Tragic Hero

Why would Achebe, taking into account the cultural context, choose to characterize Okonkwo using the tragic hero archetype?

Chinua Achebe has created a character such as Okonkwo as a tragic hero archetype throughout the book. Okonkwo is a character that is flawed in many ways and ultimately leads to his downfall. It is interesting to see how Achebe has portrayed his main character this way instead of a perfect un flawed character to form a more authentic and cultural voice.  A tragic hero is characterised by Aristotle’s 5 mains points. 

Firstly, Okonkwo is flawed, in which his harmatia is laziness and the fear of becoming like his father.  In fact, his hubris is his hamartia as well. Achebe has describe Okonkwo as a character that is defined by his flaws and as an audience, it makes him more relatable. Relating to the context, the colonization of Nigeria is exhibited to be their downfall. Okonkwo interestingly, never seems to realize his mistakes and never makes his critical discovery. The most important plot in the story is when Okonkwo has to personally kill Ikemefuna, in which he tried to not illustrate feminity and this leads to his exile. In the end of the story, he ends up committing suicide showing the audience that he is powerless.

Achebe took into the account of a flawed character to personally relate the story to us and we are all human being with flaws and to make the reader understand and feel the same way in the position of Okonkwo. Perhaps this is to show a non bias account of the colonization of Africa. Literature often does not emphasize enough coverage of the African culture, which perhaps could be why Achebe has utilized Okonkwo in such a way that he can make Okonkwo flawed not to look like a super being.