Aristole's Tragic Hero Archetype- Okonkwo

Why would Achebe, taking into account cultural context, choose to characterise Okonkwo using the tragic hero archetype?

The Greek Philosopher Aristole (322 BC-384 BC)  stipulates a Tragic Hero as a "good man of high status" of which demonstrates a tragic flaw known as 'hamartia', experiences a dramatic reversal in other words 'peripeteia' in addition to an intense moment of recognition commonly defined as 'anagnoris'. Throughout the novel Things Fall Apart, one can acknowledge how Chinua Achebe characterises Okonkwo through the tragic hero archetype while taking into account the cultural context of that era. He effectually establishes Aristole's 3 essential notions through the characterisation of Okonkwo as a "flawed" character.  Okonkwo's fear of being like his father establishes a hyper masculinity that allows him to be arrogant towards his loved ones. This eventually leads to his suicide and allows us to define him as a tragic hero. Ultimately, as an African writer during the era of colonisation, such authentic characterisation allows him to manifest a different outlook onto the Colonisation of Nigeria for his intended audience. 

In the beginning of the novel, Okonkwo is presented as a fearless warrior as his charisma is driven by his harmatia of which is the fear of being lazy like his father, Unoka. This is evident when he beats up his wife during the Peace Week as he: "Walked back to his Obi to await Oijuogo's return. And when she returned he beat her heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace." (4, 20, 21-23) Ultimately, Okonkwo's fragile masculinity establishes his aggression towards his wife of which is driven by the fear of being like his father. 

As of his reversal of fortunes, commonly known as Peripeteia, Okonkwo chooses to murder Ikmefuna as evident when he: "Drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak." (6, 44, 14-15). Okonkwo thought that by killing Ikmefuna, he would be seen as a powerful and more masculine figure however, this murder of Ikmefuna allows the audience to see him as a powerless figure. 

Towards the end of the novel, one can acknowledge Okonkwo's moment of anagnorisis where he comes to the conclusion that he cannot go to war with the missionaries as the clan: "Had broken into tumult instead of action" (24, 152, 30-31). The portrayal of Okonkwo through the lens of Aristole's essential elements of a tragic hero archetype allows us to comprehend how his arrogant pride drives the notion that the clan leaders would primarily unify the clan and escalate the British Colonisers out of Umofia. However, Okonkwo's spontaneously murders the British messenger that sent to break up the village meeting regarding the possibility of going to war. Ironically, the clan did not fight back but rather was shocked by such savagely actions. This sparks Okonkwo's moment of angnorisis as he recognises that he must endure his shame independently.

Substantially, through a culturally authentic voice, Achebe is able to orchestrate the main events that drive Okonkwo's Tragic Hero archetype in order to establish the cultural context of the pre and post colonial life in late ninetieth century Nigeria. As of Aristole's definition of a tragic hero, Achebe metaphorically mimics Okonkwo's journey as a tragic hero similarly to the colonisation of the Igbo society. To justify, Okonkwo is unable to become a powerful Igbo man since he ironically dies the same way as his father, without preserving Igbo values and culture as his hubris overrides his power. There is no doubt that his melancholic death is a symbolic representation of the death of his culture, traditions, values and an Igbo realm. This predominately showcases the contextual significance of an Igbo man holding onto his culture because without the Igbo people caring for their culture, the culture will subside similarly to its inhabits.  Obviously, Achebe is able to inaugurate an authentic approach to the perspectives of Colonisation as he effectively characterises Okonkwo using the tragic hero archetype in order to reinforce the theme of Colonisation through the embracement of Igbo society and norms.