Characterization (TFA)

The protagonist Okonkwo is incredibly significant in the story Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe. The novel is fictitious yet Achebe has included true events regarding the time period of the 1880s. Through Okonkwo, Achebe has showcased to readers as to how some of the natives felt about the Europeans invading Umuofia. Although many villagers did not mind the 'colonization', it was a drastic moment in Okonkwo's life. The reason regarding the quotations around the word 'colonization' is because, many people then, (and still today), believe that Nigeria was only civilized once the Europeans invaded but this is not the case. Colonization is the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people Yes, the Europeans did settle among the tribes in Nigeria but did they really take control over the indigenous people? Through Things Fall Apart, Achebe is showing the audience that the ethnic groups had their own form of civilization, their own form of control before the British conquered the land. The British turned tribes against each other and encouraged people to convert to Christianity. All of this contributed to the fading of their authentic traditions. Okonkwo is significant because he is used as a symbol of the authentic traditions dying out because, at the end, when everyone starts following the British lifestyle and commands, Okonkwo dies. He would rather commit suicide than live in a world of chaos.
Achebe's purpose of putting Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart is to show the audience a native's perspective on how things were before the Europeans arrived in modern-day Nigeria and during the colonization. Most of the books written before 1958 about Nigeria was written by western researchers and tourists who gave their western opinion on the country. When Achebe wrote this book, it gave readers across the world an authentic taste of how the indigenous people of Nigeria view their country.
Many would consider Okonkwo's character as a tragic hero. During his youth, Okonkwo was faced with a problematic and irresponsible father, Unoka, who never took care of his family. He was seen as an embarrassment and disappointment by the villagers and his family. When Unoka died, all he left his family were his debts. Unoka is part of the reason why Okonkwo is such a tough man and rules his household with a firm hand.  Okonkwo is faithful to the Oracle and to his religion but has broken some of the rules due to his anger outbursts. His outbursts are the results of what happens when he starts feeling some sort of emotion. He views emotion as a weakness, therefore, he pushes it away when it rises.