Things Fall Apart
What are three incidents in the novel that cause Okonkwo to be the way he is and describe the qualities of Nwoye.
Okonkwo's father was poor and borrowed money from people. Unoka died in debt and humiliation; the memory of him gives Okonkwo a terrible fear of failure .Okonwo always tried to overcompensate for his father's frailties. Okonkwo tried to be a hyper-masculine character by shutting out meaningful emotion. Nwoye represented Unoka to Okonkwo. Nwoye is sensitive and thoughtful, but he is also somewhat lazy and sulky. Okonkwo is harsh with the boy, fearing that he will become like Unoka. After the death of Ikemefuna, something breaks in Nwoye. Later, he converts to Christianity, in part to escape his father. His betrayal embitters and outrages Okonkwo.