What makes a successful man? This, in itself, is a culture bound question because it can vary from culture to culture. However, in theperception of Okonkwo, the main character in Chinua Achebe's novel, Things FallApart, the measure of a man's success is based on two elements, materialacquisition and growth, and physical prowess. This is ironic for Okonkwo sincehis people's typical idea of success seems to be constructed of a complex,strong spiritual culture, seemingly able to deal in traditional ways with anychallenge in nature and human experience. (Ravenscroft 9) Although Okonkwo isundoubtedly an important member of Umuofian society, he is not a typicalrepresentative of that society. (Taiwo 115) It is this basic dichotomy betweenOkonkwo and his own culture that directly lead to the tragic fall of Okonkwo,and ultimate disgrace.I feel that it is important to note at this time that Things Fall Apartis a tragedy, and Okonkwo is a tragic hero. For TFA to be a tragedy, it mustfollow the following pattern..."A tragedy .. is the imitation of an action that is erious, hasmagnitude, and is complete in itself; in language with pleasurable accessories,each kind brought in separately in the various parts of the work; in a dramatic,not in a narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith toaccomplish it catharsis of such emotions"Aristotle, PoeticsOkonkwo is a tragic hero because he is superior to the regular people of thetribe, "Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond"he's an extremist, ".whenever he was angry and could not get his words outquickly enough, he would use his fists" (Achebe 3), he imposes his own realityon people, "His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of hisfiery temper" (Achebe 9), demands more of life than life can give, "When did you(Okonkwo) become an old woman?" (Achebe 45), and finally moves from a positionof happiness to that of misery, "It is an abom...
