Introduction to Main Characters in Things Fall Apart
There are a lot of numbers of characters in Things Fall Apart because of rich socio-cultural bonds in Igbo tribes. However, brief introduction to main characters in the novel Things Fall Apart is below.
The main characters in Things Fall Apart are: Okonkwo, Unoka, Ikemefuna, Nwoye, Ogbuefi, Ezeudu, Nwoye’s Mother, Ekwefi, Ezinma, Obierika, Okagbue, Uchendu, Akwiku, Mr. Brown, Mr. Smith, and District Commissioner.
Now here is a brief introduction to each individual character.
Okonkwo | Tragic Hero
Okonkwo is an ambitious and short-tempered man. He is a tragic hero of the novel who wins sympathies of the readers at the end. Shame of his lazy father who died in heady debt made him to work tirelessly to place himself in his tribe as a man of honor unlike his father Unoka. Okonkwo is very rigid in family traditions and has no leniency on any matter even in killing of Ikemefuna he was at front. He is firm in social hierarchies and demand his children to follow him. He kills himself at the end when he thinks that no one is ready to go into war against white people.
Unoka
Unoka is Okonkwo’s father and Unoka died when his son was very young. He died I heavy debt and he was a symbol of laziness and failure and this drive hos son into the terrible fear of failure
Ikemefuna
A young boy of a neighboring village handed over to Umofia. Okonkwo brought him like his son and he became best friend of Nwoye. He lived in Umofia for three years and in the end sacrificed to prevent to war between two tribes.
Nwoye
Nwoye is Okonkwo’s son. He is sensitive and looks somewhat lazy like his grandfather Unoka. The death of his friend Ikemefuna breaks him. Later he converts to Christianity and this betrayal makes his father angry.
- Ogbuefi Ezeudu
He is one of the oldest man of Umofia who warns Okonkwo to not participate in death of Ikemefuna. After death of Ezeudu, Okonkwo’s gun killed a boy accidently which became cause of Okonkwo’s exile from his tribe.
- Nwoye’s Mother
She is Okonkwo’s first wife. She is generous by nature and known as a symbol of fortune due to large number of children.
Ekwefi
She was one of the beautiful girl of Umofia and married to Okonkwo as her second wife. Her only one child Ezinma survived out of ten. She is a brave woman truly devoted to her daughter Ezinma.
Ezinma
Ezinma is Okonkwo’s favorite daughter. She is clever and brave and understand her father’s mood. She turned into a beautiful and strong women like her mother.
Obierika
He is powerful man in the tribe and Okonkwo’s best friend. He is thoughtful and sensible person of his tribe. He is compassionate and avoids unnecessary war upon his tribe.
Okagbue
Okagbue is a medicine man who finds the supernatural cause of sickness of Ezinma.
Uchendu
He is elderly and a wise uncle of Okonkwo who is a gentle patriarch and has a strong authority even on Okonkwo.
Akwiku
He is Okonkwo’s cousin who breaks the news of Nwoye that he is among Christians.
- Mr. Brown
A white man who is missionary in Umofia and adjacent tribes. He is sensible and wise person who strives to compromise with the clans. He is hopeful for the converts.
- Mr. Smith
He is also a white missionary who is replacement of Mr. Brown but he is not like him. His decisions make the clan against him.
- District Commissioner
He is the head of British government in Umofia who dispenses justice. He is ignorant of ground realities of the Umofia and his arrogant and hypercritical spoil the peace of Umofia land.