1. Okonkwo: A Tragic Hero?

2. What is a Tragic Hero?
A tragic hero is a man of noble stature. He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle.

3. According to Aristotle (a Greek philosopher and scientist, basically a really smart guy)
Tragic Heroes have these qualities:
Is Noble, of high status
Possesses good and bad qualities
Hamartia, possesses a fatal flaw
Participates in a journey
Suffers, A LOT! Flaw causes reversal of fortune a.k.a Peripeteia
Self-Realization (becomes aware of certain mistakes)

4. Possesses a Fatal Flaw Also called the Hamartia
Traditional fatal flaw is hubris, or excessive pride
Flaw ultimately leads to hero’s downfall, often death

5. Fate is controlled by flaw
First enjoys privileged life (remember noble birth!)
Flaw causes a reversal of fortune called the Peripeteia
Ultimate fate is a downfall, often death
Downfall seems more impressive due to fall from noble position

6. Bears no responsibility for flaw, only for actions influenced by flaw
Actions result in an increase of self-awareness and self-knowledge
Fate is discovered by his own actions, not things happening to him
Downfall is a result of free choice

7. Is Okonkwo a Tragic Hero?
Aristotle’s Definition
Okonkwo
1. Noble Status
“Fame rested on solid personal achievements” (3)
“Okonkwo’s fame had grown like a bushfire (4)
Famous wrestler, strong warrior, had titles
2. Good and Bad in personality
Cares for Ikemefuna, loves Ezinma, hard working Short tempered, abusive, intolerant “He had no patience for unsuccessful men (4)
3. Hamartia or Fatal Flaw
Constantly worried about looking weak
Wants to always appear strong “his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness” (13)
4. Journey or Quest
Exiled to motherland “It was a crime against the earth goddess, and a man who committed it must flee from the land…he could return to the clan after 7 years (124)
5. Peripeteia, Suffering
Lazy father and son, Ikemefuna, Sickly Ezinma, Exile, Culture Collision
6. Self- realization
He realizes he can’t change anything, his clan becomes weak. “Things Fall Apart”

8. Is Okonkwo a Tragic Hero?
Aristotle’s Definition
Okonkwo
Noble Status
Okonkwo was respected
“Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and beyond” (3)
“he had achieved fame as the greatest wrestler in the land” (27)
2. Good and Bad in personality
Strong, Manly, Took care of Ikemefuna, Hard Working
Loves Ezinma Abusive, aggressive “Okonkwo knew how to kill a man’s spirit” (26)
3. Hamartia or Fatal Flaw
“He was afraid of being thought weak” (61)
“his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness” (13)
4. Journey or Quest
Exile “The course open for Okonkwo was to flee from the clan” (124)
5. Peripeteia, Suffering
Shame of father, Poverty, Weak son, killed Ikemefuna, exile, loses status, clan changing, culture changing, jail, killed the messenger
6. Self- realization
No one was going to war (205) Okonkwo’s chi was not as strong as he thought it was (131)