Things Fall Apart- Okonkwo’s Obsession With Weakness

From the very beginning of Things Fall Apart, by China Achebe, the reader quickly discovers Okonkwo’s fear of "weakness." However, Okonkwo confuses the word "weakness" for "failure." Every time there is a slip from his family life through his work life, he views the mistake as a disgrace and the disgrace in turn show weakness.

All traits of a human being must derive from somewhere or someone. In this instance, Okonkwo’s father was known as a failure, and therefore the catalyst for Okonkwo’s fear of failure. When the father was still alive, he continuously made poor finical decisions, leaving his family to care for themselves. 

In the future, I predict that Okonkwo’s obsession with weakness will challenge him to overcome larger obstacles through out the novel. Although his tribe is strong, perhaps a large enough threat of either physical violent or mental challenges will present themselves.