Things Fall Apart: Okonkwo Essay, Research Paper
Things Fall Apart: Okonkwo
Okonkwo, the main character of Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. And
Charles Foster Kane of Orson Welles Citizen Kane, both have value systems that
are incongruous with their cultures. Thus allowing them to be defeated by
society. These are two men with a great need for recognition. Their need for
something that was extinguished long ago. Okonkwos struggle to prove his
greatness in the face of those who knew his father. Charles Foster Kane’s void
that must be filled. The relentless pursuit of respect, power. Okonkwo must
conquer the image of weakness inside him and his fear of powerlessness. Both
characters feel that their material possessions can earn them the respect they
“deserve”. Charles Foster Kane is in search for something more simple than
respect, he seeks his life. The path that should have been followed was
dramatically altered, and his life took a completely new direction. ” I could
have been a great man” he explains, if he only had the chance. The pride of
these men who have no faults in their own minds, but struggle to erase the
faults they know others can find. This essay will convey the value systems of
each character in their culture and the cinematic and literary techniques used
to magnify their presence in the works.
Charles foster Kane was a child that was very fond of his mother, as seen
in the first scene of the young characters life. Charles’ father did not seem to
have any attachment to his son. Appearing quite ignorant, we can detect the lack
of a father figure in Charles’ life. This first scene is recounted in the
journal of Mr. Thatcher. The man that took the young boy away, and sent him to
live in schools around the world. For the rest of his academic life. In this
scene the protagonist receives a gift from Mr. Thatcher wishing him a merry
Christmas. And cuts directly to a happy new year, some ten years later.
Suggesting conveniently, the lack of a meaningful childhood. This editing
technique carries the viewer quickly through time, to the beginning of Charles’
idealism. The films plot is separated into flashbacks of the important people in
Kane’s life. Each flashback is in sequence with the events of his life. The
nature of each flashback is consistent with the narrators opinion. The first
flashback is that of Mr. Thatcher’s. He was the only person involved in Charles’
pre-adult life. Although not greatly involved, his presence is purely in the
area of financial aspects. Bernstein’s flashback focuses on a very positive and
successful part of Kane’s life. Which is concordant to Bernstein’s idolization
of Charles. Jed Leiland’s flashback is centered on Kane’s downfall, and so on.
Throughout these recollections we slowly gather evidence with which to judge
Kane. This evidence along with the cinematic techniques used, create a perfectly
clear perception of the character’s inner conflicts. The first occurrence
Charles’ selfish pride is depicted in a group of cuts with his new wife Emily.
The first shot is of Emily being complimented by the charming young Kane. The
lighting in the seen is focused on her and she looks quite beautiful. In the
shots that follow, we observe as their marriage slowly dissolves. In the last
shot of the scene, they are sitting at opposite sides of the table, Emily
reading the chronicle in very casual attire. This scene is the beginning of
Charles’ eventual failure. His reactions are so vague we begin to wonder is it
his egotism or does he really not care. He then decides to run for governor of
the state. He tries to be as big as the man in the picture behind him, he
struggles to be what he fears he cannot. Kane is then blackmailed by his
opponent, and given two options. Once again Kane displays his pride and self-
centeredness by choosing to stay with his mistress. He embarrasses himself, his
wife and child, and Susan Alexander. Kane’s decision is one which is seen as
very unusual according to the culture in the film. However he feels that he can
use Susan the “singer” to relinquish his public appearance. Charles has a great
need to fulfill a void in his life. There are many more occurrences in the film
that support our judgments of Charles Foster Kane. He forces Susan to become a
singer, even though she does not want to be, or has not enough talent to be. To
the point of her attempted suicide. He even goes as far as physically assaulting
her. This is Charles Foster Kane, the man who cannot love, even himself.
Therefore he seeks the love of others. As the film proceeds Kane image is
portrayed in darker and darker scenes. Till finally he is reduced to a old man
living alone, “in the greatest monument a man ever built to himself “: Xanadu.
Kane is a man who believes in many things but cannot retain any of his beliefs.
He “fights for the working man”, for a week perhaps. He stated his “principles”
but forgot them almost immediately. He found love but lost it soon after.
Charles Kane only believed in himself
Okonkwo is a man of great strength and wealth. His values revolve around
his need for esteem from the members of the clan. He displays animosity and
disdain towards his father, and actively seeks to create a new set of values t
live his own life by. Like Kane his childhood passes quickly. He makes several
references to what he was able to do “at that age”, as if he were a working
independent adult at birth. Okonkwo considers his son Nwoye lazy, and a
“women” and makes no attempt to develop a relationship between them. He loves
his daughter Ezinma, but still wishes she were a boy, instead of accepting her
as she is. When he follows her mother through the forest with the priestess, he
reveals his dedication to his family, but he continues to keep them at arms
length, because to show love in a sentimental way is to display weakness. The
clan is evidently a peaceful community, and on the surface Okonkwo’s family unit
is seen as flourishing. The most overt example of Okonkwo’s inexcusable
brutality is the abuse of his wife during peace-week. When to hurt anyone would
be reprehensible to any member of the clan during this holy period, Okonkwo does
not think twice. When he realizes that what he has done is wrong, he continues
and takes out his gun as well.
To members of his community he always shows respect, because he wants to
further his position in society. Yet within his family unit, he respects only
himself. His second display of animosity is when he participates in the killing
of Ikemefuna. He knows that he loves the boy and that is why he feels that he
must participate in the killing to show his courage. It does not impress the
members of the clan, especially because he was told not to take part. Because of
this we know that he is really quite insecure. It is evident that he is judged
by the rest of his clan because his best friend Obierika tells him his opinion.
Obierika is Okonkwo’s only guidance. Although Okonkwo’s father was lazy and in
debt, he was very well liked and had many friends. Okonkwo is not the leader he
would like to be. Like Kane he wishes he was, but only by his methods. Okonkwo’s
extremism led him to his death, but it could have saved his tribe from their
eventual extinction. He wanted to fight, but he was to weak to do it on his own.
Both works of art described their characters in great detail, by use of
cinematic and literary techniques. The film and the book, allowed us to judge
the characters according to their cultures, and not our own. Both Kane and
Okonkwo were very strong and determined men. They wanted something very badly
and spent most of their lives trying to obtain it. In the end they both give up.
Kane realizes what he missed and he knows what led him to this lifestyle. He
fails and will never regain what it is he lost. “Rosebud” and the house in the
snow. A symbol of the life he had, the one taken away from him. Kane stated
early in the film: “I always choked on that silver spoon”. The only love he had
he lost. Okonkwo’s life deteriorated completely. Whether some aspects were out
of his control, he blames it on his Chi. What must be understood is that your
Chi is you, it is your conscience and your inner self. Okonkwo gave up his
battle because he knew that no one would follow him. Each character paved the
way to their misfortune, and suffered greatly because of their beliefs. In both
works things fall apart.