Okonkwo has a minor breakdown and does not eat for two days, only drinking wine. He struggles with his personal beliefs, and is ashamed that he is emotionally affected.
He ends up becoming closer with his daughter Ezinma, who understands him best, though he continues to wish she had been born a boy.
Okonkwo grieves for Ikemefuna's death, as well as the slow death of the Igbo culture.
He later grieves for the effeminate character of his son Nwoye, who has turned his back on the Igbo gods.
He also grieves that his ferocity has made it so that his sons are not as great as he.
He is depressed because he was the closest thing to a real son he had killed him with his own machete
It is a combination of both loss and guilt, and perhaps a feeling of powerlessness.
Nwoye feels grief and feels like something inside of him has broken. Nwoye withdraws from Okonkwo and the world and values his father represents.
His witnessing of the grief of a woman who was forced throw her twins away in the Evil Forest, and Ikemefuna's death made Nwoye feel limp inside, without strength.
Ikemefuna is led by the tribe on a long march outside of its lands. One tribeman cuts him with a machete. As Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo for safety, Okonkwo chops Ikemefuna down with his machete.
Although Ikemefuna is from a different family, Nwoye treats Ikemefuna as an older brother to look up to and mimic. Ikemefuna is the older brother that Nwoye never had.
Ikemefuna is taken as part of restitution made by the man who killed a tribeswoman of Umuofia.
Ikemefuna's mother is devastated and grief-stricken upon learning about his death. She is heartbroken and mournful, feeling immense pain and loss at the untimely passing of her son.
Nwoye feels grief and feels like something inside of him has broken. Nwoye withdraws from Okonkwo and the world and values his father represents.
His witnessing of the grief of a woman who was forced throw her twins away in the Evil Forest, and Ikemefuna's death made Nwoye feel limp inside, without strength.
Ikemefuna is led by the tribe on a long march outside of its lands. One tribeman cuts him with a machete. As Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo for safety, Okonkwo chops Ikemefuna down with his machete.
Okonkwo becomes a father to Ikemefuna, and Ikemefuna calls Okonkwo father. Ikemefuna is like the second man in the house, the closest to Okonkwo's personality, and helps to develop Nwoye's manhood. Okonkwo likes Ikemefuna, but does not show his feelings towards Ikemefuna because to do so would be unmanly.
Ikemefuna came from Mbaino.
The earth goddess is associated with fertility, nature, and balance in Igbo culture. In the story of "Things Fall Apart," the earth goddess plays a symbolic role in Okonkwo's story as his tragic downfall is connected to his defiance of traditional customs and his role in Ikemefuna's death, which angers the earth goddess and disrupts the natural order of the community.
Although Ikemefuna is from a different family, Nwoye treats Ikemefuna as an older brother to look up to and mimic. Ikemefuna is the older brother that Nwoye never had.
The Oracle of Agbala pronounced that Ikemefuna must die.
Okonkwo is part of the group which leads Ikemefuna out of the village to be killed. After Ikemefuna receives the first blow and runs towards Okonkwo for protection, Okonkwo strikes Ikemefuna down, not wanting to be seen as weak.
Okonkwo demonstrates his fondness for Ikemefuna by treating him as one of his own sons, providing for him, and showing him fatherly care and guidance. Despite his outward harshness and stoicism, he becomes emotionally attached to Ikemefuna, as he sees qualities in him that he appreciates and respects.
Nwoye and Ikemefuna treat each other like brothers. Nwoye looks up to Ikemefuna, who serves as a positive influence in his life. They form a close bond during Ikemefuna's time in Okonkwo's household.