from move forward.