What are some reasons okonkwo committed suicide in Things Fall Apart?

Answer 1

There are numerous things that cause Okonkwo's downfall, depending on one's viewpoint and beliefs. Overall, Okonkwo's fear of being weak, of being like his father or thought of this way, leads to his downfall. This causes him to constantly wish to project a strong solid image and never be weak. Okonkwo is rash, and intemperate, which may have caused him to offend the gods, who might have correspondingly punished him.

On several occasions might Okonkwo have offended the gods:

1. Beating Ojiugo during the week of peace. Okonkwo's temper causes him to beat his wife during the week of peace, and not to stop even when told of this. Due to his pride, Okonkwo did not show much outward remorse, even though he was repentant inside.

2. Killing Ikemefuna. Okonkwo's pride causes him to go on the death march with Ikemefuna, and his fear of being thought weak causes him to strike the killing blow, instead of letting someone else do it. His rashness creates an action in which he might offend the gods.

It may also be supposed that Okonkwo nearly killing Ekwefi with his gun, causes Chielo, her good friend, to pronounce that Ikemefuna must die, although this is not explicit in the book, nor is there conclusive evidence to support this theory.

His accident with his gun killing Ekeudu's son is another contributing factor. This forces him into exile. In some way, since Okonkwo did not follow Ekeudu's advice to not lay a hand in Ikemefuna's death, it may be seen as Ekeudu's spirit cursing Okonkwo after death.

The fact that Okonkwo's father was not buried properly, but left to die in the Evil Forest might lead some to believe that his father's spirit haunted Okonkwo, perhaps to the point of influencing Nwoye, Okonkwo's eldest son. Nwoye's effeminate nature can be partially blamed for Okonkwo's downfall. However, though it might also be blamed on having inherited Unoka's genes, it is also blamed on Okonwko's fiery nature, molding Nwoye into a sad faced youth through the many beatings.

The European colonials arriving in Nigeria are also partially to blame. Okonkwo's exile leads him to be unable to defend Umuofia from the church, until it is too late. The tribesmen are relatively honourable, and foolishly trust the Commissioner who tricks and imprisons them.

Finally, with the encounter with the messengers, several things can be blamed for the failure of this encounter. 1. The villagers were not yet ready to go to action, and were weaker than Okonkwo's ideal. 2. The villagers let the messenger's escape, dooming Okonkwo.

Okonkwo killing himself is merely the final act to his downfall.

In a grand sense, the weakness of the tribe as a whole and it's inability to speak as one voice leads to the tribe falling apart, and Okonkwo's downfall. Ironically, the very customs of the tribe itself, which separated itself, give the colonialists a wedge to drive between the people.

Answer 2

Okonkwo committed suicide in "Things Fall Apart" because he felt powerless and couldn't accept the changes happening in his society due to colonization. Additionally, he was devastated by the loss of his status and influence, which led to a feeling of hopelessness that ultimately drove him to take his own life.

Answer 3

Okonkwo's downfall was initially caused by his lazy, ill-reputed father. By trying so hard to distance himself from his father, he forgoes emotion and temperance.

Other events that lead to his downfall include:

• Beating his wife Ekwefi.
• Nearly shooting his wife Ekwefi.
• Ekwefi telling Chielo that Okonkwo did nearly kill her.
• The declaration that Ikemefuna must die.
• Okonkwo's killing of Ikemefuna.
• Okonkwo's accidental killing of a tribesman and Okonkwo's subsequent exile.
• The arrival of the European colonists.
• Nwoye's conversion to Christianity.
• Okonkwo's slaying of the messenger.

Answer 4

This depends on what the event was. His punishment for having a lazy father was not having any inheritance, and having to distance himself from his father, who was a poor role model.