Things Fall Apart Fear - 1032 Words

Anon April 26, 2013 English 10 Anon Fear is a distressing state of mind aroused by impending danger, evil, and even mental pain. The idea of fear is greater than fear itself. It is an emotion that we subconsciously create, it is the emotion evoked by the idea of believing illusions, lies and false information. Fear is what drives us to execute actions that we would never normally do, unrestrained from the presence of fear we act with morality, thought and discipline. In Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe, fear is evident throughout Okonkwos life. The fear of being anything close to his father Unoka, the fear of acting anything other than a man and the fear of adjusting to anything other than his own social customs is what†¦show more content†¦For some, their mouths becomes parched, words stammer after each other, their body tremors as their heart skips a beat. For the unfortunate, they experience hallucinations. When Chielo abducted Ekwefis daughter, Ezinma, Ekwefi was horrified out of her mind to the point where, in the moonlit darkness, she was imagining shadowy figures who twisted and turned into new shapes as she looked at them, â€Å"She had prayed for the moon to rise. But now she found the half-light of the incipient moon more terrifying than darkness. The world was now peopled with vague, fantastic figures that dissolved under her steady gaze and then formed again in new shapes. At one stage Ekwefi was so afraid that she nearly called out Chielo for companionship and human sympathy† (62). Apart from her fear, it was her courage that convinced her to follow Chielo into such an unfamiliar environment, otherwise she wouldnt have followed her but her love for her daughter was stronger than her fear of the night and the possessed Chielo. Her fear told her to turn around and return home but her love for Enzima gave her the courage to conquer her fears, but regardless her fear never went away, it was there with her not as a heavy weight on her shoulders but as a silent c ompanion, pacified by love. The influences fear can have on people can be various, depending on who the person really is and what drives andShow MoreRelatedFear Of Weakness In Things Fall Apart1223 Words   |  5 Pagesdominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness†¦It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father† (13). In the novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s shame for his father, Unoka, motivates him to be everything his father wasn’t. As a result, Okonkwo hides behind masculinity and conceals his emotions, in hope of escaping weakness. Stubborn and impulsive, Okonkwo makes rash decisions to uphold his reputation, which affects his tribe and his family. Okonkwo’s constant fear of resemblingRead MoreThe Power of Fear in Things Fall Apart Essays1039 Words   |  5 Pages The Power of Fear in Things Fall Apart In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the theme of the power of fear is presented throughout the whole book and is mainly expressed in the main character, Okonkwo. Okonkwo strives all of his life to become a stronger, more powerful, and a successful individual. He wants to do this because his father was a slack and lazy person who lived most of his life in debt and had no titles to his name. People often looked at his father as a women figureRead MoreSources of Okonawos Fear in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe511 Words   |  2 PagesAchebe’s story is about a strong man, Okonkwo, whose life is dominated by fear and anger. The anxiety of Okonkwo fear of failure, losing his traditions, and family name. The unknown in this story is the oncoming of the English into Africa. A new religion is brought to the villages, and new ways of being something else arise. The African village Okonkwo knew and grew up in slowly begins to dissipate. Okonkwo is not only afraid for himself but for his people, family, and ancestors. He doesn’t wantRead MoreTheme Of Fear In Things Fall Apart775 Words   |  4 Pages Fear played a big role in Things Fall Apart. Mainly fear was seen ruling Okonkwo’s life, but also a couple of the other inhabitants of Umuofia. It was seen in many situations dictating the characters’ actions. Each of the character’s actions then led up to the understanding of the theme in Things Fall Apart, fear can dictate choices. Through the narrator’s thoughts, the theme was initially found. For example, in the text, Achebe states, â€Å"Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. ButRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1719 Words   |  7 PagesThings fall apart is a classic novel written around the turn of the century, the novel focuses on the protagonist who we can also call a hero, Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a wealthy and respected leader within the Igbo tribe of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. Strong individual with a passionate belief in all the values and traditions of his people. Chinua Achebe presents Okonkwo as a particular kind of tragic protagonist, a great man who carries the fate of his people. Okonkwo is a man who is inflexible andRead MoreConflicts And Struggles Of Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart990 Words   |  4 PagesThings Fall Apart Essay Conflicts and struggles in a book help capture the reader s attention. A reader is always has his or her eye out for the struggles a character throughout a book because that is the part of the book that captures the reader s attention. Although, it is not always about the struggle and conflict, but the optimism the character feels whenever something goes wrong. A reader also wants to be assured that the character will look for the bright side in the situations and theRead MoreOkonkwo as Classic Greek Hero in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart1730 Words   |  7 PagesClassic Greek Hero in Things Fall Apart      Ã‚  Ã‚   A sense of foreboding envelops us from the first. We sense all will not end well for Umuofia. The chill of fear grips us as the world of Okonkwo and his clan truly falls apart. Okonkwo will need all of his power to fight the forces against his world, but tragically he is crippled by the most destructive malady of all, fear of himself. Achebe employs the form of classical Greek tragedy to tell his African tale of the rise and fall of Okonkwo.   Read MoreSimilarities Between Okonkwo And Things Fall Apart1242 Words   |  5 Pagesking Macbeth attempts to ward off any threat to his reign and succession by all means. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo, the main character, equally does anything and everything to prove his valor. Though set in 11th century Scotland and 19th century Nigeria respectively, and portrayed through the main characters of Macbeth and Okonkwo, the authors of both Macbeth and Things Fall Apart each demonstrate an extensive yet subtle examination regarding the notion of how exorbitant amounts ofRead MoreFences, By And Pulitzer Prize Award Essay977 Words   |  4 PagesMen have to always set rules for their families and ensure that they are always followed and respected. â€Å"Thus,men can be strong (this does not mean only physical strength, but may mean many other things-being firm in taking a position, for example, or being influential by speaking his mind, etc.)†.(Langness ) In both stories the male father figure was strict mentally rather than just physical. â€Å"Women who are abused by the men they live with find themselves progressively disenfranchised from theirRead More Okonkwo in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay973 Words   |  4 PagesOkonkwo in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart  Ã‚  Ã‚   Okonkwo, as presented by Chinua Achebe in the novel Things Fall Apart, wished to be revered by all as a man of great wealth, power and control--the antithesis of his father. Okonkwo was driven by the need to exhibit utmost control over himself and others; he was an obsessive and insecure man. Okonkwos father, Unoka, was a failure, a loafer, and People laughed at him (1426). This would bring great shame to any man as it did for Okonkwo