Question

In at least one hundred words, discuss Achebe’s use of dramatic irony—especially regarding the character Okonkwo—to express important themes in Things Fall Apart. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

In the book Things Fall Apart, Achebe talks about the way traditional Igbo communities dealt with the changes brought about by foreigners and modernity. An example of how he achieves this can be seen in the character of Nwoye.

Nwoye is a very sensitive character, who is deeply impacted by the cruelty he sees around him, such as the practice of killing twin babies. Nwoye represents a modern sensibility, which clashes with the traditional masculinity of his father Okonkwo. Okonkwo believes Nwoye to be weak and effeminate. By using characterization, Achebe allows these two characters to represent the changes that are taking place in the community. Eventually, Nwoye is pulled towards modernity definitely when he decides to convert to Christianity, as he values the teachings of kindness and sensibility.

Answer 2

Answer: The novel "Things Fall Apart" features many examples of dramatic Irony. The protagonist Okonkwo experiences many downfalls throughout the novel, due to his compulsive nature and his pride. Okonkwo, among many beliefs, feels women are weak and not has capable as men. He also believes a man has to be in every way as masculine as possible, and any sort of "feminine" behavior defines a man into a women. This concept is shown when he states that a man's true home is the village of his father, and that the mother land is dishonorable. This shows dramatic Irony later in the novel, when Okonkwo is banished from his home land for seven years. He then has to rely on his mother land for survival. Another example of dramatic irony is that Okonkwo ( towards the beginning of the book) tried to gun down one of his wives and missed. It is known by the reader through past examples that Okonkwo is not a good gunman. Later in the book at the celebration of a elders death okonkwos gun misfired and murdered the elders son. This is the reason Okonkwo was banished for seven years. The most upseting example of dramatic irony is displayed at the end of the novel, when Okonkwo dies. Okonkwo ended his life in order to keep his pride of never being killed in the hands of a white man. He has always resented his father, due to not being masculine enough, and not being a succesful member of the village and not the best father. It is stated that his father was banished to be buried in the evil forest and Okonkwo was ashamed of this. Only for the same fate to fall on him for ending his own life.

Explanation: Hope this helped