In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s suicide is a tragic culmination of his internal and external struggles. Okonkwo, a proud and strong-willed man, finds himself unable to adapt to the changes brought by the colonial presence and the influence of Christianity in his Igbo community. His sense of identity and values are deeply rooted in the traditional ways of his people, and he sees the new order as a threat to everything he holds dear.
Throughout the novel, Okonkwo’s fear of weakness and failure drives his actions. He is determined to be the opposite of his father, Unoka, who he views as weak and lazy. However, Okonkwo’s rigid adherence to traditional values and his inability to compromise lead to his downfall. When he accidentally kills a clansman, he is exiled for seven years. Upon his return, he finds that his village has changed significantly, and his authority and influence have diminished.
The final blow comes when Okonkwo kills a messenger from the colonial government during a village meeting. Realizing that his people will not support him in resisting the colonizers, Okonkwo feels utterly defeated. He sees no way out of the situation and no future for himself in a world that has moved beyond his control. In a moment of despair, he takes his own life, choosing death over what he perceives as a life of shame and dishonor.
Okonkwo’s suicide is a powerful statement about the impact of cultural collision and the personal cost of refusing to adapt to change. It also highlights the tragic consequences of a man’s inability to reconcile his personal values with the changing world around him.