Though outwardly stern and powerful, much of his life is dictated by internal fear. His greatest, overwhelming worry is that he will become like his father – lazy, unable to support his family, and cowardly. Okonkwo considers many of his father’s characteristics to be feminine.

Ever since he was a child, Okonkwo felt deeply ashamed of his father. For one thing, Unoka felt squeamish about blood. His fear of blood prevented him from becoming a warrior and earning the kind of title that would have won him distinction within the community.

Okonkwo’s relationship with his family is of complete dictatorship. He is the man of the house and the head of the family who ultimately runs the household. His three wives are there to make food and raise his children.

Okonkwo had three wives. His first wife is never named, but simply referred to as ‘first wife’ or ‘Nwoye’s mother’. As is apparent by her names, the first wife was there to bear children for her husband. Ezinma and Ekwefi have a relationship that resembles sisters more than mother-daughter.

Okonkwo’s idea of masculinity is a strong, well-built man who is a great wrestler, farmer, hunter, and warrior. He shows no emotions of affection in public, and does not waste his time on instruments such as flutes. He works very hard and shows his success through his hard work.

Nwoye – Okonkwo’s oldest son, who Okonkwo believes is weak and lazy. Okonkwo continually beats Nwoye, hoping to correct the faults that he perceives in him. Influenced by Ikemefuna, Nwoye begins to exhibit more masculine behavior, which pleases Okonkwo.

In the fifth chapter of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo once again shows how he is different from his father Unoka; he beats and then nearly shoots his wife because of his own insecurity and anxiousness about not working during the Feast of the New Yam.

What does Okonkwo call Osugo? Okonkwo called Osugo a woman because the meeting was for men and it would crush his soul. You just studied 5 terms!

Even Okonkwo has inwardly become fond of Ikemefuna, but he does not show affection — a womanly sign of weakness. He treats Ikemefuna with a heavy hand, as he does other members of his family, although he allows Ikemefuna to accompany him like a son to meetings and feasts, carrying his stool and his bag.

Ikemefuna is a fifteen-year-old boy from a neighboring clan, Mbaino, who is given up to Umuofia as a sacrifice for killing one of the women of Umuofia. Okonkwo even prefers him to his true son Nwoye, considering Ikemefuna to be a promising, hard-working young man.