Things Fall Apart - Authors purpose free essay sample

Overall, one of Achebes main purposes is to write a tragedy following Aristotles definition. According to Aristotles definition, A tragedy is a drama or other work of literature that tells the story of the fall of a person of high status (Handbook of Literary Terms). We will write a custom essay sample on Things Fall Apart Authors purpose or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In Achebes novel, after defeating the great wrestler, Amalinze the Cat, the tragic hero, Okonkwo gains much respect throughout each of the nine villages of Umoufla (Achebe 3); he feels a renowned sense of pride. Okonkwos pride ultimately causes his downfall. Achebe expresses Okonkwo as one of the greatest men of his time (Achebe 6). All while indulging his already great honors, Okonkwo continues to gain a prestigious manly reputation. He was a man of action, a man of war as described by Achebe (Achebe 9). Okonkwos stature lead to his narcissistic opposition, which consequently becomes the most common type of tragic flaw; arrogance resulting from excessive pride (Handbook of Literary Terms). In return, Okonkwos flaw triggers numerous aversions towards the changing Igbo culture. As the story unfolds Okonkwo fails to tolerate the newly prevailed traditions, bringing him to mourn the loss of the past, such as him feeling that he has lost his manly reputation (Chua 90). Sadly, Okonkwo is flamed with anger. After meeting the sweet-tongued messenger who invited him to the meeting with the District Commissioner, Okonkwos anger engulfs him, causing him to kill the messenger in hopes of restoring his faded repute throughout the villages (Achebe 140). As Achebe continues to portray his story, he generates an abrupt disappointment for Okonkwo, when he soon realizes the villagers no longer support him. Even worse, Okonkwo admits that he will not succeed in saving his village from the British colonists. Okonkwo faces his downfall, caused by blindness towards his arrogance. After his painful disappointment, for not only himself, but the villagers as well, Okonkwo feels as if he has become Just like his father- improvident (Achebe 3). In result, Okonkwo hangs himself, to escape from the vulnerability. Achebe ends the story, leaving the audience feeling great pity for Okonkwo. Taking everything into account, Achebe certainly provides many ideas throughout the novel that embrace and support Aristotles definition of a tragedy, including the fall of a tragic hero. In this case, the tragic hero being, Okonkwo, who takes the role of presenting the tall ot a person ot high status due to a tragic tlaw (Handbook ot Literary Terms)