Why was Nwoye's soul parched in things fall apart?

Answer 1

Nwoye had been troubled by the conflicts between his personality and abilities and the expectations of what he was supposed to do as a man, as dictated by tribal customs.

Nwoye could not compare to his father, Okonkwo, who was a self-made man who was on track to become the greatest man in the tribe. Nwoye was not physically strong. He was not keen on violence, having a more effeminate nature. Instead of stories of violence and bloodshed, he preferred children-stories of animal parables told by women. He was not financially independent, nor as able to work as hard as his father.

Finally, Nwoye could not reconcile the tribe's need to kill Ikemefuna, who he considered an elder brother.