Things Fall Apart Characterization Chapters 9-11

In Things Fall Apart, Achebe clearly creates Okonkwo as a round character. In the first few chapters, he appears to be a flat character, showing only anger and fear, but no other emotion. No happiness, no caring, and no kind feelings towards anybody. However, starting at about chapter 8, Okonkwo begins to develop and becomes a round character, showing a hidden aspect the reader had never seen: a conscience. After killing Ikemefuna, he lies awake at night, thinking about what he's done. He doesn't eat, and he becomes depressed. He then chins up, and is back to his careless. violent self again until page 96 :"Tears of gratitude filled her eyes. She knew her daughter was safe. 'Go home and sleep,' said Okonkwo. 'I shall wait here'". In this quote, the tender side of Okonkwo shines through, as he suddenly appears to care about Ekwefi and Enzinma.

Ekwefi is Okonkwo's second wife, and mother of Enzinma. She had ten children, nine of which died within the first few years of their life due to what the Ibo people thought was a curse. When Enzinma, her tenth child, lived through the death zone of her other children, Ekwefi became very protective of her only child. When Enzinma falls ill, Ekwefi believes she is dying and Achebe demonstrates the emotion of terror and angst in this quote: "Ekwefi screwed her eyes up in an effort to see her daughter and the priestess, but whenever she thought she saw their shape it immediately dissolved like a melting lump of darkness. She walked numbly along" (93). This quote demonstrates just how much she cares for her daughter, and the fog in the mind when she even considers her daughter dying.

https://lisaannhardy.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/ghost-child.jpg