Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart
Irony in the novel Things Fall Apart causes a man of high stature who came from nothing to fail and become the exact opposite of what he strived to be. Many ironies affect one greater irony by the end of the book which is his hanging himself for killing a white man.   Irony is a motif in this book and shows up multiple times in each chapter. Without these small ironies the greater one would never happen.
In Things Fall Apart a man named Okonkwo tries to become what his father was not, successful. His father was lazy and borrowed from everyone. Eventually his father became sick and was taken to the forbidden forest when he was left to die. The story takes place in Northern Africa. Okonkwo decides early in life he does not want to be like his father. He wants to be great. Okonkwo decides to become a wrestler and defeats a man who is renowned as the greatest fighter in the entire region. Okonkwo becomes the youngest most influential person is all of the area and this is where his downfall begins.
One of the minor ironies that happen to Okonkwo in the story is that he is a farmer so when planting season came around he went to ask a man of high influential power to have some seeds for growing. The man agreed as long as the man receives a share of the plants. Okonkwo agrees. Okonkwo plants the seeds correct and on time like a good farmer would but the rains come late causing the most serious drought ever. Okonkwo tries to save the seeds he planted but it is to no use and they all dry up. So then he tries again when the rains start but then it begins to flood and all the plants are swept away and he grows barley enough for his family causing him to fail in the eyes of the more powerful man.
The story continues like this. Oknokwo again and again tries but only ends up falling and doing the exact opposite of what he strives for. He beats his wife on a peace day, insults and elder, and kills a small boy sending him into the dessert and forbidden to...