An Impression of 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe

I recently finished reading Chinua Achebe's 1958 debut novel 'Things Fall Apart'. It's been some time since i read a book that i didn't want to end. Okonkwo, the protagonist is the tragic hero, who unaware of his tragic flaw incessantly moves towards his impending doom. Given to Chinua's compelling story telling the reader is taken into his journey, unawares of its conclusion. The novel has been widely said to be the coming of age of the African novel. The unaffected view of Colonial Imperialism and African tribal life makes the novel more grand in terms of its themes,which critics have said, are both of these, but i say its more about the human predicament; of relentless struggle in the face of inevitable fate. 

What makes Okonkwo so special? He is a character that we have met or heard about. A fierce warrior in his youth, a respected member of his clan, a patriarchal husband and a disciplinary father. As a child he was ashamed of his father owing to his failure to rise and be a man. He comes to hate his effeminate ways. Lacking any inheritance other then his fathers debt, shame and family, he determines to be a 'man' and establish himself in the clan, and eventually he succeeds. The tragedy happens when everything he knows and understands enters a flux. The warrior that he is, unlike his clansmen, would not submit his independence. He would rather embrace death than see his men turn cowards. He couldn't bear to turn womanlike and limp. 

But why did he abhor this change? Why do people abhor change? I can't possibly understand the pain of enslavement, though i am sure that it wasn't what killed him. Slighted pride was what lead him to it and this is what i think leads to the conservatism that we see across the length and breath of our country too. Too far an analogy? I don't think so. The elements of folklore dissolved in the story are far too similar to practices that are widespread in our society too. Okonkwo could have easily killed his son for converting christian or maybe his daughter if she would have married of her own consent. You may dislike this frenzied man for his passions, but his utter sense of direction in the milieu of life makes you sympathize with him.

Who is a man among men?, i ask of you. How much of a man can exist in men? Had Okonkwo been less of a man, then maybe the story would have had a different conclusion.  

In the last chapter, we see him admiring his war dress. He shakes his raffa skirt and examines his tall feather head gear and at last his shield. He swore vengeance. Here his character takes epic proportions, decked up in all his glory he is ready to defy the odds but not to surrender. Even in death he wont leave his matchet behind, he kills in rage.