Okonkwo is ashamed of his father Unoka. He feels his father is weak, effeminate, and made fun of by other members of the tribe. Okonkwo feels a man should be strong like a warrior, but his father is shy of blood. Okonkwo feels a man should be hard working and provide for his family, but Unoka is lazy, and a very poor farmer. Okonkwo ends up inheriting nothing from his father.
When Ikemefuna falls ill and Okonkwo's daughter Ezinma brings food and medicine to him, it shows that Okonkwo's children respect Ikemefuna because they care for his well-being. They see him as a member of the family and show empathy and kindness towards him in his time of need.
Okonkwo makes progress towards establishing his new farm by preparing the land, acquiring yam seeds, and recruiting help from his family and neighbors to clear the land and sow the seeds. He is determined to make his farm successful and to prove his worth and status among his peers.
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.
Ezinma is the child who is most able to understand Okonkwo's view points and what he wishes for their family. She seems to share Okonkwo's desire for family honour and is willing to sacrifice for it as well.
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.
Obierika invites Okonkwo to witness the negotiation of Akueke's bride price.Obierika tries to assuage Okonkwo's fears of Nwoye not being manly enough.Obierika does not mention Unoka, knowing the Okonkwo is still ashamed of him.Obierika does not fail to criticize Okonkwo for taking part in the sacrifice of Ikemefuna, having also declined to take part in that ceremony.Obierika invites Okonkwo's family to his daughter's wedding.Obierika console Okonkwo on his pending exile.Obierika helps with other friends to carry Okonkwo's yams to his barn. He is trusted to store these yams.Later on, he sells Okonkwo's yams and gives Okonkwo the money in Mbanta.Obierika again visit Okonkwo in Mbanta.Obierika is trusted and paid to build two huts in Okonkwo's old compound.Finally, he takes responsibility for the burying of his friend after he has desecrated himself.
Okonkwo's duty is to stay alive so that he and his family may go back to their village.
Uchendu calls Okonkwo in for a meeting with him, and uses his authority to subtlely shame Okonkwo for his behaviour. Firstly, he explains the meaning of the motherland, and makes it seem as if going back to the Motherland is not a punishment as much as it is a respite from the evils that plague man. He tells Okonkwo that other men have had greater suffering and that his is not as bad as he makes it out to be. Further, he tells Okonkwo that he must survive to go home so that he does not trap his family in the mother land. He plays on Okonkwo's manly pride to ensure that Okonkwo will behave properly and with spirit.
Okonkwo is only temporarily exiled because he killed a clansman by accident, the female crime.
The difficulty due to Okonkwo's family history stems from his father Unoka's reputation as a lazy and unsuccessful man, which creates pressure for Okonkwo to succeed and not be associated with his father's failures. The difficulty due to nature comes from factors like droughts or poor harvests, which put additional strain on Okonkwo to provide for his family and maintain his status in the community.
Ikemefuna was the boy who was adopted by Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart. He was taken in by Okonkwo's family as part of a peace settlement between their village and a neighboring one.