Okonkwo's Relationship With Women

Okonkwo is the protagonist in the story “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe. He is a warrior and self-made person. However, he failed to realize that some of the attributes he displayed strengthened his failure and sense of frustration. He is a complex person, who at times is cruel and heavy handed with members of his household. Okonkwo has the reputation of a famous wrestler. His father is not respected due to his excessive debt and drinking. The story also addressed a neighboring villager who killed a person from Okonkwo's village; as a result, the village decided to perform a sacrifice in an effort to avoid warfare. Okonkwo was also a successful farmer with three wives, and father of seven children and was ruled by his distress. The wives are afraid of it, especially the youngest, who are living in horror of nervous temperament, as well as children. Where he was grumpy and unable to control the anger, making everyone feared.

The relationship between Okonkwo and his wife and daughter, Ekwefi and Ezinma was very interesting. Ekwefi is the seconf wife of Okonkwo of age around 45 years. Although she fell in love with Okonkwo when he won the famous wrestling match, she did not move in with him until she left her husband three years after the contest. Ekwefi had been lovely in her youth, referred to as 'Crystal of Beauty.' (Achebe, 13) The years have been very tough on her. She has become a strong-willed and courages woman, overcoming frustation and dissatisfaction in her life. Ekwefi lives for Ezinma, her only living child, her pride and joy. Okonkwo favors his daughter, who is not only as beautiful as her mother once was, but who grows to understand her father and his moods as no one else does. There was a special bonf between the father and daughter. Okonkwo and Ekwefi treat Ezinma like she is their equal rather than their child. They permit her privileges that other family and tribal children are not granted. Okonkwo's only regret towards Ezinma is that she is not a boy. While Okonkwo has two other wives and many more children, it seems he is closest with Ekwefi and Ezinma. Okonkwo seems to spend most of his efforts on not showing any emotion because he fears it may make him appear weak, but when it comes to this wife and daughter, it is hard to deny that they hold a special place in his heart. I believe this may be due in part to the fact that Ekwefi became his wife out of some sort of love because it says early on in the story that she ran away from another husband to be with Okonkwo. The story of their relationship is also explained much more than that of his other two wives which leads one to believe that since their relationship is explained, it may have more importance to Okonkwo.

The relationship with Ekwefi's daughter, Ezinma, and Okonkwo also seems significant ...